OKIE ARCANA: THE CONCRETE TOTEM POLES OF FOYIL
The "poles" are not actually in Foyil. They are about five miles east on two-lane asphault hillbilly highway. Foyil itself is a few blocks worth of trailer trash heaven beside Hwy. 66. Blink and you'll miss it, y'know. These constructions are really the strangest roadside folk art I have seen in Oklahoma.
These pictures were taken back in Febraury or March. I been to see the place before, but on this visit it struck me how many owls and owl-like faces there were.
You may enter the sanctum.
The text reads: "THE WORLD'S LARGEST TOTEM POLE Built By Ed Galloway 1937-1948 Dimensions: 90' tall, 18' in diameter, 54" base Structure: Made from 100 tons of sand and rock, 28 tons of concrete, 6 tons of steel Markings: 200 different carved pictures, with four, nine foot Indian chiefs near the top." This is all the information provided. Whatsoever drove Mr. Galloway to spend a decade of hiis life building the thing is not revealed.
This is the view from the opposite side from the door. The whole pole stands on the back of a giant turtle. I thought Ms. Candide might like that.
This is the Museum/Gift shop. It has a sign that says it is open, but it is not.
Rest in peace, Ed Galloway, your masterpiece still stands and strikes awe and wonder in the hearts of a ghost who comes to visit it.
4:22:25 PM 
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