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All the United States Kansas Lucas World's Largest Collection of Smallest Versions of Largest Things
AO Edited

World's Largest Collection of Smallest Versions of Largest Things

A unique attraction and museum dedicated to exploring iconic roadside structures.

Lucas, Kansas

Added By
Lily Landes
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We now have a storefront location!   worldslargestthings / Atlas Obscura User
We now have a storefront location!   worldslargestthings / Atlas Obscura User
  http://www.worldslargestthings.com/index.htm
World’s Largest Collection of Smallest Versions of Largest Things   mevansku / Atlas Obscura User
  world'slargestthings.com
The gallery includes a map of where World’s Largest Things can be found across America.   ianlefk / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the World’s Largest Collect of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things gallery.   ianlefk / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Erika Nelson, creator of the World's Largest Collection of the World's Smallest Versions of the World's Largest Things, travels the United States looking for “monsters of the road” (things like the world's largest ketchup bottle or ball of yarn). She then photographs them and makes a World’s Smallest Version of said World’s Largest Thing.

Once Nelson researches, visits, and photographs a World's Largest Thing, she then makes a miniature replica of the "thing."  When possible, Nelson will bring the tiny version back to the enormous structure that inspired it and snap a photo of the two items together. The little replicas and photographs are then displayed in the museum and online.

Nelson makes the World’s Smallest Versions of The World’s Largest Things from a medley of materials. For example, when replicating the world’s largest ball of rubber bands, she used the miniature rubber bands you'd find at an orthodontist's office.

Nelson is an artist, educator, and one of America’s foremost experts and speakers on the World’s Largest Things. In addition to visiting communities with her own unique traveling museum, which acquired a permanent base in 2017, Nelson is a consultant to cities seeking to create their own “World’s Largest Thing” or roadside attraction to increase tourism, marketing, and economic development for their community.

When not on the road, Nelson and the "World's Largest Collection of The World's Smallest Versions of The World's Largest Things" van can be found in Lucas, Kansas.

The Atlas Obscura Podcast is a short, daily celebration of all the world's strange and wondrous places. Check out this episode about the World's Largest Collection of Smallest Versions of Largest Things. 

Related Tags

Niche Museums Museums And Collections Outsider Art World's Largest Roadside Attractions Museums Miniatures Collections Statues Small Worlds And Model Towns Microminiature Art Inventions Purveyors Of Curiosities Obscura Day Locations World's Smallest

Know Before You Go

In 2017, The World's Largest Collection of Smallest Versions of Largest Things acquired a downtown building in Lucas, Kansas. The new building has allowed the collection to transition from traveling displays and sideshow banners to a new Roadside Sideshow Expo. Visitors keen on visiting the collection can find it at 214 South Main in Lucas. The museum is open by chance or by appointment. 

Community Contributors

Added By

Lily Landes

Edited By

salmson2a2, worldslargestthings, mevansku, ianlefk

  • salmson2a2
  • worldslargestthings
  • mevansku
  • ianlefk

Published

March 8, 2011

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  • http://www.worldslargestthings.com/
World's Largest Collection of Smallest Versions of Largest Things
214 South Main
Lucas, Kansas, 67648
United States
39.057585, -98.537792
Visit Website
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