"The Boll Weevil Monument in downtown Enterprise, Alabama, United States is a prominent landmark and tribute erected by the citizens of Enterprise in 1919 to show their appreciation to an insect, the boll weevil, for its profound influence on the area's agriculture and economy. Hailing the beetle as a "herald of prosperity," it stands as the world's first monument built to honor an agricultural pest.

"The Monument consists of a statue of a woman holding a pedestal with a boll weevil perched on top. The monument depicts a female figure in a flowing gown with arms stretched above her head. She raises high a trophy topped by an enlarged-scale boll weevil. The statue stands atop an ornately detailed base which supports two round streetlamps. The base stands in the center of a fountain, which is surrounded by a wrought-iron railing. The monument stands more than 13 feet (4.0 m) tall.

"Bon Fleming, a local businessman, came up with the idea to build a statue and helped to finance the cost. As a tribute to how something disastrous can be a catalyst for change, and a reminder of how the people of Enterprise adjusted in the face of adversity, the monument was dedicated on December 11, 1919, at the intersection of College and Main Street, the heart of the town's business district." (Wikipedia)

"A statue of a Greek woman stands proud in the center of Enterprise, Alabama. Its white marble arms stretch high above its head. Braced in the beautiful woman’s hands is a round bowl, atop which is perched … an enormous bug. It’s a boll weevil, to be precise—about 50 pounds in statue form, but normally smaller than a pinkie fingernail," the Smithsonian Magazine says.

"Enterprise’s weevil statue dates back to 1919, when a local merchant commissioned the marbled figure from an Italian sculptor. Originally, the classical statue held a fountain above her head; the insect wasn’t added for another 30 years. The plaque in front of it reads the same today as it did then: “In profound appreciation of the boll weevil and what it has done as the herald of prosperity, this monument was erected by the citizens of Enterprise, Coffee County, Alabama.”

"The monument could be just another piece of quirky Americana, a town honoring a small aspect of its heritage in a unique way. But the impact the boll weevil has had across the United States is anything but small—and is far from positive. Since its arrival from Mexico in 1892, the weevil has cost the American cotton industry more than $23 billion in losses and prompted the largest eradication effort in the nation's history."

"Erected in 1919, the monument honors the boll weevil, a pest which destroys cotton crops and was once the scourge of Southern, Mexican and South American, agriculture," the Atlas Obscura says.



"However, as always, disaster can lead to unexpected opportunities. Farmers of Enterprise, Alabama, long dependent on cotton, took the weevil’s arrival as a motivation to diversify their crops. This led to the discovery that new crops (such as peanuts) could be grown on the same land, which brought new money to the area, and the evolution of more modern agricultural practices. The

"Boll Weevil Monument is thought to be the only monument in the world erected to honor an agricultural pest.

In 1998, the original statue was severely damaged by vandals. It was removed to the nearby Depot Museum, and a replica erected in its place."

"The monument was the brainstorm of Roscoe Owen "Bon" Fleming, businessman, city councilman, and rogue promoter of the town of Enterprise. The boll weevil, a tiny cotton-eating insect, had invaded Alabama, and Enterprise seized the opportunity to abandon cotton for other crops -- particularly peanuts -- which brought newfound prosperity to the town," the Roadside America says.



"In 1919 Fleming convinced Enterprise to put up a monument celebrating the bug, hoping to call attention to the town's triumph over adversity, and to entice curious travelers. "Objections came in from all over the country," according to a story in the Enterprise Ledger, but Fleming -- labeled the "daddy" of the monument -- "brushed criticism aside." Half of the money for the monument's purchase came from Fleming's own pocket. It was built in one of the town's main street intersections -- perhaps not coincidentally only a few feet from Fleming's general store.

"Part of the Boll Weevil Monument's enduring appeal is its quirky design. A future generation might have simply built a giant peanut, but that would have missed the point. The monument wasn't really about peanuts -- or the weevil. It was about turning an insect plague into prosperity."

"The only memorial honoring an insect, the Boll Weevil Monument in Enterprise, Coffee County, stands as a reminder of the cotton boll-devouring beetle‘s role in reshaping agriculture in the region. The destruction wrought on the cotton crop by the pest in the early twentieth century forced Alabama farmers to diversify, leading them to plant successful new crops, chiefly peanuts. Although such an honor for an insect is unusual, it is a telling reminder of the insect’s place in Alabama’s agricultural history," the Encyclopedia of Alabama says.

"The boll weevil expanded into the United States from Mexico in the 1890s, and the beetles ate their way across the cotton fields of the South. They arrived in Alabama sometime in 1910 and soon decimated cotton harvests throughout the state, forcing farmers to heed the advice of such agricultural scientists as Tuskegee Institute’sGeorge Washington Carver and diversify their planting to include peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soy beans. By following Carver’s advice, Coffee County, in contrast to the rest of the state, rebounded economically in 1917 with the largest peanut harvest in the nation.

"In 1919, Enterprise city councilman Roscoe Owen “Bon” Fleming proposed a commemoration of the pest for turning Enterprise’s economy around, and on December 11 of that year the city dedicated a statue to the boll weevil in the middle of Main Street. The original stone monument consisted of a life-sized Classical Greek female figure standing atop a pedestal surrounded by a fountain and holding a small fountain above her head. An inscription at the base of the statue reads: “In profound appreciation of the Boll Weevil and what it has done as the Herald of Prosperity this monument was erected by the Citizens of Enterprise, Coffee County, Alabama.”

"See the world's only monument to a pest. In 1915, boll weevils devoured two-thirds of Coffee County's cotton crop, forcing local farmers to diversify," the Alabama Travel says.

"The monument is a proud reminder of the destructive insect that helped Enterprise prosper."

"Why you might ask, is the city honoring the most destructive pest in American history? The weevil that arrived from Mexico in 1892 robbed the American cotton industry of more than $23 billion! The cotton farmers tried everything but to no avail. The dwindling cotton industry nearly bought the city to its knees," the Bondys Toyota says.

"Then, you read the sign underneath the statue and suddenly it all makes sense: “In profound appreciation of the boll weevil and what it has done as the herald of prosperity, this monument was erected by the citizens of Enterprise, Coffee County, Alabama.”

"If it wasn’t for this little harmful menace, Mr. Baston would never have had his lucrative peanut crop in 1916. This swayed the farmers into switched from cotton to peanuts. By 1917, the farmers produced more than 1 million bushels of peanuts and sold the lot for more than $5 million. By 1919 Coffee County was the largest producer of peanuts in the USA and the first to produce peanut oil. As the farmers cashed in, the city prospered. The rest, as they say, is history."

"Enterprise is known as the only city in the world with a monument to a pest. Pests, the insect or human variety, are rarely held in high esteem anywhere. But in the case of the open-minded early leaders of the developing town of Enterprise, the honored pest and the monument itself are simply representations of a much larger picture that shows the town’s indomitable spirit and heralds a message of hope, tenacity and resilience," the Visit Enterprise says.

"As Coffee County Agricultural Extension Agent John Pittman predicted, the cotton crops were destroyed. The boll weevil cost the agriculture industry in the rural South more than $23 billion over time. It ruined people’s lives, destroyed their livelihoods, displaced them and bankrupted their towns, where banks and merchants were dependent on the monetary fruits of the annual harvest. Enterprise was devastated and the local economy was shattered. But the bold spirit of Enterprise citizens rose again. Willing to explore new ideas, to accept change if need be, they resolved to keep their town alive.

"H.M. Sessions, a banker who advanced crop loans to farmers, and John Pittman heard about peanuts being grown in Virginia and the Carolinas, so they traveled there to investigate. Emboldened by the success they witnessed, Sessions purchased a truck load of peanut seeds and shipped them to Enterprise in the fall of 1915. Their hopeful outlook was further strengthened by the research of Dr. George Washington Carver, Tuskegee University botanist who had invented new ways to use and market peanuts. Sessions convinced farmer C.W. Baston to plant his entire acreage in peanuts. In 1916, Baston harvested a record-breaking crop of peanuts while the cotton crops lay in ruins. The next year, farmers took a leap of faith and borrowed money to buy peanut seeds. The crops were bountiful. Coffee County produced over 1 million bushels of peanuts."

"Almost a century ago, this small, voracious beetle migrated north from Central America, eating its way through U.S. cotton fields. Swarms of boll weevils destroyed two-thirds of the cotton crop in this region," the VOA News reports.

"When boll weevils destroyed the cotton harvest in 1915, it was devastating. Until then, cotton had been the region's largest crop. But the infestation actually gave local farmers an opportunity to try something new. They planted a different crop the boll weevil couldn't harm: peanuts.

"By 1919, the region produced more peanuts than any other in the U.S. - bringing in millions of dollars to the local economy. But farmers had learned the hard way they couldn't rely on just one crop, so they planted more corn, peaches, and figs."

"We saw that this was an option to see when in Enterprise, AL. Kids were excited to see it because it was odd that there would be a statue of an insect."

"Love the Boll Weevil theme throughout Enterprise! This monument is located in the downtown area, where you can take an enjoyable stroll through all the little shops. The young adults wanted a photo in front of the monument, so they timed the traffic to pose for a photo!"

"It is said that this is the only monument in the world dedicated to an insect... well all I know is that it forever changed the course (for the better) of farming in the south and that was a very good! It's been stolen a couple of times and had several odd happenings, just ask around! Don't pass up the opportunity for a photo op if you get to see it, way cool!"

"What an awesome old time statue that honors the Boll Weevil insect. This monument is located in the older part of town on the main street. You can't miss it. It's located in a fenced area in the middle of the street! There is also an Historic Marker, and a huge Boll Weevil Monument Wall Mural painted on the side of a Building. If you are passing through Enterprise, Alabama and you enjoy old time roadside tourist attractions, you have to stop and take a photo or two of this Monument. I give it a big thumbs up and 5 stars !!!"

"Must see when traveling in the area. Great history about the monument. Watch out it is in the middle of the road ! Spoke to locals and they are quite proud of the piece."

"If you are in the area this is a must see. It is a hidden gem that's right downtown. It's not fancy but it is historic. It's worth the effort to get to it."