This Friday the State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation could nominate the Paul Bunyan statue in Kenton to the National Register of Historic Places.
The 31-foot tall statue has stood in Kenton for close to 50 years. Built in 1959, it was originally intended to last about 6 months as part of a statewide celebration of Oregon's centennial. The neighborhood embraced the statue as a link to its working class roots. It is now the recognized image of the Kenton neighborhood.
If the Committee on Historic Preservation votes to nominate the statue, the nomination is then forwarded to the Keeper of the National Register. Once received, the Keeper has 45 days to approve or deny the nomination. If approved, it would be the first Oregon roadside attraction to make it on the list.
