This Giant Steer Became a Hoosier Legend and Still Draws Visitors

If you’ve ever wondered how big is too big when it comes to farm animals, Indiana already answered that question more than a century ago.

Meet Old Ben, the world’s largest steer, a Hoosier legend whose size was so unbelievable that people once paid admission to see him.

Who Was Old Ben?

Old Ben was born in 1902 in Miami County, Indiana, weighing an already impressive 125 pounds. While often referred to as a bull, Old Ben was actually a steer, and he wasted no time making history.

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By the time of his death in 1910, estimates put his weight between 4,585 and 4,720 pounds. He stood roughly six and a half feet tall at the shoulder and measured more than sixteen feet from nose to tail. Even by today’s standards, those numbers are hard to wrap your head around.

A Hoosier Celebrity Before The Internet

Old Ben became a statewide sensation. Circus owners and sideshow operators attempted to buy him, hoping to cash in on his size and novelty. His owners, Mike and John Murphy, turned down every offer.

Instead, they toured Old Ben themselves, displaying him at fairs throughout Indiana and at the Indiana State Fair for several years. Crowds came from miles away to see the steer everyone was talking about.

Decades later, Old Ben even reportedly appeared in Ripley’s Believe It or Not, further cementing his place in American oddities history.

Read More: Indiana Is Home To The World's Largest Ball Of Paint

Where You Can See Old Ben Today

After Old Ben passed away in February 1910, his owners made a choice that ensured his legacy would live on. He was taxidermied, according to VisitIndiana.

Today, Old Ben can be viewed inside a pavilion at Highland Park in Kokomo, Indiana. A plaque alongside him details his staggering measurements and backstory, making the experience equal parts fascinating and surreal.

If you are collecting Midwest Weird experiences, Old Ben deserves a spot on your list.