Paul Bunyan is an important character in American mythology. His birthplace is debated, but it’s generally thought to be a mid-western state, likely Minnesota, Michigan, or Wisconsin. So if you’re driving through the Empire State, you may be surprised to see a giant hippie Paul Bunyan statue in New York. The history of this unique statue is as interesting as its appearance.

Paul Bunyan was a massive lumberjack with superhuman strength. Tales of his legendary exploits (along with his pet ox, Babe) have been told in a variety of books, movies, and children's shows.
New World Productions/Wikimedia Commons
While it's debatable whether the man ever actually existed, he is a symbol of American folklore that has endured for generations.
Seemingly, Paul Bunyan has little to do with the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival.
Derek Redmond and Paul Campbell/Wikimedia Commons
So how did a Paul Bunyan statue in New York end up near Max Yasgur's farm, the site of Woodstock?
Jen Lee/Google Maps

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"Hippie Paul Bunyan," as this Paul Bunyan statue in New York is affectionately nicknamed, is one of many such giant fiberglass statues throughout the country. Known as "muffler men," the statues are generally 18-25 feet tall and were used to advertise roadside businesses.
Wayne Hsieh/Flickr
Most muffler men were made by the California-based International Fiberglass. The statues cost up to $2,800 each and were important for designating individual businesses. The highway system was in its infancy, and everyone wanted to attract attention.
Leonard J. DeFrancisci/Wikimedia Commons
Many muffler men have been damaged or lost to time, but there are around 15 still remaining in New York.
One of the most popular is Hippie Paul Bunyan, who now stands proudly on Highway 17B near Yasgur's Farm. He is the only known muffler man to sport a tie-dyed shirt, and one of very few to possess eyelashes.
yooperann/Flickr
Interestingly, it's not 100 percent clear how Hippie Paul Bunyan came to be here. His history is as fuzzy as the origins of the Paul Bunyan legends. According to some, he started life at a cafe in Arizona before moving to New York. Some claim that he stood at the Great Danbury Fair in Connecticut until the fair shut down in the 1980s.

What is confirmed is that he once stood outside of a fish market near Monticello, where he apparently got his tie-dye look in the 1990s. He was moved to the Woodstock site in 2003 and greets visitors to the area.

If you’re a fan of Woodstock, make sure to check out the nearby Bethel Woods Center for the Arts!

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Yasgur Road, 34 Yasgur Rd, Bethel, NY 12720, USA