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Poplar Bluff, Missouri: Indian Chief Statue

A decaying Indian Chief statue had at one time a speaking tube that amplified voices, but not any more. Give a fresh coat of paint in 2017.

Address:
S. Westwood Blvd, Poplar Bluff, MO
Directions:
S. Westwood and Cravens Rd., south side of street across from the Relax Motel.
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Visitor Tips and News About Indian Chief Statue

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The Old Indian Chief

I've been looking for the Old Indian Chief for years until I finally found him on Roadside America! In the early 1960s we would drive from St. Louis to my grandma's in Arkansas. One of our stopping points was the Old Indian. He stood in front of a gift shop/souvenir stand/spook house, all combined.

We would first climb all over the Indian, then go in to buy candy and sodas, and then go through the spook house, which cost a quarter. As a kid it was so scary: water would roll up hill in a trough, we would get on a wooden step ladder and it would walk, and then we would walk down a dark hallway and our dresses would blow up in the air! We always screamed and ran, although we knew it was coming. Oh the memories!

[Cathy Trezza, 03/02/2024]

Lock box in the Indian Chief's back.

Indian Chief Statue

What mysterious treasure lies behind this locked door in the Indian Chief statue? The world may never know.

[Ron Renken, 03/13/2023]

Indian statue.

Chief Indian Statue

There is no longer a tube to speak through; very disappointing. The statue has been repainted, although it is still falling apart.

[Marlis H., 12/29/2017]

The tube supposedly ran up inside the statue and enabled visitors to make the Chief "speak" through a hole in his chest.

Decaying Indian statue.

Indian Chief Statue

The Indian Chief Statue in Poplar Bluff greets travelers as they travel along S. Westwood. He stands just south of town near Patch's (auto parts?) on the north side of the street, which is just across from Relax Motel. This is very near the intersection of S. Westwood (old Hwy 67) and Cravens Rd.

He is fabricated from concrete and an apparent steel support structure. He is not in the best condition. It appears that age is taking its toll on the old man.

Someone had mentioned a pipe you could speak into and make it appear as though the speech was coming from the Indian's mouth. I didn't read this until today so I didn't investigate because of a few wasps flying around. However, you can see a hole in the Chief's chest. I'll try to research this a little closer the next time I stop to visit with him.

[tdowler, 07/03/2011]
Talk-Thru Indian

I have seen a muffler man-like creature in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Actually, I think it's pre-muffler man. It's a giant Indian and in the back of it is a pipe that runs up the inside of the statue to the mouth. You can talk into the pipe and it sounds like the Indian is talking!

Also in Poplar Bluff, I remember going to the "Call Of The Wild" museum [long gone]. They had a "Bigfoot Creature" gallery which was way cool....The billboards all said"Whoa! stop here!"

[juliedoe, 08/13/2000]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Muffler Man: Chief WappaleseMuffler Man: Chief Wappalese, Lake Wappapello, MO - 17 mi.
Frogs Shooting PoolFrogs Shooting Pool, Doniphan, MO - 24 mi.
Oldest American Statue Of Liberty Outside Of New YorkOldest American Statue Of Liberty Outside Of New York, Paragould, AR - 47 mi.
In the region:
Town Named Goobertown, Goobertown, AR - 55 mi.

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