World's Largest Ball of Twine, Darwin, Minnesota

The World's Largest Twine Ball in Darwin, Minnesota is really the Largest Twine Ball In The World Made By One Man. The title needs to be qualified because there is a larger one in Cawker City, Kansas. The twine ball in Kansas was not the largest when its creator died many years ago, but additions to the ball have continued to be made.

Here is information on the Darwin ball from the Darwin Twine Ball Museum website:

Darwin, Minnesota is the home of a the largest Twine Ball in the World made by one man, Francis A. Johnson. The Twine Ball is 4 meters (13 ft) in diameter, 40 ft in circumfrance, and weighs 17,400 pounds (7,900 kg).

Francis A. Johnson started his obsession in March of 1950 and wrapped for 4 hours every day for 23 weeks. Francis lifted it with a crane to continue proper wrapping as he went along. For 39 years, this magnificent sphere evolved at Johnson's farm. Eventually the ball was moved to a circular open air shed on his front lawn.

When Francis died in 1989, the city of Darwin moved the ball onto a special city lot across from the park on Main Street. The gazebo that shelters it today allows viewing from all sides through Plexiglas panels.