South Dakota's Wall Drug Dinosaur Ranked Among Ugliest Public Art
The iconic Wall Drug in South Dakota, known for its free ice water and homemade doughnuts, has gained notoriety for a different reason. Its towering 80-foot dinosaur, a fixture since 1967 meant to attract travelers from Interstate 90, has been ranked as one of the ugliest pieces of public art in the United States. According to a survey of 2,000 U.S. adults conducted by Rivers Wall Art, the dinosaur landed in the top 20.
The Wall Drug Dinosaur's Dubious Distinction
The Wall Drug dinosaur ranked 19th out of 90 public art pieces on the list. The ranking highlights a perceived aesthetic awkwardness, describing it as more of a "roadside monster" than a "majestic spectacle." Despite this unflattering assessment, the dinosaur remains a beloved, albeit divisive, landmark for the state.
"Many say its sheer size and highway-camp visual make it feel more like a roadside monster than majestic spectacle. It's earned its status as a beloved icon, but more so as one of the state's most divisive and awkward landmarks."
South Dakota's Other Entry: Cornelius the Corn
The Wall Drug dinosaur wasn't South Dakota's only representative on the list. Cornelius, a fiberglass ear of corn located outside of Mitchell's Corn Palace, was ranked 67th. According to the survey, Cornelius suffers from a similar issue of clumsy design.
"Meant to be playful, Cornelius looks more like a giant, awkward children’s toy than a city mascot. The shiny surface and clumsy proportions give it a kitschy, unattractive look that’s more silly than celebratory."
The Top 20 Ugliest Public Art Pieces in the U.S.
Here is a list of the top 20 ugliest public art pieces in the U.S., according to Rivers Wall Art's survey:
- The Boll Weevil Monument (Enterprise, Alabama)
- Lipstick (Ascending) on Caterpillar Tracks (New Haven, Connecticut)
- The Wall of Death (Seattle, Washington)
- World's Largest Jackalope (Douglas, Wyoming)
- Giant License Plate Spider (St. George, Utah)
- Clothespin (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- Statue of Lucille Ball (Celoron, New York)
- Pink Elephant (Guthrie, Kentucky)
- Giant Safety Pin (New Orleans, Louisiana)
- Nibbles Woodaway (Providence, Rhode Island)
- Foamhenge (Centreville, Virginia)
- Burnside Fountain (Worcester, Massachusetts)
- Batcolumn (Chicago, Illinois)
- Big Milk Can (North Providence, Rhode Island)
- Male/Female (Baltimore, Maryland)
- Four-Headed Thunderbird Statue (Bismarck, North Dakota)
- Joseph Smith Sphinx (Salt Lake City, Utah)
- Selfie Statue (Sugar Land, Texas)
- Wall Drug Dinosaur (Wall, South Dakota)
- Art the Dalmation Sculpture (Shreveport, Louisiana)
