Frecs the Miner – Galena, Kansas - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place
Frecs the Miner is permanently closed.

Frecs the Miner

Galena, Kansas

This statue is an ode to an iconic roadside advertisement popularized during the 1970s.  

View all photos
Standing tall and proud. redrenee1 (Atlas Obscura User)
Standing tall and proud. redrenee1 (Atlas Obscura User)
Helping hands in the making. redrenee1 (Atlas Obscura User)
Frecs the Miner
Frecs the Miner
Only the boots are left naynaymasterson (Atlas Obscura User)
112
263
Top Places in Kansas
The Kansas Underground Salt Museum
Strataca, The Kansas Underground Salt Museum
Hutchinson, Kansas
Comanche, Survivor of the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Lawrence, Kansas
Prairie Dog Town
Oakley, Kansas
 See All
This entry is a stub
Help improve Atlas Obscura by expanding Frecs the Miner with additional information or photos.

The original alignment of Route 66 in Kansas is relatively small, but holds tons of history and unique places to visit, one example is Frecs the Miner.

Located along the original alignment of Route 66, coming in from Missouri, stands a 19-foot homemade version of a modern muffler man. These large fiberglass statues were once used to advertise businesses and tourist attractions. This 21st-century muffler man was named after the creator’s grandfather, whose nickname was Frecs, short for freckles. He was also a miner who worked across the Tri-State area. 

Know Before You Go


Sadly, the statue is no more after an accidental fire in March 2022 destroyed all but its boots. You can see the remains next to the "Cars" movie exhibit. 


roadside attractions statues
Nearby
National Cookie Cutter Historical Museum
4.86 miles
Red Oak Steakhouse
5.79 miles
The Ozark Spooklight
6.84 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
Joplin, Missouri

National Cookie Cutter Historical Museum

A small museum dedicated to the whimsical tool that turns sugar cookies into works of art.
Quapaw, Oklahoma

Red Oak Steakhouse

The Quapaw tribe supplies the meat and produce in this Oklahoma casino restaurant.
Joplin, Missouri

The Ozark Spooklight

A mysterious light of unknown origin on the backroads of Missouri.
Picher, Oklahoma

Picher

This former mining town was named the most toxic town in America.
Related Places
Bolton, North Carolina

Grahamland Attractions

Hundreds of fiberglass structures line the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.
Berkane, Morocco

Monument de l'Orange de Berkane (Berkane Orange Monument)

A massive clementine marks the center of town in the citrus city of Berkane.
Camp Verde, Arizona

World's Largest Kokopelli

This oversized flute-playing Ancestral Puebloan deity is also a landmark of Southwestern kitsch.
Old Apple Barn
High Rolls, New Mexico

Apple Boy

This cheery fruit farmer welcomes visitors to a classic roadside emporium.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web