Huntoon Park Wren in Topeka, Kansas
The world’s largest wren is likely perched in a nest overlooking an intersection in Kansas’ capital city, Topeka. Originally created in the 1930s by an unknown artist, this wren was once perched high above the city of Lawrence, Kansas’ WREN radio station. When the station moved to Topeka in 1947, the wren moved along with it. Once the WREN station closed permanently in 1987, the statue was sold off as part of a fundraiser. It was then purchased the group Historic Topeka, Inc. to become a local landmark. The statue was restored by Buck Thomas, who also repainted it. The statue is made of heavy concrete, weighs over 1,200 pounds, and stands at over five feet. It isn’t the largest bird statue in the world; that distinction likely belongs to a 200-foot rendering of Jatayu in India. But it very well might be the biggest wren statue on earth.
The world’s largest wren is likely perched in a nest overlooking an intersection in Kansas’ capital city, Topeka.
Originally created in the 1930s by an unknown artist, this wren was once perched high above the city of Lawrence, Kansas’ WREN radio station. When the station moved to Topeka in 1947, the wren moved along with it.
Once the WREN station closed permanently in 1987, the statue was sold off as part of a fundraiser. It was then purchased the group Historic Topeka, Inc. to become a local landmark. The statue was restored by Buck Thomas, who also repainted it.
The statue is made of heavy concrete, weighs over 1,200 pounds, and stands at over five feet. It isn’t the largest bird statue in the world; that distinction likely belongs to a 200-foot rendering of Jatayu in India. But it very well might be the biggest wren statue on earth.
