Sculptpedia Statues, Busts and Sculptures Park sculptures and installations Ancient World & Antiquity Middle Ages & Renaissance Marble & Other Stones Bronze & Other Metals

Jimmy Carter Peanut Statue

Jimmy Carter Peanut Statue is a roadside monument in Plains, Georgia, United States. Built in 1976, it shows a large smiling peanut and was created to support Jimmy Carter during the 1976 U.S. presidential election. Commissioned by the Indiana Democratic Party, the sculpture references Carter’s earlier career as a peanut farmer. According to The New York Times, it is made of wooden hoops, wire mesh, aluminum foil, and polyurethane. The statue was first located at the train station in Plains, but after being damaged in a 2000 car accident and repaired, it was moved near Georgia State Route 45, close to the Baptist church where Carter taught Sunday school.

Jimmy Carter Peanut Statue shaped like a large smiling peanut on a grassy lawn behind a wire fence.
The Jimmy Carter Peanut Statue stands on a grassy lawn in rural Georgia.
© Mark Harrell · Public domain
Jimmy Carter Peanut Statue, a large smiling peanut sculpture behind a small chain-link fence in a grassy field with trees, power lines, and blue sky.
The Jimmy Carter Peanut Statue stands in a grassy area beside a rural roadside setting.
© Mark Harrell · Public domain
The Jimmy Carter Peanut Statue with a wide grinning mouth and white teeth against a blue sky.
The Jimmy Carter Peanut Statue shows a large yellow peanut figure with a toothy smile.
August 2020 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Jimmy Carter Peanut Statue with a grinning mouth and white teeth, standing outdoors beside green bushes.
The Jimmy Carter Peanut Statue stands outdoors beneath a partly cloudy sky.
© · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleJimmy Carter Peanut Statue
Typestatue
Original-language nameA estátua do amendoim de Jimmy Carter

Historical context

Date built1976
Commissioned byIndiana Democratic Party
Commissioned forSupport for Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter's campaign in Indiana during the 1976 United States presidential election

Creator

PainterMichael Dominik

Physical characteristics

SubjectA peanut associated with Jimmy Carter and his former career as a peanut farmer
AppearanceA large peanut with a smiling face modeled after Jimmy Carter's grin

Materials

MaterialsWooden hoops, chicken wire, aluminum foil, and polyurethane

Location and ownership

Original locationPlains train station, Plains, Georgia, United States
Current locationAlong Georgia State Route 45 near Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, United States
Location relationOn the route between Jimmy Carter's house and the church he attended weekly

History and restoration

Former featureAt one time, the statue had a large hole in the back
Urban legendAccording to an urban legend, the United States Secret Service cut the hole to check for explosives or assassins inside the statue
DamageDamaged in a car accident in 2000
RepaintingRepainted every few years in a peanut-colored tone by Michael Dominik
RelocationMoved to its current location after repairs following the 2000 accident

Significance

Relative sizeSecond-tallest peanut statue in the world
Comparison objectThe world's largest peanut in Ashburn, Georgia, is several miles away
Cultural significanceBecame a symbol of Plains and a roadside attraction despite Carter's reported dislike of its smile
RecognitionTime listed it as one of the Top 50 American Roadside Attractions in 2010
Internet meme useSince 2018, images of the statue have been used in internet meme culture and often characterized as cursed images

Other

Jimmy Carter's opinionHe reportedly disliked the peanut's smile
Associated person at nearby churchJimmy Carter was a member of and taught Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church
Location relation to churchThe statue is near Maranatha Baptist Church, where Carter taught Sunday school