Sunday, SuperPizzaBoy and I loaded up and headed up Route 66 northeast from Tulsa to the little town of Foyil, Oklahoma to check out the world’s largest concrete totem pole.
The totem pole is 90 feet tall and is made of concrete over a metal and sandstone base. He started working on it in 1937 and finished in 1948.
The exterior has many bas relief native American inspired designs.
Apparently when asked why he built it he just said that he needed something to do when he retired.
The base of the tower is a turtle. He fashioned it from a sandstone outcropping that was already in place.
There is a small room inside that contains more artwork and an informative sign. If you start googling you will see find that there are lots of totem poles taller than ninety feet. So maybe this is the tallest concrete totem pole.
(SPB photo)
SPB brought his camera. Of course a self portrait was in order.
(SPB photo)
Hmm, this is also a pic of his, That is the scariest face on the Totem.
(SPB photo)
SPB also captured images of some Galloway’s other pieces. I love the arrowhead below.
(SPB photo)
I’m guessing this is a tree trunk.
The park has a gift store inside the “Fiddle House” that includes a variety of fiddles carved by Mr. Galloway.
This was my favorite
The park has a short nature trail which of course we tried.
Galloway died in 1961 and the park fell into disrepair until rescued in the late 1980’s by the Rogers County Historical Society who runs the facility today.
We’ll post the second half of our road trip next week, unless of course we decide to do something else.
National Park Service Article on the Totem Park
Roadside America Link on the Totem Park
cool trip. the brother was in boy scouts when we were kids & i remember all those totem poles … pretty neat to see all the details up close. can’t imagine the hours it takes to create such a big huge piece of wood into the final art piece. so talented. ( :
Fascinating, Yogi – although «Louis» lived in Oklahoma for a time, he never knew about this!
What a fun, colorful trip and a fascinating place! Great captures for the day and I always enjoy seeing you and SPB out exploring together!! Hope you and your family have a wonderful week and a very Merry Christmas!!
i like keeping options open and i liked SPB’s take on the totem .. he takes a good photo
Just the right kind of unusual to be found around Rt 66. I think I’ve heard of the Galloway fiddles but never seen one so ornate. Great road trip so far.
You guys have such fun! Love the artwork.
Cheers from Cottage Country!
Wow, Mr. Galloway put a lot of work into his totem pole. The tortoise base is my favorite part.
Awesome shots!
It’s very beautiful. I love the fiddles!
This was interesting to see, Yogi! I’d say Mr. Galloway did manage to keep himself busy in retirement. I’m glad the place was restored. It looks like SPB had a good time and he took some good photos, too!
What an amazing park! Wonderful shots of the totem pole and those fiddles!
never heard of concrete totem pole before.
I prefer the wood sculptures to the concrete but it is all interesting.
That’s a most interesting blog – SPB takes good photographs.
It is amazing what people get into once retired. A concrete totem seems a worthy one-of-a-kind project and thanks to the historical society not easy to dismantle .
Interesting park!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Super post, Yogi! I’m glad the Rogers County Historical Society rescued this site.
Very intersting post Yogi!
What a neat place! Of course, one would find such interesting things on Route 66.
May be he can get people to experience life by offering a sleepover.
Moving to Oklahoma from Seattle, I was excited to see this Totem Pole, expecting it to be at least 100 feet high. I would have appreciated it so much more if I have read an Oklahoman perspective on it ahead of time, Since it’s such an easy drive from Tulsa, I’ll go back this Spring and take a closer look, thanks to your post. Thanks!
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