Two Harbors, Minnesota: Pierre the Pantsless Voyageur

Tall fiberglass Voyageur statue stands next to a fiberglass canoe. You can enter the canoe for photo ops. There is a 5-minute audio reel that talks about the voyageurs in northern Minnesota. Illuminated at night, and his eyes light up red. Especially scary during a snow storm, I'm told.

Once a forlorn pantless statue in front of an old motel, he's now standing proud in front of a local car dealer, complete with a new paddle, canoe, and lights to guide his way at night. But, alas, he still has no pants! The owners claim he's wearing "tights," but I think not.

Pierre is upright, gives a little talk on the history of Voyageurs like himself, and has a new canoe you can sit in for a photo opp. He also has his paddle.

A construction crew hacked Pierre out of the ground on February 11 in preparation for his move to his new home. They had to decapitate Pierre, and in the process of lifting him they tore off his feet. On Valentine's Day he'll be trucked 1.5 miles south to his new home, outside the Earthwood Inn, where he'll lie on the ground until it thaws in the Spring. Pierre's new owners have pledged to fully restore Pierre when he's re-erected.

This will likely be Pierre's last season on his current spot. The property, which Pierre pantslessly guarded for 50 frozen Minnesota winters, has been sold out from under him. He will have to be moved, probably in Spring 2011. Where is anyone's guess, although the landlord reportedly has taken bids only from local people.