Even the smallest statue can be monumental

On my way to class most mornings during four years in Missoula, Mont., I walked by the same statue.

The figure was that of a grizzly bear, ferociously pawing away at any visitor who walked past. The statue was a favorite among visitors to the University of Montana campus. Students would often wince when their teary-eyed mothers took their picture in front of the statue when dropping them off for school, myself included.

I really enjoyed walking past that statue on my way to school each day.

Missoula is a town dedicated to the Montana Grizzlies, and that statue is a

wonderful reminder. In fact, I think statues themselves are a great reminder. It may sound odd, but it's just awesome to me that a group of people would erect a monument to a person, town or passing moment in time.

In a four-month zig-zag tour of the United States and Canada last fall, I saw my fair share of statues and monuments. Duluth, Minn., has a statue in the town rose garden of Leif Erickson. Lynchburg, Tenn., has a couple of statues dedicated to local whiskey pioneer Jack Daniels. In Rugby, N.D., a monument proclaims the town as the geographic center of North America.

Of course there's also the statues that draw crowds and crowds of people, all to see a certain monument and have a National Parks Service Ranger give its history. I'm still amazed when I think of the Statue of Liberty in New York City. I have also stood in awe of the Jefferson, Washington and Lincoln Memorials when visiting Washington, D.C.

I come to Grant County from north Idaho's Silver Valley, where they too have a great deal of fondness for statues. The area has at least three separate statues dedicated to Captain John Mullan, who helped build the first road through the area. The Silver Valley has a strong mining heritage, and many visitors pass by in the summer months to see monuments to mining tools at the local visitor center. The area's most prominent monument is the larger-than-life statue of a miner, dedicated to the hard rock miners who lost their lives in the 1972 Sunshine disaster there.

My favorite statue though, has nothing to do with explorers, entrepreneurs or statesman of any kind. My favorite statue is a dedication to truth, justice and the American way; as well as a pop culture icon I admired growing up. Superman!

As one might expect, Superman stands tall within the city of Metropolis.

Metropolis, Illinois. The full-color, larger-than-life statue stands tall,

complete with red cape and arms akimbo. On the same block, a Superman museum encourages tourists to learn more about the Man of Steel.

I saw the Superman statue accidentally in November of last year, on my journey through Kentucky. I had spent the morning touring the log cabin birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, and was hoping to spend the night somewhere in Missouri or Arkansas. I happened to see a sign for the town of Metropolis in nearby Illinois and thought it would make an interesting photo opportunity, until I saw the emblem of the super hero and decided I was in for a brand new adventure.

The town square where Superman stands was mostly empty when I went through town, but in the summertime it is apparently packed with tourists and locals donning tights and capes. The town's newspaper also has gone along with the faster than a speeding bullet theme, as the Metropolis Planet tells the news of the day. I don't think they have a Clark Kent on staff though.

In other parts of the country, people are still erecting statues. The Savenac Tree Nursery in western Montana hopes to dedicate its statue to the Civilian Conservation Corps at its annual reunion next summer.

Every town, every dot on the map, should have a monument of some kind; whether it's solemn, serious or hilarious. Each statue tells a little about the town, and about the heritage of the people who live there.

Right now, I'm new to central Washington and in search of any and all

monuments. From the smallest plaque to the biggest figure, I want to find out as much as I can about the history and passions of the people of Grant County. I plan on exploring the Columbia Basin in the next few weeks and months, looking for as many statues and monuments as I can find.

I haven't quite figured out where I'm going most of the time yet, so it may take a while but I'll find what I'm looking for.