Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
Caucasus - Geghard Monastery, Armenia
Armenia • 15 days, 14 nights
Caucasus Road Trip: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Midas Tümülüsü (Tumulus MM)
The Devil's Column
Weightlifting Hall of Fame
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Customize your bowl with sliced pork, pork balls, fish cake, and offal.
Rung Rueang
Pasties are an Upper Michigan tradition dating back to mining days.
Lehto’s Pasties
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
1 day ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
2 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
4 days ago
Cely’s map is not only accurate, but captures the unique characteristics of Congaree’s trees and waterways.
How One Biologist Drew a Hyper-Accurate, Ranger-Approved Map of Congaree National Park
5 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Pennsylvania New Hope Boomer

Boomer

This strange, big-tailed beast became a Pennsylvania town's unofficial mascot.

New Hope, Pennsylvania

Added By
Alayna
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Boomer.   chateauesque / Atlas Obscura User
Boomer.   chateauesque / Atlas Obscura User
Boomer.   chateauesque / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Photo of the Boomer statue  
  Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
Boomer.   chateauesque / Atlas Obscura User
Boomer.   chateauesque / Atlas Obscura User
Boomer.   chateauesque / Atlas Obscura User
Boomer.   chateauesque / Atlas Obscura User
  Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

A peculiar beast guards the streets of this small Pennsylvania town. With its outrageously long tail, upturned snout, and somewhat canine appearance, the monster looks like a mishmash of living and mythical beings. Though equally as frightening as it is charming, the unusual creature is now a beloved member of the community.

Boomer, a sculpture made by local artist Dana Stewart, was temporarily installed in 2003 for the New Hope Annual Outdoor Sculpture Show. However, people soon fell in love with the strange sculpture. Local officials decided to make the beast a real resident and installed it next to the Delaware Canal State Park. Boomer is now the town's unofficial mascot.

Stewart, who lives and works right across the river from Boomer's now-permanent home, creates sculptures of the beasts and creatures that roam within his imagination. Many, like Boomer, have elongated tails that stretch for disproportionate lengths to their bodies and bear grimaces or snarls on their faces. These odd, monstrous creations reflect a tension between lighthearted whimsy and the dark, somber emotions often lurking nearby.

Related Tags

Art Sculptures Public Art Animals Monsters

Community Contributors

Added By

chateauesque

Edited By

Collector of Experiences, Julius Spada, Mertclack

  • Collector of Experiences
  • Julius Spada
  • Mertclack

Published

February 13, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/8320
  • http://www.nj.com/times-entertainment/index.ssf/2016/08/fine_arts_must-see_exhibit_in_27.html
  • http://www.sculptureproject.org/dana-stewart---boomer.html
  • http://www.danastewartsculpture.com/sculpture3.html
Boomer
145 S Main St
New Hope, Pennsylvania
United States
40.35985, -74.950035
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Van Sant Crybaby Bridge

New Hope, Pennsylvania

miles away

Bowman's Hill Tower

New Hope, Pennsylvania

miles away

Green Sergeant's Covered Bridge

Stockton, New Jersey

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New Hope

New Hope

Pennsylvania

Places 3

Nearby Places

Van Sant Crybaby Bridge

New Hope, Pennsylvania

miles away

Bowman's Hill Tower

New Hope, Pennsylvania

miles away

Green Sergeant's Covered Bridge

Stockton, New Jersey

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New Hope

New Hope

Pennsylvania

Places 3

Related Places

  • Mexico City, Mexico

    Cocodrilo de Leonora Carrington

    A fabulously bizarre surrealist sculpture by the late artist Leonora Carrington.

  • London Road badger.

    Edinburgh, Scotland

    Wooden Animal Sculptures

    Another entry into the world of Edinburgh's pop-up artworks.

  • Horatio.

    Adelaide, Australia

    'A Day Out'

    These bronze sculptures sow whimsy by hamming it up on a pedestrian mall.

  • Basel, Switzerland

    Hammering Man

    This 42-foot tribute to the workforce still reminds us to pause and recharge.

  • Numerous attempts to take down the Catford Cat have failed over the years.

    London, England

    The Catford Cat

    For more than half a century, an enormous feline has watched over this London neighborhood.

  • ‘Oscar the Bird King’ is one of sculptor Thomas Dambo’s ever-growing army of trolls.

    Vashon, Washington

    Oscar the Bird King

    Thomas Dambo's troll sculpture wears a crown with birdhouses on his head.

  • The rear panel on Çanakçı Heykeli featuring a woman on a donkey.

    Avanos, Turkey

    Çanakçı Heykeli

    This giant work of Cappadocian pottery includes a memorial for the artisan who created it.

  • ‘Square the Block’ at first glance resembles an architectural oddity.

    London, England

    Square the Block

    A jumble of concrete on the corner of one of London’s terraced buildings is actually a work of art.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.