By Kristen Miller
Staff Writer

Although the Twine Ball may be the biggest attraction in the small town of Darwin, there are several other contributing factors to the city’s rich history that can be seen at the Twine Ball Museum.

Once the town’s old train depot, the building is now the home of the museum and holds many of the town’s artifacts, including the largest ball of twine made by one man.

Francis Johnson, son of the US congressman Magnus Johnson, wound his first piece of baler twine in March 1950. As the ball grew, Johnson could no longer wrap the twine by hand and so he used large railroad jacks, built to lift boxcars, to move the ball of twine.

In 1979, the ball of twine was completed and recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest ball of twine. It weighs 8.7 tons, is 11 feet high, and 40 feet in diameter. Although this is still the largest ball of twine made by one man, it was removed from the book in 1994 by a ball of plastic twine made by several people and weighing considerably less.

The ball of twine brings in thousands of visitors each year from all over the world. “It’s amazing how people come just to see it,” said Roger Werner, museum director.

Werner spoke of a woman writer from England who came to America for a day just to come to Darwin, Minn. to see the largest ball of twine. Werner is still waiting to see what she has written.

The twine ball has even attracted some celebrities including Weird Al Yankovic and Charles Kuralt, a former US news correspondent. It’s no secret that Darwin is known for the largest ball of twine.

The twine ball is honored annually the second Saturday in August, Twine Ball Day. On that day, there is a parade, a BBQ pork chop dinner, music in the park, and much more.

For those interested in learning more of the town’s history, the Twine Ball Museum features artifacts from the old school-house that once sat across the street, hometown inventors and their creative inventions, books from Darwin author Christine Paul, a “most valuable player” trophy for Darwin’s own professional baseball player Milt Goemer, and much more.

The museum is open from mid-April to early November from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum asks all visitors to sign the guest book. Visit the web site at: www.darwintwineball.com