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Statue of Olive Oyl, Swee'Pea, and the Jeep.

Statue of Olive Oyl, Swee'Pea, and the Jeep

Field review by the editors.

Chester, Illinois

Unveiled in 2007, this granite statue is part of a decades-long project to honor hometown hero Elzie Crisler Segar, creator of Popeye, with tributes to his Sunday Funnies family scattered along a "character trail" in town.

With her string bean physique, Olive Oyl is instantly recognizable as Popeye's girlfriend and cause of frequent fights between Popeye and rival suitor Bluto. Less well known is Swee'Pea, a foundling baby raised by Popeye who had the ability to predict the future; and Eugene the Jeep, a creature from the fourth dimension with a pot belly and sausage nose.

The Popeye universe of the 1930s was much stranger than you might think.

Statue of Olive Oyl, Swee'Pea, and the Jeep

Address:
600 State St., Chester, IL
Directions:
South side of town, across the street from the Randolph County Courthouse. On the northwest corner of State and Taylor Sts, which are both also Hwy 150.
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Nearby Offbeat Places

Statue of Cole OylStatue of Cole Oyl, Chester, IL - < 1 mi.
Statue of PopeyeStatue of Popeye, Chester, IL - < 1 mi.
Statue of WimpyStatue of Wimpy, Chester, IL - < 1 mi.
In the region:
Bull vs. Bear Death Match, St. Louis, MO - 54 mi.

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