Paul Bunyan statue suffers broken arm

The iconic statue of Paul Bunyan in Bemidji suffered a large injury, the city’s mayor said Monday.

Mayor Jorge Prince announced that Bunyan’s right arm suffered a major separation as concrete gave way. The arm is still attached by the steel rod that runs through the statue.

Prince said the cause of the failure is under investigation but Jensen Conservation has been contacted and will be on-site by next week to assess and fix the damage.

In the meantime, Bunyan’s arm has been secured and barriers have been installed to keep visitors safe, the mayor said.

"I look forward to quickly getting Paul and Babe back in good repair along with addressing other issues in Paul Bunyan Park," Prince said.