Did you know the world’s largest Superman statue is located in Illinois? The small town of Metropolis is a short drive from Paducah, Kentucky and claims to be the comic book hero’s “hometown”. Metropolis welcomes travelers from all over the world each year.
It’s hard to miss the 15-foot high statue, complete with a flowing red cape and blue spandex costume. Appropriately, it’s placed just steps away from the local police department headquarters. During the holidays, he wears a giant Santa hat and even wore a large face mask during the height of the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic.
Visitors can stand out front and pose for photos with Superman and see other related statues and props around town. Down the street, you’ll spot Lois Lane and even a green kryptonite rock. Pose for a picture in a phone booth (after explaining to your kids what a phone booth is.) There are a few local restaurants and gift shops to choose from and a large painted mural that extends greetings from Metropolis.
The main attraction is the Super Museum which is home to countless Superman artifacts like costumes and props used in movies and television shows. There are more pieces of Superman memorabilia than you can count – with thousands of items that include board games, comic books, action figures, lunch boxes, and various collectibles. Admission to the museum is $8.00.
In the 1970’s – the town of Metropolis had grand visions of building a large theme park, complete with a 200-foot tall Superman. Visitors would drive through his legs to enter the park, according to the original plans. That fell through after the energy crisis of that decade wreaked havoc on the economy.
The Superman statue was built by the same company that built the large replica of the Emmy award that you’ve probably seen on television. The finished product was unveiled in 1993. Each year, Metropolis holds a Superman festival where all things Superman are celebrated.
To learn more about Metropolis, the Superman statue, or the Super Museum – you can visit their official website: https://supermuseum.com/metropolis-illinois