Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Loading...
Loading...
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Su filindeu doesn’t cook in strands, it cooks in sheets.
How the ‘Su Filindeu’ (or ‘Threads of God’) Pasta Recipe Was Almost Lost to Time
Eroded rocks of the badlands in the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park.
Arizona’s Petrified Forest Is Changing What We Know About the Dawn of the Dinosaurs
You could probably take some of that stuff out.
Dear Atlas: How Do I Pack Light for a Long Trip?
Ripples in the land are remnants of the field walls that once held rows of native sugarcane and sweet potatoes.
Unearthing the Mysteries of Hawai'i's Ancient Agriculture

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States North Dakota Steele World's Largest Sandhill Crane

World's Largest Sandhill Crane

The metal bird, nicknamed "Sandy," stands nearly 40 feet tall and is an homage to the birds that migrate through North Dakota every year.

Steele, North Dakota

Added By
skbohlen cbf81486
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Sandy, the world’s largest sandhill crane   minnemom / CC BY-ND 2.0
  skbohlen cbf81486 (Atlas Obscura User)
Sandy, the world’s largest sandhill crane   Matt Reinbold / CC BY-SA 2.0
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

This Place Is a Stub

Help improve this place with additional information or photos.

Make an Edit

About

Steele, South Dakota, is home to the world's largest sandhill crane sculpture, known by the nickname "Sandy." Made of steel and approximately 38.5 feet tall, the sculpture was made in the late 1990s by farmer and self-taught ironworker James Miller.

Sandhill cranes are famous for their massive gatherings along the Platte River in Nebraska, but in the spring and fall they migrate through South Dakota. Sandy stands in the Coteau Rangeland, a location that sees many migratory birds, including sandhill cranes.

Related Tags

Roadside Attractions World's Largest Statues Birds

Community Contributors

Added By

skbohlen cbf81486

Edited By

Kevin OKeeffe, Collector of Experiences, Michelle Cassidy, bettyqwerty

  • Kevin OKeeffe
  • Collector of Experiences
  • Michelle Cassidy
  • bettyqwerty

Published

May 30, 2024

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.worldrecordacademy.org/2023/9/worlds-largest-sandhill-crane-sculpture-world-record-in-steele-north-dakota-423346
World's Largest Sandhill Crane
615 Mitchell Ave N
Steele, North Dakota
United States
46.861804, -99.913722
Get Directions

Nearby Places

CU / Square Butte Crossing

Tuttle, North Dakota

miles away

Gravesite of Lenard Mennes

Bismarck, North Dakota

miles away

Keelboat Park

Bismarck, North Dakota

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of North Dakota

North Dakota

United States

Places 34
Stories 5

Nearby Places

CU / Square Butte Crossing

Tuttle, North Dakota

miles away

Gravesite of Lenard Mennes

Bismarck, North Dakota

miles away

Keelboat Park

Bismarck, North Dakota

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of North Dakota

North Dakota

United States

Places 34
Stories 5

Related Stories and Lists

Our Favorite Roadside Attraction in Every U.S. State

List

By Hal Koss

Related Places

  • World’s largest prairie chicken.

    Rothsay, Minnesota

    World’s Largest Prairie Chicken

    The statue honors the booming birds Rothsay, Minnesota, is famous for.

  • Blue Bird on the Pier

    St. Augustine, Florida

    Bluebird of Happiness Statue

    An oversized bluebird statue returns to its rightful place on Vilano Beach pier.

  • The World’s Largest Kokopelli in Camp Verde, Arizona

    Camp Verde, Arizona

    World's Largest Kokopelli

    This oversized flute-playing Ancestral Puebloan deity is also a landmark of Southwestern kitsch.

  • Photo taken in October 2021

    Riverside, California

    World’s Largest Paper Cup

    A tribute to the disposable cups that were once manufactured here, this 68-foot-tall statue would be difficult to throw away.

  • Ohakune Carrot

    Ohakune, New Zealand

    Ohakune Carrot

    The largest model carrot in the world.

  • Australian-American Memorial.

    Canberra, Australia

    Australian-American Memorial

    From a distance, this statue of an eagle looks like a giant chicken on a stick.

  • The Big Owl.

    Macquarie, Australia

    The Big Owl

    This roadside attraction became locally famous for its unintentionally phallic shape.

  • The loon on Silver Lake.

    Virginia, Minnesota

    Floating Loon of Virginia

    The world's largest floating loon bobs in the lake to kick off an annual festival.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.