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All the United States Maryland Takoma Park Roscoe the Rooster

Roscoe the Rooster

The rooster who crossed the road lives on forever in Takoma Park, Maryland.

Takoma Park, Maryland

Added By
Ruben Stemple
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Rooster and pedestrian-friendly median   R Stemple / Atlas Obscura User
Rooster and pedestrian-friendly median   R Stemple / Atlas Obscura User
Close up of Lifesize Statue   R Stemple / Atlas Obscura User
Plaque honoring Roscoe the Rooster   R Stemple / Atlas Obscura User
Roscoe as the face of gay pride in Takoma   R Stemple / Atlas Obscura User
Local Signage Honors Roscoe   R Stemple / Atlas Obscura User
Roscoe’s Pizzeria   R Stemple / Atlas Obscura User
  e1savage / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Roscoe on his roost   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
12/7/24   ajones90 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Why did the chicken cross the road? In the case of Roscoe the Rooster, it's because he could. Over and over again.

For 10 years, Roscoe the Rooster roamed the town of Takoma Park and crossed the road whenever he pleased.  Drivers stopped for Roscoe, residents provided him with food and shelter, and eventually the police and local animal control gave up on trying to catch him. 

Roscoe arrived in Takoma Park in 1989, though nobody seems to know where he came from. Roscoe was often seen walking along the sidewalks, resting in a local’s front yard, or, occasionally, deviously (and purposefully, according to residents) holding up traffic. Though some locals were annoyed by his crowing and roosterly antics, most embraced his presence. 

Sadly, in 1999 Roscoe fell victim to a hit and run. Local residents banded together to commission a statue in his memory, and in 2000 a life-sized statue created by Normon Green was installed in the pedestrian and chicken friendly median on Laurel Avenue.  

To this day, locals "dress up" the statue in holiday gear and other costumes. Roscoe has proved to be an active community member, even posthumously making appearances on local advertisements and posters. The famed rooster even has a pizza shop named after him! Roscoe can now be found perpetually crossing the road in Takoma Park.

Related Tags

Birds Roads Statues Cars Animals

Community Contributors

Added By

R Stemple

Edited By

aribrown, e1savage, Collector of Experiences, blimpcaptain...

  • aribrown
  • e1savage
  • Collector of Experiences
  • blimpcaptain
  • GetWeird98
  • ajones90

Published

June 28, 2017

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Sources
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1995/10/17/independent-fowl-rules-the-roost-in-takoma-park/54116480-45d7-4ca0-8ca7-f4c4bac8dcef/?utm_term=.87da73da8177
  • http://blogs.weta.org/boundarystones/2013/12/10/takoma-parks-emblematic-rooster
Roscoe the Rooster
6927 Laurel Ave
Takoma Park, Maryland
United States
38.974333, -77.012163
Visit Website
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Photo of Takoma Park

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