Part of the fun of a road trip lies in discovering the lengths small communities go to to be recognized by travelers. There’s nothing quite as fun as discovering that Gilroy, California is the garlic capital of the world, or that the world’s largest Kachina Doll lives in Carefree, Arizona. If you’ve ever driven through the Southwest, chances are you’ve seen a Kachina Doll before. If you haven’t, here’s the inside story on what they are and why they’ve become a uniquely Southwestern object.
What’s a Kachina Doll, Anyway?
We have the Hopi tribe to thank for the quintessentially Native-American-looking Kachina Doll. They weren’t originally intended to be roadside attractions, though- they were originally designed to teach young members of the tribe about spirit beings known as Kachinas, which control the rain, the crops, and countless other things. It’s important to note that Kachinas, and the dolls which were made to symbolize them, were not intended to be worshipped- only respected. They were typically made out of Cottonwood root long before they started being created by the thousands and sold at gift shops as souvenirs. Now, it has lost most of the symbolic power the Hopis originally intended for it and is a common site at trading posts, gift shops, and other Southwestern-themed commercial enterprises.
So, About This Really Big One
Although there are many extremely large Kachina dolls sprinkled through the Southwest, the one that is generally regarded to be the largest is in Carefree, Arizona, in a residential community known as Tonto Hills. There’s a whole lot that can be said about this commercialized Kachina Doll being located in a community named after a fictional Native American, given the circumstances. But anyway, It is 39 feet high, and in case you were wondering (we know you were,) it’s a female Kachina. Although it is pretty impressive to look at, there’s really not a whole lot else to do in the area. for most people, this is one of those “we’re passing through Carefree for whatever reason, so we might as well” attractions. However, true aficionados of Southwestern-themed objects or Native American lore might just find this to be a can’t-miss attraction!
Xcel Delivery knows Arizona’s roads: thousands of people count on us to deliver 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Since 2004, we’ve provided same-day delivery, medical delivery, and freight services to individuals and businesses of all kinds. Give us a call at 520-408-7200 for more information!
This article is part of a series on Arizona’s Amazing Roadside Attractions
