Climbing and Hanging Off Paul Bunyan’s Arm Cause of Break in Iconic Statue in Bemidji

BEMIDJI (KDLM) – Bemidji’s iconic statue of Paul Bunyan suffered a major separation in his right arm on Monday and now local police know why.

The cause of the failure appears to have been caused by several people climbing and hanging off of Paul’s arm and the adjacent sign. Paul has been in the park since 1937 and the Park Department discourages people from hanging items or climbing on Paul and Babe because of the chance of damage.

This activity is being investigated by the Bemidji Police Department. Security cameras were installed in the plaza area several years ago; the footage of the activity has been shared with the Bemidji Police Department to conduct an investigation into the damage of Paul Bunyan.

This spring the city of Bemidji hired Jensen Conservation to complete conservation work on Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. Jensen Conservation has now changed their schedule and plans be to onsite by next week to assess and fix the damage to Paul and conduct the additional conservation work planned for Paul and Babe.

If you have information about the damage to Paul Bunyan you’re asked to report it by contacting Crime Stoppers of Minnesota.