In the spring of 2000, forty-eight six-foot-tall Mr. Potato Head statues were installed across Rhode Island as part of a promotional campaign to market the state as a family-friendly and fun travel destination. The campaign, titled “Rhode Island: The Birthplace of Fun,” was created by the Rhode Island Tourism Division in partnership with Hasbro, the Rhode Island-based toy company behind the iconic character.

Each statue was uniquely decorated by local artists and sponsored by a mix of corporate entities, state agencies, and local tourism organizations. After the campaign ended, many of the statues were auctioned off to private collectors. Though some were vandalized or left to deteriorate, others have since been restored or given new looks.

Today, with a bit of exploration, many of the original 48 statues can still be found tucked away throughout the state, serving as nostalgic reminders of a creative and playful chapter in Rhode Island’s tourism history.