(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
Spade [gone]
various locations, England |
Trowel
Indianapolis, IN |
Trowel
Carmel, IN |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
This giant Spade was 10 1/2 feet tall and was created in 2005. It toured around England as a promotional device for Joseph Bentley Garden Tools. It was then sold on eBay. [photos thanks to Ian Cross]
These giant Trowels stand in front of two of Habig's Garden Center locations. [Indianapolis map]; [Carmel map]
|
Fountain Pen
Washington, DC |
Fountain Pen Nib
Roseburg, OR |
Pencil
Pittsburgh, PA |
Big Pencil
Wytheville, VA |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Pencil [gone]
Portland, OR |
Pencil [gone]
Columbus, OH |
Pencil
Atlanta, GA |
Pencil [gone]
Pacific Grove, CA |
Pencil
Spokane, WA |
Pencil [gone]
Centralia, WA |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
The giant Fountain Pen is part of the sign over the entrance to Fahrney's Pens. The business was founded in 1929. [map]
The Fountain Pen Nib is located at Roseburg Book & Stationery which was established in 1910. This sign and maybe the Nib are probably from the 1960s. [map]
The Pencil in Pittsburgh stands at the entrance to the Top Notch Art Centre. I believe it has been here since the late 1990s. The business closed in 2019. I don't know if the Pencil will be staying. [map]
The Pencil in Wytheville is made of steel and is 30 feet tall. It was created in the late 1950s. The owner of Wytheville Office Supply wanted to set an example and get other businesses to build oversized things but they never did. There was a giant pair of scissors in front of a barber shop at one time. A giant paint can was installed in the 1990s a block away. [map]
The Pencil in Portland served as a sign for the Office Supply Co. This photo is from 2008. By 2014, the Pencil was gone. For more, see this website.
The Pencil in Columbus was located at Graham Office Supply. This store has been here since 1952 but I don't know how old the revolving pencil was. This photo is from 2010. By 2014, the Pencil was gone.
The Pencil in Atlanta is installed in front of Grady High School. [map]
The Pencil in Pacific Grove was located above the entrance of Alpha Stationers. It was installed sometime after 2011. This photo is from 2015. By 2018, the store had closed and the Pencil was gone.
The Pencil in Spokane is about 12 feet tall. It is installed in front of the Quinn Group, an advertising agency. It has been there since at least 2007. [map]
The Pencil in Centralia is located in front of the Freeman Center. It was built in 2012 by Steve Freeman, the owner of the tutoring business. The Pencil is 24 feet tall. It was made from recycled cedar. The tip is made of metal while the eraser is made from rubber. It was restored in 2014. This photo is from 2015. In 2018, the Pencil was removed. It will supposedly be displayed in a "nearby community" in the future.
|
More Giant Pens:
Tiffin, IA
More Giant Pencils:
Denver, CO
Casey, IL
Ellettsville, IN [map]
West Lafayette, IN
Mount Dora, FL
Pocatello, ID
St. Louis, MO
Baltimore, MD
Cleveland, OH
Rochester, NY
Wysox, PA
Bracebridge, ON
|
Crayons
Easton, PA |
Crayons
Winnie, TX |
Paint Brush [gone]
San Andreas, CA |
Art Ellis Supply Inc. [gone]
Sacramento, CA |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
The giant box of Crayons in Easton hovers over the entrance of the Crayola Factory. This crayon box has been here since 1996 when the Factory opened. There is another giant crayon inside. For more, see this website. [map]
The giant box of Crayons in Winnie is installed in front of the East Chambers Elementary School. [map]
The giant Paint Brush was installed on the awning of the Calaveras Arts Council Gallery Store. This photo is from 2014. The Paint Brush was gone by 2018.
Art Ellis Supply Inc., an art supply store, opened in 1948. This sign appeared to be from the 1960s or 1970s. The store closed in 2014. The palette was gone by 2016 and the paintbrush was painted black. The sign was removed in 2017.
|
Paint
Sprayer [gone]
Rochester, NY |
Rubber Stamp
St. Joseph, MO |
Igloo Cooler
Katy, TX |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
This giant Paint Sprayer was located at Lou Fico's Repair & Refinish Collision. This photo is from 2010. By 2014, the building had been demolished and the Paint Sprayer was gone.
This Rubber Stamp is installed on the roof of Midwest Office Supply. I believe this business was established in the late 1950s. [map]
An even larger rubber stamp can be found in Cleveland, OH.
The Igloo Cooler is used as a security guard office in the parking lot at Igloo Products' headquarters. [map]
|
Gavel
Olympia, WA |
Gavel
Columbus, OH |
Gavel
Springville, UT |
 |
 |
 |
|
The Gavel in Olympia was installed in 1958 when this motel opened as the Golden Gavel Motor Hotel. Around 2001, it became the Olympia Inn but this gavel which is about 5 feet long remains. [map]
The Gavel in Columbus is located next to the Ohio Supreme Court Building. The stainless steel sculpture was created by Andrew Scott and installed in 2008. The gavel is 30 feet long and 13 feet tall. [map]
The Gavel in Springville was installed at the Gavel Store around 2006. It is about 14 feet long. [map]
|
Hammer [gone]
Toledo, OH |
Pierson
Building Center
Eureka, CA |
Rio Rancho
True Value Hardware
Rio Rancho, NM |
McAllen
Valley Roofing
McAllen, TX |
Hammer & Saw
Kearney, NE |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
This giant Hammer served as a sign for Fleeger's Pro Hardware. This photo is from 2009. By 2011, the store had closed and the hammer was gone.
The Pierson Building Center was established in 1962. The business moved to this building in 1971. This 26 foot tall sign was built in 1991. [map]
The Rio Rancho True Value Hardware hammer sign has been there since at least 2007. [map]
The McAllen Valley Roofing hammer sign was installed sometime between 2011 and 2015. [map]
The Hammer & Saw are installed in front of RW Sorenson Construction. [map]
|
Giant Saw
Lafayette, LA |
Giant Toolbox
La Porte, TX |
 |
 |
|
This Giant Saw is installed in front of Builders Best Tools and Fasteners. It has been there since at least 2008. [map]
This Giant Toolbox houses La Porte Tool Box. The 1950s building originally housed a bar. In 2011, it was adapted for this hardware store. There were plans for a handle on the roof but, apparently, that didn't happen. This photo is from 2018. [map]
|
Giant Chainsaw
Candor, NY |
 |
|
This Giant Chainsaw is installed at 99 Power & Paddle. The kayak below it is actual size. [map]
|
Pickaxe
Tonopah, NV |
Pliers with Bug
Vining, MN |
Plumbing Wrench
Union, OR |
Giant Nut, Bolt & Key
Amarillo, TX |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
This giant Pickaxe is installed in front of the Tonopah Brewing Company which opened in 2014. [map]
This pair of Pliers with Bug was created by Ken Nyberg from scrap iron. The sculpture is 14 feet tall. It is located at Nyberg Park. [map]
This Plumbing Wrench is located at the Hometown Hardware Store. It appears to be made of wood and was installed sometime after 2012. This photo is from 2016. [map]
The Giant Nut, Bolt & Key sculpture is installed next to the former Big A Bolts. It has been there since at least 2008. [map]
|
Scissors [gone]
Woodland Hills, CA |
Scissors
Crescent City, CA |
 |
 |
 |
|
This pair of Scissors in Woodland Hills was installed on the Wella Corporation building. Wella produces hair and beauty products. By 2018, the company and the Scissors were gone.
This pair of Scissors in Crescent Studio is installed on the roof of Kim's Hair Studio. They have been there since at least 2007. The blades may have been motorized to open and close. [map]
|
Venus Hair
Houston, TX |
Dental Tools
Spanish Fort, AL |
 |
 |
|
Venus Hair opened in 1978. Since at least 2008, the statue of Venus di Milo and the giant curler and comb have decorated the top of the building. Around 2015, the giant scissors were added. [map]
These Dental Tools are 16 feet long. They were installed next to dentist Barry Both's office in 2006. The stainless steel sculpture was commissioned as a tribute to the University of Alabama School of Dentistry which Booth attended. The sculpture is entitled "Piknmera," a reference to the dental pick and mirror. [map]
|
Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Oklahoma City, OK |
 |
 |
|
This giant Toothbrush and Toothpaste is installed in front of Small World Pediatric Dentistry. They have been there since at least 2007. [map]
|
| RoadsideArchitecture.com |
Copyright. All photos at this website are copyrighted and may only be used with my consent. This includes posting them at Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, other websites, personal use, etc.
Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com.
|
