Michigan Roadside Attractions: Hiawatha, “World’s Tallest Indian” in Ironwood

Michigan Roadside Attractions is a periodic feature on Travel the Mitten that will explore the many interesting things that can be found on the highways, byways and back roads of Michigan, ranging from the interesting to unusual.

Ironwood is a small town at the far west end of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula bordering Wisconsin. We’ve featured a handful of roadside attractions so far, but Hiawatha, the “world’s tallest Indian,” may just be the best one yet. This statue was constructed in 1964 and stands 52 feet tall, while weighing in at around 16,000 pounds. Constructed of fiberglass and a steel framework, he has provided travelers with a great place for a quick photo op for decades, and is a point of pride for some local residents. A plaque nearby gives a few more facts:

Hiawatha can be found in Hiawatha Park, at the intersection of Burma Rd. and Hazel St. a little more than a mile south of US-2. If you’re coming in from the east, take a left on Lowell St., a left on Pewabic St. and then a right to follow Suffolk St. which will change names but lead you right to the park. From the west, turn right on Lowell St., left on Pewabic, right on Suffolk. A park across the street commemorates the Iron Ore Industry and its influence on the surrounding area: