Entry No. 8 — the Monterey file — filed under: giant statue

Giant Artichoke

Erected in 1963 beside the restaurant of the same name, this oversized concrete artichoke presides over the self-declared "Artichoke Center of the World," with an adjoining farm stand still selling the vegetable a dozen ways — soup, deep-fried hearts, marinated jars — to anyone who pulls off Highway 1 for a photo with it.

The move: Split fried artichoke hearts and artichoke soup at the counter, then get the obligatory photo wedged next to a vegetable roughly the size of a car before browsing the farm stand for garlic braids and local produce.

• 📍 Castroville
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: 11261 Merritt St, Castroville, CA 95012

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Wikipedia · maps.roadtrippers.com

last checked: 2026-07-20