National Paul Bunyan Day

Today is recognized as National Paul Bunyan Day. Locally Bemidji, Brainerd, and Akeley along with seven other cities across the United States celebrate the tall tale legend.

Some stories say that the tall lumberjack was born in Bemidji. Paul eventually made a best friend in an ox he found during the Year of Blue Snow. Paul Bunyan later named his ox friend who was permanently turned blue from the cold and snow, babe.

Paul was known as a woodsman and for the ability to cut down acres of trees in only a few minutes. Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox are even created for creating Lake Itasca and the Mississippi River.

The two legends stand together today in Bemidji where they appear on the National Register of Historic Places as well as being listed on the National Geographic Top 10 U.S. Roadside Attractions. Time magazine even listed in Time’s Top 50 American Roadside Attractions.