We are betting that many of you have heard of the TV show Rare Visions & Roadside Revelations, which airs on public television. The dynamic trio searches out unique sights across the nation, but in Lucas, Kansas we found a collection that was the subject of one of their stops. At The World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things Traveling Roadside Attraction and Museum we would enjoy a most unusual visit. Having started our morning with an oversize meal, we were certainly on the path to a record setting day. (More on that later in the article!)
We would like to thank the Lucas Chamber of Commerce and the World’s Largest Collection for their hospitality. Rest assured all opinions are our own.
More Than a Mouthful
The World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things Traveling Roadside Attraction and Museum will hereafter be noted as World’s Largest, if for no other reason than to save my typing time. We had the pleasure of meeting up with Erika Nelson, who is the brains behind this traveling collection. Yes, I said traveling, since much of her team’s time is spent taking their fascinating collection to the masses.
World’s Largest Recognizable Collection
Anyone who watches Roadside Revelations has certainly seen many of the over-sized items they have uncovered. It is a testament to the human race that we create memorials to things like the largest Superman statue or the biggest Blue Ox. Crystal and I have had the pleasure of witnessing a few World’s Largest firsthand, but many are just images we have beheld on postcards or TV shows. A trip across Nebraska did offer us a visit to Carhenge, which is an automobile version of Stonehenge. (Yeah, it really exists.) Erika was far more knowledgeable about these tributes than either of us, and showed us images from many of her journeys. (She has racked up way more miles than we have.)
World’s Largest Souvenir Travel Plate
It quickly became apparent that Erika was a formidable fanatic for the education about the World’s Largest items. Not only has she seen many, she even worked on the creation of the signature item for the town of Lucas. On our way into town, we passed this massive plate, which memorializes many of the top attractions found around the area. Erika used an old satellite dish for the base, and it is mounted in a prominent position for those arriving in town.
A Peek Behind The Scenes
Since theirs is a traveling exhibit, the space they occupy in Lucas is used more for storage and behind the scenes work. We walked through their shop and saw many of the pieces that would be more challenging to haul in a vehicle. Over the years, they have amassed a collection of oddities that each have their own story. Photos taken from across the nation are mementos of wondrous sights they have seen. Taking me through this was like setting a kid free in a candy store. There was so much to explore and with each new piece a new discovery. Why, even this diminutive miniature golf course can actually be played.
A Different Record Being Set
As I alluded to earlier, our morning had started out as a record setter for us. Breakfast had taken place at the K-18 Cafe, on the eastern edge of town. What seemed like a simple order of a short stack of pancakes turned out to be an unexpectedly large meal. We quickly determined that “short” stack only described the height. Oh well, it would prove to be some much needed fuel for our morning of scurrying around town. We will certainly remember our massive meal, which was accompanied by a conversation with some locals, including the owner of the restaurant. Like many of you probably realize, the central part of the country is filled with welcoming people. That’s an added bonus for explorers like us. What are some of the largest discoveries you have made? We’d love to hear about them!