Paul Bunyan, Lumberjack Giant: The Story and What Is True

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Paul Bunyan, Lumberjack Giant is a story told about Brainerd Lakes area (Paul Bunyan statues and Welcome Center), Crow Wing County. Vote believe it or no way, then see what 2 named sources say is documented.

LegendKind of story
2Named sources
Central LakesRegion
Nov 1Checked, 2026

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Local legend. Not confirmed. Just for fun.

No. 11 of 24

Paul Bunyan, Lumberjack Giant

People say Paul Bunyan was a giant lumberjack who logged the north woods with Babe the Blue Ox, and that his tall tales go back to old logging camps. Around Brainerd he greets visitors as a statue, and one even talks.

What The Sources Document

MNopedia says the stories grew from mid-1800s logging-camp tales told in the upper Great Lakes. It places the first stories recognized today in Wisconsin in 1885 or winter 1885-1886 (the page gives both) and the first published account in an uncredited 1904 Duluth News Tribune article. In 1914 William B. Laughead made a promotional pamphlet for the Red River Lumber Company, reissued in 1916 and 1922, with the first documented image of Bunyan and the earliest known logo. James Stevens's 1925 book added Babe the Blue Ox, according to MNHS. For Brainerd, MNHS lists Paul Bunyan Land with a 26-foot animated Bunyan opening in 1950, and a 12-foot statue installed at the Brainerd Lakes Welcome Center in 2006. The camp tales are folklore. The pamphlet that spread him was advertising.

Sources: Paul Bunyan (folklore character) (MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society); Paul Bunyan Days: Visit Explore Brainerd Lakes Welcome Center (Explore Brainerd Lakes).

A Note

Not confirmed: the Welcome Center page we read does not mention the statue. Its 2006 date rests on the Minnesota Historical Society. Paul Bunyan Land is a separate private park.

Its home: Explore Brainerd Lakes Welcome Center, 7393 State Highway 371, Brainerd. Official page.

On this site: Historic Sites, Central Lakes Events.

Looked for and Not Found

An official page for Paul Bunyan Land

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Where do these facts come from?

From the named sources listed on this page: Paul Bunyan (folklore character) (MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society); Paul Bunyan Days: Visit Explore Brainerd Lakes Welcome Center (Explore Brainerd Lakes).

Sources

Read on November 1, 2026. Stories are for fun; the facts come from these sources. How we check: editorial standards; spot a mistake? tell us.

Cite this page: It's Minnesota, “Paul Bunyan, Lumberjack Giant”, itsminnesota.com/legends/paul-bunyan-brainerd/ (updated 2026-11-01). By the It's Minnesota editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.