North St. Paul in Ramsey County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Our Famous Snowman
Photographed by McGhiever, August 23, 2025
1. Our Famous Snowman Marker
It all began in 1969 when Lloyd Koesling, former barber, civic leader, and resident of North St. Paul took his family on a vacation to Disneyland. He was so fascinated by a statue being built there that when he returned home to North St. Paul he shared his fascination with the City Council, and said that he too could build a village symbol that would represent the city and not melt or crumble. Koesling felt a snowman was the appropriate statue as every year the North St. Paul Jaycees would build a snowman as part of the annual snow Frolics Festival, using the excess snow that the snow plowing crew would drop off. The mound of snow soon resembled a huge snowman.
In 1972, City Council donated a small plot of land to be used for the Snowman. When the day came to pour the slap many volunteers were needed to give the rounded shape to the two big balls and head. Next, Koesling contracted Al Phillipson, a plastering contractor, and asked him to do the cement work. Phillipson assembled a crew of cement masons from Local 120. The project took two years and after Phillipson's death, his son Jerry saw to completion the [sic]
this page online
On July 23, 1974, a volunteer crane operator hitched onto the eyelet and hoisted the head on, and placed it on top of the body.
The snowman stands 44 feet tall and weighs some 20 tons. His smile reaches sixteen feet across. He is known as the nation's largest snowman structure. Founder Lloyd Koesling passed away on March 2, 2002. On that day the Snowman wore a somber black band on his arm.
North St. Paulites, friends and neighbors pose in front of the Snowman celebrating North St. Paul's Centennial - 1987 [sic]-1997. For nearly 20 years the Snowman stood on North St. Paul's main street at the corner of Margaret & 7th Avenue. It was moved to this location on the corner of Margaret Street and Highway 36 in May of 1990. Partial funds to move the town mascot came from Celebrate Minnesota, an organization promoting beautification projects.
In
Photographed by McGhiever, August 23, 2025
2. Our Famous Snowman Marker due west of the North St. Paul Snowman
The town's icon was non-partisan until Carolina won the Stanley Cup. The Snowman wore the Hurricane colors and sported the number of Bred Hedican. Hedican, a hometown hero, came back home with the Stanley Cup to the community that had nurtured his career and where he attended North High School. Former Mayor William Sandberg proclaimed Saturday, August 12, 2006 "Bret Hedican Day' in North St. Paul.
Erected by the North St. Paul Park Fund.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Man-Made Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 1974.
Location. 45° 0.917′ N, 92° 59.528′ W. Marker is in North St. Paul, Minnesota, in Ramsey County. It is at the intersection of Margaret Street N. and Centennial Drive, on the right when traveling north on Margaret Street N.. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2460 Margaret Street N, Saint Paul MN 55109, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mayor William 'Bill' Sandberg Memorial Bridge (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Mayor William 'Bill' Sandberg Memorial Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); "Defense of Freedom" Requires Eternal Vigilance in War and Peace (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Afghanistan War (about 300 feet away); Persian Gulf War (about 400 feet away); Iraq War (about 400 feet away); Vietnam War (about 400 feet away); North St. Paul Veterans Memorial (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in North St. Paul.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 28, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
