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All Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Dildo Dildo, Newfoundland

Dildo, Newfoundland

This oddly named town refuses to change its phallic moniker.

Dildo, Newfoundland and Labrador

Added By
David Minkin
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Dildo, Newfoundland.   Maksim on Wikipedia
Dildo, Newfoundland.   Maksim on Wikipedia
Dildo, Newfoundland.   Joanna Poe on Flickr
Captain Dildo.   emailer on Flickr
Dildo, Newfoundland.   Joanna Poe on Flickr
Town of Dildo Wharf.   arvindhraman / Atlas Obscura User
Dildo, Newfoundland.   hannsharonr / Atlas Obscura User
Dildo, Newfoundland.   hannsharonr / Atlas Obscura User
Dildo dorry   hannsharonr / Atlas Obscura User
The lighthouse by Captain Dildo.   arvindhraman / Atlas Obscura User
Original Captain Dildo Sign   arvindhraman / Atlas Obscura User
Close up of Captain DIldo!!!   arvindhraman / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Let's just get it out of the way. Yes, the town's name is really Dildo. And dammit, if the locals have anything to say about it, their town will continue to be called Dildo, no matter what naysayers want. 

The island and area of Dildo has held this name since at least the early 1700s, likely predating any connotation to sex toys, but the origin of the name is not totally clear. The best guess as to the origin of the name is that it recalls when "dildo" simply meant any cylindrical tube (for example, a test tube could be called a "dildo glass"). It has also been theorized that the region gained its name from the irascible explorer Captain Cook, who was not above giving locations joke names. 

Regardless of where it came from, the modern meaning of the name is certainly well known, and many have found the town's name to be offensive, filing petitions to have it changed. However, the majority of the community of Dildo is just fine leaving the name as it is. This could be because of the tourism that the controversial name has brought to the area in recent years. 

To capitalize on the funny name, the town now hosts an annual festival known as Dildo Days, which is of course led by the whimsical mascot, Captain Dildo. He looks like the Gorton Fisherman.  

Related Tags

Villages Strange Names

Know Before You Go

Dildo is on the eastern side of the island of Newfoundland, located on the southeastern, ahem, Dildo Arm of Trinity Bay, about 37 miles (60 kilometers) west of St. John's.

Community Contributors

Added By

The Minx

Edited By

rugby007, deepsky26, EricGrundhauser, arvindhraman...

  • rugby007
  • deepsky26
  • EricGrundhauser
  • arvindhraman
  • hannsharonr
  • xuxor

Published

January 5, 2016

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Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dildo,_Newfoundland_and_Labrador
  • http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2013-12-10/maphead-dildo-newfoundland-canada
  • http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/the-town-that-refuses-to-be-ashamed-of-its-name-1612234.html
Dildo, Newfoundland
Dildo, Newfoundland and Labrador
Canada
47.57062, -53.555566

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