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.
3 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
4 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.?
5 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
6 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 Virginia Falls Church 'Mr. Dixie'

'Mr. Dixie'

This local mascot has been a presence in the area since the 1960s.

Falls Church, Virginia

Added By
Ian Hall
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Mr. Dixie   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Mr. Dixie   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Dixie Sheet Metal Works   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Which way to the office Mr. Dixie?   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Mr. Dixie!   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Mr. Dixie   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Dixie Sheet Metal Works with Mr. Dixie in the distance   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Mr. Dixie   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Mr. Dixie is the official guardian of Dixie Sheet Metal Works, which has been in business as metal workers and environmental specialists since 1945. The 12-foot-tall sculpture recently marked its 60th anniversary, having stood proudly in front of the shop since 1962.

Originally a mobile mannequin, Mr. Dixie initially appeared on wheels as a non-human participant in the Memorial Day parade. His next 30 years were spent atop Hazelton Laboratories, pointing potential customers in the direction of the shop.

Eventually, the squeaking of his wind turbine ventilator head became too much for the lab animals in the building below to handle, and Dr. Hazleton asked the owner of Dixie Sheet Metal to come down and collect him. The statue has taken up the job of sentinel in front of the shop ever since.

Aside from the wind turbine ventilator used for his noggin, Mr. Dixie also has pieces of sheet metal and parts of AC units that come together to form his body and limbs in a rough approximation of the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz.

He requires the occasional touch-up, but the shop is committed to keeping him on as a member of the Dixie Sheet Metal Works family.

Related Tags

Roadside Attractions Design Statues

Know Before You Go

The owners of the shop are accustomed to people taking pictures of Mr. Dixie. Please be cautious, though, as the statue is right in front of the shop next to the parking lot.

Community Contributors

Added By

blimpcaptain

Edited By

otterwhere, Jason Michael Walker

  • otterwhere
  • Jason Michael Walker

Published

January 6, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
'Mr. Dixie'
111 Gordon Rd
Falls Church, Virginia, 22046
United States
38.892882, -77.189763
Get Directions

Nearby Places

'The Man Slopping Pigs'

Falls Church, Virginia

miles away

The Fountain of Faith

Falls Church, Virginia

miles away

Henderson House

Falls Church, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Falls Church

Falls Church

Virginia

Places 6

Nearby Places

'The Man Slopping Pigs'

Falls Church, Virginia

miles away

The Fountain of Faith

Falls Church, Virginia

miles away

Henderson House

Falls Church, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Falls Church

Falls Church

Virginia

Places 6

Related Stories and Lists

Our Favorite Roadside Attraction in Every U.S. State

List

By Hal Koss

Related Places

  • Danbury, Connecticut

    World’s Tallest Uncle Sam Statue

    Star-spangled and 38 feet tall.

  • This giant fiberglass catfish welcomes visitors to Trempealeau, Wisconsin.

    Trempealeau, Wisconsin

    Trempealeau Catfish Statue

    A giant fiberglass catfish welcomes visitors to this Wisconsin river town and heralds its annual Catfish Days festival.

  • Gummy bear statue

    Boadilla del Monte, Spain

    El Oso Verde (The Green Bear)

    This larger-than-life lime green gummy bear sits in the middle of a roundabout in Spain.

  • This queen has been here since the 1980s.

    Leicester, Vermont

    Queen Connie

    A gorilla holding a VW Beetle isn't what you'd expect in rural Vermont.

  • Blue Bird on the Pier

    St. Augustine, Florida

    Bluebird of Happiness Statue

    An oversized bluebird statue returns to its rightful place on Vilano Beach pier.

  • ‘Minor Triumph’

    Seoul, South Korea

    ‘Minor Triumph’

    Children’s timeless joy is remembered in the fast-developing Myeongdong district of Seoul.

  • Sandy, the world’s largest sandhill crane

    Steele, North Dakota

    World's Largest Sandhill Crane

    The metal bird, nicknamed "Sandy," stands nearly 40 feet tall and is an homage to the birds that migrate through North Dakota every year.

  • The mini Statue of Liberty Replica is located between Harlan and Gaylord, on Harlan Hill.

    Harlan, Kansas

    Statue of Liberty Replica

    This roadside prairie Statue of Liberty replica is one of the foremost examples of the Boy Scouts of America's "Strengthen the Arm of Liberty" campaign.

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.