Ranier in Koochiching County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

The Story of Big Vic

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 20, 2024

1. The Story of Big Vic Marker

Inscription.
Minnesota has a long history of protest and self-advocacy, Koochiching County being no exception. The creation of Voyageurs National Park (VNP) in 1975 sparked a heated debate between private land owners and the National Park Service (NPS). The private land owners viewed the NPS's “indiscriminate use of eminent domain” as an egregious overreach of power, while the NPS viewed the acquisition of private land as imperative to protect the integrity of the Borderland's natural beauty and resources; this debate quickly evolved into a protest. The man who spearheaded this protest was Vic Davis. When the NPS announced they would be buying private land within what was to become VNP, Davis and many others were outraged by the “unscrupulous” land-grabbing policies. Private land owners were told they would no longer be allowed to develop their land, so many of them decided to sell to the NPS to avoid condemnation. For those who did not want to take the NPS's offer, they were subjected to complicated tenancy rules for their continued, yet limited, ownership of their land. To show his disdain for the NPS's actions, Davis, along with

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Carl Brown and John Butch McHarg, bought Little Cranberry Island in January 1980 and decided to take the NPS to court at every turn. Davis took the protest one step further by having Big Vic commissioned and placed on the island. It cost Davis $12,000 to have Big Vic built and another $7,000 to have him flown to the island by helicopter. In addition, Davis was offering people the opportunity to purchase 1/44,460 of a parcel of Little Cranberry Island for $19.95; with the intention of overwhelming the NPS with paperwork. At the time of the placement of Big Vic, 2,000 parcels had already been sold. As a result of Davis developing his land within VNP, the NPS would not offer fair market value for the island or Big Vic and exercised their right for Eminent Domain and seized the property, which only prompted Davis to have a second voyageur statue, Big Louie, created for $16,000 and placed on the land he bought in the Black Bay Narrows. Big Vic and Big Louie stood proudly in VNP for 3 years and 8 years, respectfully, before the NPS was finally able to have them removed. The mayor of Ranier at the time, Ed Woods, wanted to have Big Vic stand

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 20, 2024

2. The Story of Big Vic Marker

at the entrance of Ranier but the NPS was reluctant to have the statue challenging their reputation standing en route to the largest visitor center of VNP, but the NPS eventually yielded and sold Big Vic to the city of Ranier for $1. Big Louie found himself transported to Barnum, MN where he was purchased by the owner of the Lazy Bear Grill and given a permanent home. These two legendary Voyageurs continue to stand as symbols of protest and justice and as a reminder that no power is too great to confront.

Big Vic and Big Louie were made in Sparta, Wisconsin by Creative Displays Inc. They are 25 feet tall and 11½ feet wide at the shoulders. Big Vic weighs 2,300 pounds while Big Louie weighs 3,200 pounds, both are made of fiberglass with rebar armatures. Big Vic was flown to Little Cranberry Island from Rainy Lake Houseboats in 1980 by helicopter and Big Louie was taken to Perry Point by barge in 1982.

A sign accompanied Big Vic on the island stating: “This Voyageur is a symbol and a warning to the politicians in Washington, D.C. ... from now on, any laws, rules or regulations coming from Washington will automatically be challenged in

Big Vic Voyageur Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 20, 2024

3. Big Vic Voyageur Statue

a court of law.”

In 1990, Vic Davis was finally awarded $1.2 million for his land in Black Bay, after spending nearly half a million dollars battling the NPS's land grabbing-policies. Also thanks to Davis, the NPS ceded the hunting land of Gold Portage, the only instance of land cession in the NPS's history.

Erected by Koochiching County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Law Enforcement • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1975.

Location. 48° 36.557′ N, 93° 20.915′ W. Marker is in Ranier, Minnesota, in Koochiching County. It is on Spruce Street (County Road 113) just north of Waters of the Dancing Sky Scenic Byway (State Highway 11), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ranier MN 56668, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Minnesota’s Northland. It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically,

Big Vic Voyageur Statue & Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 20, 2024

4. Big Vic Voyageur Statue & Marker

it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Edmund C. Woods Sr. (here, next to this marker); Fort St. Pierre / Le Fort Saint-Pierre (approx. half a mile away in Canada); Calder History (approx. 1.2 kilometers away in Canada); Robert J. N. Pither (approx. 1.2 kilometers away in Canada); Sieur De La Vérendrye (1685- 1749) (approx. 1.2 kilometers away in Canada); Pelts, Paddles and Portages (approx. 1.5 kilometers away in Canada); Explore Fort Frances East (approx. 1.5 kilometers away in Canada); a different marker also named Pelts, Paddles and Portages (approx. 1.5 kilometers away in Canada).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . A Protest Ignited: Voyageurs National Park and Eminent Domain (International Falls Guide).

Excerpt: The story of Big Vic is that of protest and self-advocacy in Minnesota, particularly in Koochiching County, ignited by the creation of Voyageurs National Park (VNP)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 20, 2024

5. Big Vic Voyageur Statue & Marker
in 1975. Vic Davis intensified the protest by commissioning the Big Vic statue, a symbol of defiance against the NPS. The statue stood on Little Cranberry Island.
Big Vic found a new home at the entrance of Ranier after the city purchased it for $1. The statue, a symbol of protest and justice, continues to remind the public of the power struggle between private citizens and governmental authority.

(Submitted on August 8, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 6, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 24 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 7, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.