The World’s Largest Loon Statue Is Now in St. Paul, Minnesota, and I Had to Experience It for Myself

The common loon (Gavia immer) is kind of a big deal in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. It's our official state bird - you'll find its likeness on the state seal and the Minnesota quarter. The National Loon Center Foundation is located at Crosslake, in the Brainerd Lakes area, and many local products and businesses, like Loon Juice Hard Cider, which is made in Spring Valley, and the Loon Cafe in Minneapolis, are namesakes of this beloved aquatic bird. Towns across the state, such Vergas and Virginia, host festivals in its name. And for many of us Minnesotans, no sound is more iconic or representative of the Bold North than the haunting cry of a loon echoing across a lake in the summer. In fact, we are so enamored of the bird that the world's largest loon statue is right here in Minnesota and has been for more than half a century - although it hasn't always been the same statue.

From the early 1960s through 2024, the title of "world's largest loon statue" belonged to an iconic 20-foot tall structure standing sentinel over the northwestern end of Long Lake at a municipal park in Vergas. But in late 2024, the Vergas loon was dethroned. Intrigued by this turn of events, I thought I'd better go have a look at the usurper - a sculpture in St. Paul.

The folks behind the great Minnesota loon coup of 2024 were the McGuire Family Foundation, which commissioned renowned artist Andy Scott to design a centerpiece work for the University Sculpture Plaza at United Village. The plaza is adjacent to Allianz Field in St. Paul, where the Minnesota United Major League Soccer club play. As you know, or have probably guessed, the team's nickname is the Loons, and its logo and mascot, PK, are also both loons. So, the sculpture is definitely apt.

Scott's sculpture is a 25-ton loon known as The Calling. It rises more than 32 feet above the plaza and stretches 89 feet from wingtip to wingtip. It's constructed from more than 50,000 individual "feathers," which were fabricated from stainless steel to give the sculpture its unique texture.

The St. Paul loon could wrap the Vergas loon in a friendly hug, and still have wingspan to spare. It certainly dwarfed me!

I predict The Calling will hold the title of world's largest loon for quite a few years to come. Look for this wonderful piece of public art and - I would argue - roadside attraction in Minnesota at the corner of University and Snelling Avenues in St. Paul. If you're a loon lover like me, you'll definitely want to check out Etsy for everything loon, from apparel to home decor and stickers. Have you visited either of Minnesota's largest loon statues? We'd love to hear about your favorite loon-y places in Minnesota.