Northport, Alabama: Rusty the Big Red Dog

Impressively large scrap metal canine was sculpted in 1983 by Larry Godwin for his dad's feed store. Now on the roof of an art center (formerly the town's first gas station) surrounded by outdoor sculptures such as a big fire ant and a robot made of cinder blocks.

Stephens Gallery

Address:: 503 Main Ave., Northport, AL
Directions:: Stephens Gallery. From I-20/I-59, take the I-359 spur north into Tuscaloosa. Continue through downtown Tuscaloosa on Lurleen Wallace Blvd., which will take you over the Black Warrior River. Then immediately take the exit to downtown Northport, Rice Mine Rd., which turns into 5th St., brings you into downtown. When you reach Main Ave., turn right and park at the Kentuck Art Gallery.
Phone:: 205-758-1257
Admission:: Free
RA Rates:: Worth a Detour

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Visitor Tips and News About Rusty the Big Red Dog

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Rusty the Big Red Dog.

Rusty the Big Red Dog

Visited Northport this week and came upon Rusty the Big Red Dog. Rusty stands guard over Steve McQueen's folk art studio. Next door is the Kentuck Museum and Art Gallery. I say definitely stop, buy some art, and check out downtown Northport.

[Buffett 2010, 02/15/2019]

Rusty was created by artist Larry Godwin, who also built a big hog over in Dothan.

Red dog.

Huge Red Dog

You can walk around this little area and see all different things made by a blacksmith. The big red dog is best, but there's more awesome stuff along the path -- a giant fire ant, two pigs on a bench, cinderblock robot, etc.

[ME, 04/27/2012]

Red dog.

Huge Red Dog on Fine Arts Museum

Large red dog on top of a fine arts museum! No fire ant there.

[Sarah, 01/01/2010]

Huge Red Dog, Fire Ant

The huge red dog and fire ant sculptures are still here, and are occasionally joined by other creations from Northport metal worker Steve Davis. But I want to file one correction to the prior tip: Northport is south of Gordo, not north.

[Jeremy Butler, 04/08/2006]

Red Dog of Northport [photo by Uncle Flip].

Huge red dog, fire ant

I noticed the mention of Ma'Cille's in Gordo, AL. Some of the Ma'Cille artists moved 20 miles to Northport, the thriving little art community. Northport was already home to a huge red dog statue, but that wasn't enough for the art-hungry Northportians. Completed just last month was a several-foot statue of a fire ant. Fire ants came to this country through Mobile, Alabama, so it is only right that this state have the official fire ant statue.

[Robert Stapleton, 08/08/1999]