Famous Darwin Twine Ball had its start 75 years ago this month
- Francis A. Johnson started winding a ball of twine in March 1950 and spent 29 years creating the largest ball of twine made by one man, according to records.
- The ball weighs 8.7 tons and was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1979.
- The Darwin Twine Ball remains a tourist attraction, drawing about 150 visitors daily during the summer months.
- Weird Al Yankovic helped make it famous by recording a song about it in 1989.
15 Articles
15 Articles

Famous Darwin Twine Ball had its start 75 years ago this month
DARWIN, Minn. — It has been 75 years since Francis A. Johnson wound the first piece of baler twine around two fingers to form a ball and for 29 years he kept winding, creating the largest ball of twine in the world made by one man. Johnson, a bachelor farmer and carpenter, started winding the twine in March of 1950 and by all accounts spent one to four hours each day methodically wrapping the twine as perfectly symmetrical as possible. When the …
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