Pierre the Voyageur, who is he and what makes him so interesting? Well, imagine driving down the highway and seeing a 20 foot tall, mesh and fiberglass cartoon-like statue glaring down at you. As one of the Smithsonian‘s historic landmarks, this statue is very special to the people of Two Harbors and is a wonderful addition to their city. Some say he looks like Paul Bunyan (located in Bemidji alongside Babe), but what make him unique are his slits for eyes, a slight grin, and no pants?
Pierre the Voyageur first stood in front of the Voyageur Motel in Two Harbors. Long ago, it was said that Pierre‘s eyes glowed a scary red and a motel employee sat in a hidden booth could make his head pivot from side to side and even make him speak. The “no pants” feature comes from the historic appearance of voyageurs. According to an exhibit at the Fort Frances Museum and Cultural Center in Ontario, back in the day these voyageurs usually wore a long-sleeved woolen skirt and a pair of deerskin leggings that ended just above the knees.
Today, Pierre stands proudly in front of a hotel outside of Two Harbors, MN. Pierre now has a red paddle to hold and at night spotlights give him a strong presence. His eyes also glows red at night, which makes him especially scary during snowstorms.
Getting There
From Two Harbors, take Highway 61, turn left (toward Lake Superior) onto Stanley Road. The address is 933 Stanley Road, Two Harbors, MN.