Editing Paul Bunyan (section)

== In popular culture ==
{{Main| Paul Bunyan in popular culture}}<!-- This is the main article for a detailed history of the use of Paul Bunyan in promotion and popular culture; the following is intended to be a summary of the key points for the casual reader. -->
[[Image:Klamath-Paul-and-Babe.jpg|thumb|300px|Paul Bunyan (49 foot) and Babe the Blue Ox (35 foot) statues at [[Trees of Mystery]] near [[Klamath, California]]. Note the size of the visitors at Babe's hooves.]]

William Laughead's 1916 ad campaign for the Red River Lumber Company launched Paul Bunyan toward national fame, and established his marketing appeal which continues into the 21st century.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://foresthistory.org/tall-tales-and-lumber-sales/ |title=Tall Tales and Lumber Sales |date=May 26, 2009 |access-date=March 1, 2021 |publisher=Forest History Society}}</ref> Throughout the better part of the 20th century, Paul Bunyan's name and image continued to be used to promote various products, cities, and services. Across North America, giant statues of Paul Bunyan were erected to promote local businesses and tourism. A significant portion of these were produced from the 1960s through the 1970s by the company [[International Fiberglass]] as part of their "[[muffler man]]" series of giant fiberglass sculptures.<ref name=RSA />

Since 2014 a paved biking trail bears the name "Paul Bunyan Trail" and spans 120 miles, from [[Crow Wing State Park]] to [[Lake Bemidji State Park]] in Minnesota.<ref name="paulbunyantrail">{{cite web |url=https://www.paulbunyantrail.com/ |title=Paul Bunyan Trail System |publisher=PaulBunyanTrail.com}}</ref> Many cities through which the trail passes sell Paul Bunyan trinkets and novelty items. The [[Bemidji Blue Ox Marathon]] (started in 2013) runs along the [[Paul Bunyan State Trail]], around [[Lake Bemidji]] and past the [[Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox]] statues.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bemidjiblueoxmarathon.com |title=Bemidji Blue Ox Marathon |publisher=Bemidji Blue Ox Marathon |location=Bemidji, Minnesota |access-date=June 10, 2020}}</ref> The Bemidji statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe, the blue ox, appear in the ''[[Fargo (TV series)|Fargo]]'' television series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bowen |first=Joseph T.|date=January 11, 2019|title=Why 'genocide'?: Graffiti on Bemidji landmark sparks debate |url=https://www.bemidjipioneer.com/news/4555705-why-genocide-graffiti-bemidji-landmark-sparks-debate |access-date=March 23, 2021|website=Bemidji Pioneer|language=en}}</ref>

His statue is also briefly shown in the film ''[[Fargo (1996 film)|Fargo]]'' from 1996.

The statue of Paul Bunyan located in Bangor, Maine, is regularly mentioned in the novel ''[[It (novel)|It]]'' by Stephen King.<ref>{{cite book |last1=King |first1=Stephen |title=It |date=2019 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-9821-2779-4 |pages=153, 332, 570, 585, 591, 594, 759, 1064, 1112, 1148 |language=en}}</ref>

A 2024 advert for Apple Pay features a collection of commemorative plates. The protagonist is sitting in her armchair when she discovers ‘Babe the blue ox’ it is the final missing piece in her collection and she buys it. It appears she is buying it for Paul Bunyan who seems to be looking out from his plate.<ref name="Branding 2024-11-17">{{cite web |title=Apple Highlights Apple Pay in New Ad 'Plates' |website=Branding in Asia |date=2024-11-17 |url=https://www.brandinginasia.com/apple-highlights-apple-pay-in-new-ad-plates/ |access-date=2024-12-28}}</ref>

He is mentioned in the song "Grand Canyon" from [[The Magnetic Fields]]' 1999 album [[69 Love Songs]].