The small town of Wall, South Dakota, is known for its iconic roadside attraction: the dinosaur statue that stands tall at the entrance of the town. This larger-than-life sculpture has become a beloved landmark and an important part of Wall’s identity.
Standing at 60 feet tall and 80 feet long, the dinosaur statue is hard to miss. It is a replica of an Apatosaurus, also known as a Brontosaurus, which roamed the earth more than 150 million years ago during the Jurassic Period. The statue is made of concrete and steel, and its design is based on fossilized skeletons of the ancient creature.
The statue was built in 1964 by Emmet Sullivan, a local entrepreneur who owned a nearby gas station and motel. Sullivan wanted to attract more visitors to the area, and he believed that a giant dinosaur statue would do the trick. He commissioned a local artist, Elmer Petersen, to design and construct the sculpture, and the two worked tirelessly to bring the Apatosaurus to life.
The statue quickly became a hit with tourists, and it still draws crowds to this day. Visitors from all over the world come to take photos with the dinosaur and marvel at its massive size. The statue has also been featured in numerous films and TV shows, including the popular HBO series “Deadwood.”