World's Tallest Barber Pole

The original idea was conceived in 1973 when this small Oregon town decided to top the then-tallest barber pole in San Antonio, TX. A supremely tall Oregonian tree gave its life for the cause and the result was a 73-foot-tall red-white-blue pillar. To complete the look, it was topped with a Styrofoam ball. The giant, cheerfully colored column belies its dark history - which can be traced back to the Middle Ages when bloodletting was a common procedure among barbers, along with a routine shave or trim. (Submitted by Ed Powers)