Here’s The Story Behind The Massive Sandhill Crane Statue In North Dakota
By Tori Jane|Published February 16, 2022
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
If you’ve ever found yourself cruising along I-94 and passing Exit 200, you might have noticed something a little odd on the not-so-distant horizon. It’s an enormous statue of a sandhill crane and, upon first glance, one doesn’t usually get the whole picture of just how large it is. Upon coming closer, however, the full scale of the monument becomes clear; standing at an impressive 40 feet high, this particular sandhill crane’s name is, appropriately, Sandy, and she’s the town of Steele’s way of honoring her fascinating and resilient species. This sandhill crane statue in North Dakota has a truly interesting reason for being, and her construction was one heck of a labor of love.
The wildlands of North Dakota are a wild and beautiful place; it's definitely one of those states where you ought to expect the unexpected at all times.
This particular region is known as the Coteau Rangeland, and it's a favorite location for nesting migratory birds - namely, the beautiful sandhill crane.
Tucked behind the Cobblestone Inn and Suites just off Exit 200 on the I-94, a monster of a crane looms overhead, watching the surrounding world, waiting for something that will (probably) never come.
The sandhill crane is a remarkable species, having gone relatively unchanged for more than 2 million years. This evolutionary perfection, so to speak, offers it tremendous benefits in terms of survival. After all, we don't fix what isn't broken, right?
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A local farmer-turned-artist by the name of James Miller was contacted about the creation of an enormous monument to one of North Dakota's most intriguing critters.
He enthusiastically accepted the challenge and got to work; soon enough, he sent his drawings and plans to create a giant steel skeleton, which he spent months building upon and perfecting.
The body was one segment, the head and neck another, and the legs the final. The legs were fabricated with pipe, and the rest of the bird was created with rolled sheet metal. James was the right artist for this job, though; his experience in creating sheet metal art ensured that this project would go very well - and it did.
It was officially erected where it stands in 1999, after at least a year of building and preparation.
The statue was funded by - and is taken care of to this day by - members of the world's largest sandhill crane foundation, which is located right here in the town of Steele.
Come hang out with Sandy and take some pictures; she loves the attention!
Sandy is a reminder of how lucky we are to have these beautiful, ancient birds in our little corner of the world. The (perhaps unintentional) irony of the statue being made of a steel frame and sheet work in the town of Steele, North Dakota, isn't lost on us, either.
Have you ever wondered about this sandhill crane statue in North Dakota? Have you ever seen it? Tell us your thoughts in the comments. Need some more offbeat things to do in North Dakota? Check out this road trip that takes you to some of the best weird hidden gems in our little state!
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