Robert Wadlow’s Final Days in Manistee

On July 15, 1940 Robert Pershing Wadlow, known as the Alton Giant passed away in Manistee at just 22 years old. Standing at an astonishing 8 feet 11.1 inches tall, he was the tallest man ever recorded. Wadlow was in town as a guest of honor at the Manistee National Forest Festival when tragedy struck. A small blister on his ankle, caused by a faulty leg brace, became infected. Despite treatment—including a blood transfusion and surgery—he died in his sleep just eleven days later.

The Gentle Giant

Robert Wadlow’s towering height was the result of pituitary gigantism. This is a condition that causes the body to produce excessive growth hormone. By the time of his death, he weighed 439 pounds and needed braces to walk, although he never used a wheelchair. Despite his immense stature and physical challenges, he was remembered as a kind, gentle, and humble man.

Wadlow rose to national fame in the 1930s during a tour with the Ringling Brothers Circus. Unlike many circus performers of the era, he insisted on being treated with dignity—refusing to wear costumes and appearing in the main ring, not as a sideshow act. Later, he toured with the International Shoe Company, promoting their products and receiving custom-made size 37 shoes in return.

Wadlow’s Legacy

His death made headlines nationwide. Wadlow’s funeral, held in his hometown of Alton, Illinois, drew an estimated 40,000 mourners. His half-ton coffin—measuring over ten feet long—required twelve pallbearers and eight assistants, and was encased in solid concrete to prevent any tampering. His family even destroyed many of his personal effects to prevent them from being exploited as collector’s items. One notable exception remains: a single massive shoe, still on display at Snyder’s Shoes on River Street in Manistee.

Wadlow’s legacy lives on not only in Manistee but around the world. Life-sized statues and wax figures can be seen in locations from Florida to Australia. A bronze statue stands proudly on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, celebrating the life of a man who, despite his incredible height, remained grounded in humility.

Wadlow’s time in Manistee was brief, but the town holds a special place in his story. His final days, spent surrounded by fans and festival-goers, were a testament to his enduring kindness and commitment to the people who came to see him—not as a spectacle, but as a truly remarkable human being.

Learn more about the rich history of the Northwest Lower Peninsula.