Gopher Fairchild

St. Paul, Minnesota, United States

Characters and mascots

✓

Current

Listed, not yet checked · Oct 2026

This Big Thing is recorded as still being here.

Fairchild is a fibreglass gopher statue about 24 feet tall, unveiled by the Minnesota State Fair in 1966 as its mascot. Mpls.St.Paul Magazine reported in August 2026 that it stands on Cosgrove Street near the Space Tower on the fairgrounds in St. Paul.

Private to your Passport.

PLAN YOUR VISIT

No recommended arrival yet

We have not checked a recommended place to arrive or stop here yet.

This takes you to the Big Thing itself. If stopping, choose a safe and legal place nearby.

Gopher Fairchild

This pin marks the Big Thing itself. If stopping, choose a safe and legal place nearby.

Site-level location · 44.9776° N, 93.1787° W

FIELD GUIDE

The story

Fairchild is a gopher 24 feet tall, and the Minnesota State Fair has kept him standing on the fairgrounds in St. Paul since 1966. He wears a green striped outfit and a carnival barker hat, and Mpls.St.Paul Magazine reported in August 2026 that he can still be seen on Cosgrove Street near the Space Tower.

Fair archivist Keri Huber told the magazine that the fair had used gopher illustrations on letterheads and advertisements since the early 1900s, so a gopher made sense as a mascot, and that the fair did not want to favour any livestock animal. MPR News reported in 2016 that officials wanted something more permanent than the yearly letterhead image, so a fibreglass gopher about 24 feet tall was built on the fairgrounds and a statewide contest was held to name him.

Roughly 1,000 people entered, and two chose Fairchild. Huber said the name honours Henry Fairchild, who in the 1800s suggested the Ramsey County Poor Farm as the permanent fairgrounds; the fair has been on the site since 1885. MPR's archive photograph shows the statue in 1966 on a pedestal a few feet from where it stands now, and the outlet reported that it stays outdoors year-round.

A costumed Fairchild began roaming the fair in 1967, and his nephew Fairborne joined him in 1983.

The State Fair says the fairgrounds are open to the public for recreation year-round, approximately 6am to 11pm, except during special events, though none of the buildings are open to the public. The page is subject to change, and the fair listed a one-day closure for a 5k race on 8 November 2026.

Add a photo

PRACTICAL

Plan your stop

WHAT TO EXPECT

A large outdoor statue of the State Fair's gopher mascot on the fairgrounds, wearing a green striped outfit and carnival barker hat. The State Fair says the grounds are open for recreation outside special events, with the buildings closed.

ACCESS

Cosgrove Street near the Space Tower, Minnesota State Fairgrounds, St. Paul. The State Fair lists public recreational access year-round, about 6am to 11pm, except special events; walk-in gates are at Larpenteur and Underwood, and Snelling and Hoyt.

COMMUNITY

Visitor Log

WHAT'S NEXT

Find another Big Thing nearby

✓

Current

The Calling giant stainless-steel loon (32.5 ft) Allianz Field

St. Paul, Minnesota

The Calling is a stainless-steel loon sculpture by Scottish artist Andy Scott, beside Allianz Field at Snelling and University avenues in St. Paul. It opened in 2024 as part of the United Village development. The stadium gives its size as 32.5 feet tall, with an 89.5-foot wingspan, and a weight of 25 tons; other reports round the height to 30 or 33 feet.

Public art

2.7 km away

TRANSPARENCY

Sources & research

Something not right?

If this Big Thing has changed, moved or gone, telling us keeps the guide honest for the next traveller.

Suggest an update →Report a problem →