Oklahoma Totem Poles

We were back to following Historic Route 66 through Oklahoma when I remembered reading something about totem poles in Foyil. Checking in my notebook on things to see......

..... and after a few wrong turns discovered these amazing pieces of Folk Art standing in a grassy park.

Ed Galloway (1880-1962) built these totem poles and other whimsical structures out of concrete placed over a skeleton of scrap metal and sandstone. The largest of the structures is claimed to be The World's Largest Totem Pole, it is 90 feet tall and 30 feet around the base. It is supported on the back of a turtle with side art including Indian Chiefs in full head-dress, owls, lizards and other American Indian decorations. The door to the structure was closed and locked but I am told that there is a winding staircase inside to climb to the top.
After years of neglect, the structures have been restored so another generation can admire and marvel at them.
Located 4 miles East of Foyil, Oklahoma on Highway 28A, the totems are a few miles off the main highways but well worth searching for.

(If you look at the middle photgraph you will see my white van in the background.)

For additional information on these totem poles and Ed Galloway:
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/OK-TotemPolePark.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Galloway's_Totem_Pole_Park