Paul stands 18 feet tall in his lumberjack clothes, axe in hand, staring across the lake with an expression of vague contentment. Babe the Blue Ox stands beside him at 10 feet, painted in an improbable shade of blue. They have occupied this spot on the Lake Bemidji shoreline for nearly ninety years, and they remain one of the more satisfying examples of American roadside sculpture — oversized, earnest, and completely committed to the bit.
Seeing them costs nothing. The lakeshore park is open and accessible at any hour. Bring a camera and get the photo; the statues are built for it, positioned to fit two adults standing in front with both figures visible. There is also a small visitor information office nearby if you need maps or local tips.