Skip to Main Content

Lake City, Minnesota: Statue: Inventor of Waterskis

Life-size bronze statue was dedicated on July 2, 2022, the 100th anniversary of Ralph Samuelson's invention. His waterskis are huge, like boards he tore off the side of a barn.

Address:
Park St., Lake City, MN
Directions:
On the lake shore. From US-61/63 downtown turn east (no stoplight) onto Walnut St. Drive three blocks. Turn left onto Park St. You'll see the statue ahead on the right.
Save to My Sights

Visitor Tips and News About Statue: Inventor of Waterskis

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Original Water Skier Statue.

Original Water Skier Statue

A bronze statue of Ralph Samuelson is in his hometown of Lake City, Minnesota. The statue is near the corner of Park Street and East Chestnut Street, on the shore of Lake Pepin, where Samuelson created water skiing.

When we visited in June 2023 there was no marker by the statue. A local said that there was a historical marker in a different part of town.

[Kelli Shrivastava, 06/17/2023]
Original Water Ski Statue

Lake City is the birthplace of waterskiing. The town has a life-size bronze statue of Ralph Samuelson and the water skis that he invented to ski on scenic Lake Pepin.

[Gina Lynch, 10/01/2022]

The statue was dedicated on July 2, 2022. Samuelson's waterskis are huge, and look like boards he tore off the side of a barn.


Nearby Offbeat Places

Ski FenceSki Fence, Pepin, WI - 7 mi.
Replica Birthplace of Laura Ingalls WilderReplica Birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Stockholm, WI - 6 mi.
Yard Art of Richard HansonYard Art of Richard Hanson, Nelson, WI - 13 mi.
In the region:
Vikings, Beach Dude, Gorilla, Hampton, MN - 39 mi.

Latest Tips Across Roadside America

Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.

Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!

Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Map and Plan Your Own Roadside Adventure ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

Minnesota Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

World's Largest Cat, Pine Island, New York (Apr 22-28, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings