The Biggest Uncle Sam Statue Ever Built (And Where to See It)
If you’re driving through Danbury, Connecticut, don’t be surprised if a 38-foot-tall man in red, white, and blue catches your eye. He’s not directing traffic or selling hot dogs. He’s fiberglass, for starters. But this oversized Uncle Sam is hard to miss, and he’s been through more career changes than most of us.
The statue you see today standing outside the Danbury Railway Museum once welcomed crowds to the Great Danbury State Fair. Before that, he was built to promote an Ohio restaurant in 1965. And after the fair shut down in 1981, he was hauled up to a theme park in Lake George, New York, where he posed for photos for nearly four decades. Eventually, in 2019, he returned to Danbury as the city’s pride.
That kind of mileage earns him a certain respect. At 4,500 pounds and wearing a constant patriotic glare, this Uncle Sam is as much a road trip folklore as a town mascot, and the tallest Uncle Sam statue in existence, though one Midwest contender claims the crown if you count its concrete base. Danbury, understandably, prefers to measure from the toes up.
A Face You’ve Seen Before
Image via Unsplash/Library of Congress
Before he became a roadside attraction, Uncle Sam already had a long history in American culture. The real Sam Wilson was a meatpacker from Troy, New York, who supplied rations to U.S. soldiers during the War of 1812.
His barrels were stamped “U.S.,” which troops jokingly said stood for “Uncle Sam.” The nickname stuck, and by the 1860s, cartoonist Thomas Nast gave him a consistent look: tall hat, white hair, and serious expression. Nast also helped shape the modern images of Santa Claus and the Democratic donkey, so he was on a bit of a streak.
Then came something revolutionary in 1917. Artist James Montgomery Flagg drew a version of Uncle Sam pointing directly at the viewer with the words “I Want You for U.S. Army.” It became one of the most iconic images of World War I and later World War II. James, interestingly, used his own face for the drawing.
Since then, Uncle Sam has appeared everywhere from cartoons to cereal boxes. He’s promoted war bonds, starred in vintage animated shorts, and, in one case, appeared in a 1996 horror film where he wasn’t exactly asking for your service, more like your soul. Despite the occasional detour, his pop culture legacy is patriotic, a little stern, and always camera-ready.
Danbury’s Longstanding Connection
Image via Wikipedia
Locals remember the Danbury State Fair as a major annual event that ran for over a century before it closed in 1981. “Meet me at Uncle Sam” was a common phrase during fair week, and the statue became a built-in landmark for visitors wandering through rides, livestock barns, and food stands.
When the fair ended, the statue was sold and moved to the Magic Forest amusement park in upstate New York. There, he shared space with Paul Bunyan, a massive Santa Claus, and other fiberglass giants. It was kitsch heaven, and Uncle Sam fit right in.
But in late 2018, Magic Forest was sold, and the statue’s future became uncertain. Troy, New York, home to the original Uncle Sam, wanted him. That made sense, historically speaking, but Danbury had stronger sentimental ties.
Former Mayor Mark Boughton stepped in and ensured the city outbid Troy. In early 2019, Uncle Sam was trucked back to Connecticut, funded by local businesses and civic organizations. After restoration, he was dedicated in his new home on July 25.
The Statue Today
Today, the statue stands in the parking lot of the Danbury Railway Museum, where it gets regular attention from tourists and history buffs. Selfie takers swear he’s impossible to miss as he’s towering over the museum’s vintage train cars.
For longtime residents, his presence still stirs memories of the fair days, whereas for newcomers, he’s an unexpected slice of Americana on the side of the road. Danbury’s Uncle Sam has traveled far, stood through changing times, and made his way back to the town that gave him a stage.