You’ve probably heard the song. Maybe you’ve even seen the postcards. But if you’re driving through Meeker County and expect to find a world record for the absolute biggest mass of string on the planet, you might be in for a surprise. Honestly, the story of the largest ball of twine in Minnesota is less about sheer volume and more about the staggering, almost frightening levels of human dedication found in a man named Francis A. Johnson.
Darwin, Minnesota, is a quiet town. It's got about 350 people. And right there on Main Street, sitting inside a protective glass-walled gazebo, is a 17,400-pound testament to what happens when a person simply refuses to stop doing a task.
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The Man, The Myth, The Twine
Francis Johnson didn't start this as a bid for global fame. In March 1950, he just started rolling. He was a bachelor, a carpenter, and the son of a U.S. Senator, but for four hours every single day for 29 years, he was just "the guy with the twine."
He used baler twine. It’s rough, sisal stuff that’s hard on the hands. As the ball grew from the size of a basketball to the size of a Volkswagen, Francis couldn't just nudge it around anymore. He actually had to use railroad jacks—the kind designed to lift boxcars—just to rotate the thing so he could keep the wrapping even.
It’s perfectly round. That’s the part that gets people. It isn't a lumpy mess; it’s a geometric marvel.
Is it Actually the World’s Largest?
This is where the "roadside attraction" drama kicks in. If you go to Cawker City, Kansas, they’ll tell you they have the biggest one. And technically, by the tape measure, they do. But there’s a catch that Darwin locals will defend until their dying breath.
The Kansas ball is a community project. Everyone adds to it. It’s "cheating" in the eyes of a twine purist.
The largest ball of twine in Minnesota remains the undisputed king of the "rolled by a single person" category. Francis did every inch himself until he finished in 1979. Then there’s the Branson, Missouri version, which is made of nylon—totally different vibe—and a ball in Wisconsin that claims to be heavier but looks more like a flattened pancake.
Quick Stats on the Darwin Ball
- Weight: Approximately 17,400 pounds (8.7 tons).
- Diameter: 12 feet.
- Circumference: 40 feet.
- Time to build: 29 years (1950–1979).
- Daily labor: 4 hours a day.
The Weird Al Connection
You can't talk about this place without mentioning "Weird Al" Yankovic. His 1989 epic "The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota" turned a quirky local landmark into a pilgrimage site for fans of Americana.
Al actually visited in 1996. There are photos of him hugging the ball inside the museum. It’s basically the Vatican for fans of accordion-heavy parody music.
Visiting Darwin: What to Expect
Don't expect a theme park. It’s a gazebo and a small museum. Basically, you pull over, stare at this massive brown orb, and wonder about the psychological makeup of a man who spends three decades on a hobby.
The museum is run by volunteers. If you’re lucky, you’ll meet someone who actually knew Francis. They’ll tell you he was a talented woodworker too. He even carved a seven-foot-long pair of wooden pliers—a "pliers within a pliers" situation—that is arguably more impressive than the twine itself.
Survival Tips for Your Road Trip
- Check the Calendar: Twine Ball Day happens on the second Saturday of August. It’s a whole thing. Parades, food, the works.
- Museum Hours: It’s usually open daily from April through October (9:30 AM to 4:30 PM). In the winter? You’re mostly just looking through the glass of the gazebo.
- The Gift Shop: Buy the "Starter Kit." It's just a small ball of twine to get you started on your own 30-year obsession.
The Dark Side of the String?
There’s a local legend—or maybe a warning—about the health toll of the ball. Francis died in 1989 of emphysema. He never smoked. Some folks in town believe the decades spent inhaling the dust and chemical preservatives from the sisal twine eventually did him in.
It’s a bit of a somber note for a roadside attraction, but it adds to the weight of the thing. This wasn't just a hobby; it was his life’s work, and it might have cost him his life.
Why You Should Actually Go
In an era of digital everything, there is something deeply grounding about standing next to 17,000 pounds of physical effort. It’s real. It’s dusty. It smells faintly of old hay.
The largest ball of twine in Minnesota represents a specific kind of Midwestern stubbornness. It’s the "I started this, so I’m going to finish it" mentality taken to its absolute logical extreme.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're planning to make the trip to Darwin, here is how to do it right:
- Map the Route: Darwin is about 65 miles west of Minneapolis on US-12. It’s a straight shot and a beautiful drive through Minnesota farmland.
- Pack a Picnic: There’s a nice park right across the street from the ball with covered tables.
- Bring a Camera: You need the scale. Stand next to it. You’ll look tiny.
- Support the Museum: It’s a small-town operation. Buying a $15 t-shirt keeps the lights on and the gazebo glass clean.
Go see it. Not because it’s "important" in the grand scheme of history, but because it’s there, and because Francis Johnson worked too hard for you to just drive past it.