Meet Michigan’s Man of Steel & Discover the Welded Wonders of Tom Moran
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Michigan is known for numerous unique and fantastic roadside attractions, but one Northern Michigan man — Tom Moran — has spent more than two decades creating one-of-a-kind metal statues.
These enormous statues are big enough to make passersby look twice and are impressive reminders of what can be done with know-how, metal, and creativity. Most of the statues are located in Northern Michigan, and they’re perfect for visiting on a day trip or during a family vacation.
About Moran Iron Works
For decades, Tom has built a reputation as the iron man of Onaway Michigan. An Onaway native and the son of a lumberjack, he loved working with metal in his shop class and founded Moran Iron Works in 1978.
Moran Iron Works (MIW) remains a well-known fabrication facility that provides a full range of services for several industries, including marine, power, industrial, and hydro. It’s also affiliated with a local welding school — the Industrial Arts Institute — and helps train and educate students.
Decades of Creation
Tom’s love of art and his abilities as an engineering jack-of-all-trades came together in 1989 when he decided to weld together a gigantic metallic creation for Onaway’s Fourth of July parade. He wanted to make his creation as big as a vehicle — something that could be seen, last, and be enjoyed.
With each year, the sculptures grew bigger and more complex, a fact Tom attributes to better equipment, better technology, and the help of industrial arts students. It became a yearly enjoyable exercise for Tom, who ultimately aims to create sculptures that can be enjoyed and look good. Also, it became the star of the Onaway parade as residents and visitors eagerly awaited the arrival of MIW’s latest masterpiece.
One of Tom’s earliest creations was Big Gus — the World’s Biggest Chainsaw — and his sculptures can now be found all over Northern Michigan. For many years, Tom donated his sculptures for public display or sold them to private collectors. In the last decade, Tom’s wife convinced him to hang onto his art and helped oversee the opening of Awakon Park in Onaway.
Where to Find Tom Moran’s Statues in Northern Michigan
Driving in Northern Michigan (particularly Northeast Michigan), it’s hard not to notice the shiny, humungous creations of Tom Moran. These roadside attractions are impressive to see up close and worthy of a photo op for those who love photography.
Tom Moran’s statues can be found in the following spots…
- Big Bald Eagle Head. Located in Alpena, this fierce, 14-foot-high bird of prey is displayed on the front lawn at the Besser Museum of Northeast Michigan.
- Torch of Freedom. At Lakeside Park Rogers City, this torch is meant to be a replica of the Statue of Liberty’s torch — the flame is made of a glittery metal.
- Stone Indian Head. On the front lawn of the Skyline Event Center in Fairview, this statue is made from limestone and is a departure from Moran’s usual work. It is thought to be inspired by a similar monument in Ohio.
- Atlas Holding the World of Tools. This statue depicts a steel-plated Atlas holding a world made of factory parts and wrenches. It can be found at G&T Recycled Auto Parts on Gratiot Ave in Chesterfield.
- Steel Sturgeon. This 32-foot monster fish pays tribute to Onaway’s claim as the Sturgeon Capital of Michigan. It was originally displayed in Onaway, but can now be found at 3983 S. Straits Hwy in Indian River.
- George Washington Head and Aircraft Carrier. The giant head of the nation’s first president features a ton of steel rods for Washington’s hair. It proved to be a popular Onaway landmark, and in 2013, a 70-foot steel replica of the USS Bunker Hill joined Washington in a field just east of Moran Iron Works at 11739 M-68 in Onaway.
- Community Connected. This sculpture is located at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Cheboygan.
- Giant Monarch Butterfly. Located at Charlevoix Public Library, this giant butterfly was originally purchased as part of a rotating art exhibit and is now the centerpiece of the library’s butterfly garden.
- The Flame. At Northwood University in Midland in the campus Founders Garden, this piece was donated by Moran. He was recognized by the school at its 2017 Oustanding Business Leaders Awards gala.
A few other Tom Moran statues to find include:
- A giant US Flag at Moran Iron Works in Onaway
- A giant toad statue at a private residence in Hubbard Lake
- A replica of the USS Lexington at a private home in Onaway
- An aquarium at a private home in Onaway
Moran Statues on Display in Da UP
In Tom’s early days of creating monstrous Fourth of July delights, many of his creations were donated or sold to private collectors. Several of his earliest creations can be found in Ishpeming at Da Yoopers Tourist Trap.
Among the creations on display is Big Gus, the world’s largest working chainsaw. Gus is more than 22 feet long and six feet high and has been entered into the Guinness Book of World Records.
Another mammoth creation on-site is Big Ernie, the world’s largest working rifle. Ernie measures 35 feet long, weighs 4,000 pounds, and fires using an electrical igniting system and an oxygen and propane propellant.
Plus, this Ishpeming site is the home of a giant hand-cranked water pump, which was built by Tom in the mid-1990s.
Seeing More Statues in Onaway’s Awakon Park
With the support of his wife, Tom worked to establish a place to display his many incredible works of art. That place is now Awakon Park, which opened to the public in 2015.
A wooded trail winds through the ruins of the former Lobdell-Emery Wooden Steering Wheel factory, a place that made Onaway once known as the Steering Wheel Capital of the World. Tom pays tribute to that history with a 30-foot-tall World’s Largest Steering Wheel, which was created in 2014.
The giant steering wheel is one of more than a half-dozen of Tom’s creations found at Awakon Park. Among them are several giant heads of well-known American figures, Tom’s take on Iron Man, and even a nod to Onaway’s past.
Various Awakon Park Sculptures
One of the oldest sculptures in the park is the camo-colored Unknown Solider, which debuted in 2007. The soldier’s helmet features more than 500 welded steel plates and no mouth.
Fans of giant head statues will be pleased because the park displays a 9,000-pound, bronze-colored statue of Abraham Lincoln, a gold-skinned statue of Gerald Ford, and a 20-foot-tall replica of the head of the Statue of Liberty.
One of the most unique creations is an Iron Man statue from 2010, which looks more like a menacing robot instead of the famous Iron Man from the Marvel Universe. (An Iron Man head made by students of the Industrial Arts Institute made an appearance in the 2022 parade).
And, a statute of a Lobdell & Emery Locomotive pays tribute to the former Lobdell Emery Manufacturing Company.
See Tom Moran’s Huge Metal Sculptures for Yourself
A trip Up North offers a chance to see many naturally scenic sights and quirky roadside attractions. But, Tom Moran’s gigantic statues dotting the Northern Michigan landscape are worth stopping for.
From mammoth heads of famous US presidents, massive butterflies, and sturgeon to giant, working chainsaws and rifles, these statues are incredible feats of engineering that are best appreciated up close.
