The World’s Largest Goose Is Right Here In Missouri And You’ll Want To Visit

A drive down any Missouri road usually means a few surprises, whether we discover a hidden gem restaurant that dishes up the world's best barbecue or we spot the world's largest fork. Missouri, after all, lays claim to quite a few of the world's largest things - from a toilet paper roll to a chess piece. The World's Largest Goose in Missouri is also a popular roadside attraction, a fun addition to any bucket list.

Maxie, the World's Largest Goose, sits in Sumner, fittingly known as the Wild Goose Capital of the World.

She's been a staple of the small Missouri town, where there are more geese than people, for decades. (The town's population is just over 115 at last count.)

The larger-than-life creation of David C. Jackson, a Kansas City artist, Maxie made her debut in 1974 and has been a fun roadside attraction ever since.

Standing a whopping 40 feet tall, Maxie's wings spread out 65 feet. Perhaps the town's most popular long-term resident, Maxie got her name from Branta Canadensis Maxima.

The scientific name for the Giant Canada Goose is, after all, Branta Canadensis Maxima.

Jackson died in 2013, and Maxie's age began to show. Jackson's daughters spearheaded a fundraising effort to have Maxie restored.

That restoration is underway, so Maxie can be returned to her former glory.

Every year the tiny town also hosts the Sumner Wild Goose Festival in October.

For two and a half days, townspeople and visitors come together to celebrate and to visit Maxie.

Learn more on the Maxie, the World's Largest Goose Facebook page. Or, stop by the Goose Festival website for more on the annual celebration.

Have you been to Sumner to see the world's largest goose in Missouri? What did you think? Share your experience in the comments! Love a good slice of gooey butter cake? You won't find better than at this bakery in Missouri.