STEVEN GREENQUIST, "BIG DADDY," 1969

carved out of red cedar, 83' tall. 17' wingspan

Located: public boulevard on North Main St. Abingdon, Ill.

Other works: Unknown

In 1969 Steven Greenquist was 18 years old when he carved "Big Daddy," a 83-foot tall totem pole. While it is first and foremost a tourist attraction in Abingdon, it does reveal the imagination of a young man who had done considerable research on ancient Native American art. It may be important to note that two major Native American trails crossed Knox County and other trails extend over the greater part of Knox County. So, perhaps, the idea of the "tallest totem pole east of the Mississippi" is not totally incongruous with this county.

The pole is divided into eight segments with a base. Included in the carved segments are images of an ear of corn, the area's most important crop at the time; the state flower, a violet; wings shaped like the state of Illinois; an Indian Chief, representing all Indians of Illinois; and an early settler. Topping off the immense pole is the state bird, a Cardinal, with a wingspan of 17 feet. Most interesting is the inclusion in segments 4, 5 and 6 which are portraits of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, who debated the slavery issue in Knox County in 1858.

"Big Daddy" was sponsored by the Abingdon Development Council.