Elwood, “The World’s Largest Concrete Gnome,” was constructed as part of a Reiman Gardens theme called, “A Celebration of Garden Ornamentation,” in 2010. He was sculpted by Andy and Connie Kautza of National Rock and Sculpture, Inc. in Wausau, Wisconsin.
Reiman Gardens’ intention was to build the world’s largest gnome, but during the construction process it was revealed that there was a taller gnome in Poland, so Elwood simply became the world’s largest concrete gnome. The unveiling of Elwood on Earth Day, April 22, 2010, became a world news event with coverage by more than 70 local, national, and world news outlets. Elwood was officially dedicated on September 15, 2010.
Why the name Elwood?
The giant gnome became officially known as “Elwood” during an announcement in conjunction with the Ames Chamber of Commerce during a Brown Bag Lecture at Reiman Gardens.
The name Elwood was chosen because of its significant ties to both Reiman Gardens and Iowa State University. For the first 12 years of Reiman Gardens’ existence, its street address was known as Elwood Drive. In 2007, Iowa State University made the decision to change the street name from Elwood Drive to University Boulevard as “the best identifier” and wayfinding for visitors and prospective students of the main road from Highway 30 onto the campus of Iowa State University.
Elwood Drive was originally named after Philip Homer Elwood, a professor of Landscape Architecture at Iowa State College from 1923 until 1950. Professor Elwood was a New York native and artillery captain during World War 1. He became the head of Landscape Architecture in 1929. He passed away on August 20, 1960.