Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus in Spencer County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Mother Goose Land Train

Photographed by Thomas Smith, June 17, 2021

1. Mother Goose Land Train Marker

Inscription. Mother Goose characters have delighted visitors since Santa Claus Land's opening in 1946. Originally located in individual dioramas, the concrete statues were relocated to span the route of the Santa Claus land railroad in the 1950s to provide riders with a "fairyland" experience. The first set of statues was created by August Mack [1879-1947] of Bedford, Indiana. The current set is the work of Lewis Sorensen [1910-1985] of Santa Cruz, California. Other 1950-era Sorensen artwork still on display at Holiday World includes several murals and the Nativity scene.

Erected by Holiday World & Splashin' Safari.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1946.

Location. 38° 7.152′ N, 86° 54.784′ W. Marker is in Santa Claus, Indiana, in Spencer County. It is in Holiday World & Splashin' Safari. It can be reached from the intersection of East Christmas Boulevard (Indiana Route 162) and Route 245, on the right when traveling west. Marker is in a row of 3 blue plaques, at the rear of "Engine 1946", between Liberty Bell Shoppe and Star Spangled Carousel, in section "4th of July". Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 452 E Christmas Blvd, Santa Claus IN 47579, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Tri-State Region

and in Southern Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

walking distance of this marker: Santa Claus Land Railroad (here, next to this marker); Freedom Train (here, next to this marker); The Raven (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); America's Everyday Heroes (about 800 feet away); Historic Santa Statue (approx. 0.3 miles away); St. Paul's Santa Claus Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Santa Claus Land/Holiday World (approx. 0.3 miles away); Santa Claus (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Claus.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 434 times since then and 35 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on July 8, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker in context. • Can you help?