The tallest man in the world, robert wadlow, visited elko. That was a terrific list of world s tallest women from 1800present day. Jan 02, 2009 world s tallest man the tallest man in medical history for whom there is irrefutable evidence is robert pershing wadlow. Robert wadlow s first official record title was the tallest teenager ever male, measuring a huge 2. The tallest man ever lives on in the history books and the guinness world records. Robert wadlow statue, the worlds tallest man, in alton.
Robert pershing wadlow february 22, 1918 july 15, 1940, also known as the alton giant and the giant of illinois, was an american man who was the tallest person in recorded. Photos of the worlds tallest man ever, robert wadlow insider. Wadlow reached almost 9 feet in height and weighed 485 lb 220 kg at his death at age 22. Leonid stadnik holds the record as the tallest man still alive at 8 5 from ukraine. Add it to your bucket list of things to do in illinois. But robert wadlow s name is now known all over the globe the towering american who measured a staggering 2. My dad, a welder, told the story of modifying a car so that wadlow could sit in the back seat, and with passenger front seat removed, stretch his legs up to the front. In fact, sultan kosen, the tallest living man today, would stand 8 inches shorter than wadlow. His body was laid to rest in a casket fit for the tallest man in the world, reaching a length of 10 feet, 9 inches, and weighing 1,000 pounds. Wadlow, the exhibit is tastefully done with knowledgeable. And he also gives the guinness world records archives. But most captivating part of that book was the section about robert wadlow, the worlds tallest person. Alton museum of history and art robert pershing wadlow. Sultan first time became the worlds tallest living man in 2009, at that time his height was 246.
Robert wadlow tallest man ever according to the guinness. The questions and exercises in the back of the book are great for teaching kids empathy. The tallest man of all time is robert wadlow from the united states. Robert wadlow was the tallest man in the world, and though his life was cut short. My dad, a welder, told the story of modifying a car so that wadlow could sit in the back seat, and with passenger front. Meet worlds shortest man khagendra thapa magar guinness. If you want to know the record holder for the tallest man in the world, then youre in the right place. Louis for the first time by a couple of washington university specialists, where the family first discovered the reason that caused his fast growth. Here are seven historic photos that show how tall this gentle giant was. He had two sisters, helen and betty, and two brothers, eugene and harold jr. Aug 30, 2019 robert pershing wadlow worlds tallest man ever at the age of 11 years he was examined at barnes hospital in st.
At the time of his death in 1940, wadlow stood at 8 feet 11. Robert wadlow was the tallest man ever lives on in the history books. Alton the past month or so i have been besieged with requests to talk about robert wadlow because of my book boy giant. World tallest man visits the guinness world records office. Robert wadlow was an american who was the tallest person in recorded history as per the guinness book of records. This is robert wadlow, the worlds tallest man that ever. Alton museum of history and art robert pershing wadlow altons.
The alton museum of history and art includes a special exhibit on robert wadlow, altons gentle giant. A photo of robert wadlow, the world s tallest man, standing with his father, harold wadlow. Robert wadlow, worlds tallest man my mother went to high school with robert wadlow, probably a couple of years behind him, at alton high school. The record holder for tallest living man is sultan kosen from turkey. He was later confirmed as the tallest man ever on 27 june 1940. Aug 08, 2007 a ukrainian man has been named the worlds tallest living person by the guinness book of records, beating the previous record holder by 22cm 8in. Who is the tallest man in the world recorded in history. Oct 14, 2018 not only was he the worlds largest boy scout, but he still holds the guinness book world record for being the tallest man. Guinness world records looks back at the tallest man in the world, female. The worlds tallest man ever recorded in the history of mankind robert wadlow, was born in alton, illinois, in 1918, and was 6 feet tall by the time he was. Robert wadlow the alton giant worlds tallest man youtube. Wadlow passed john rogan as the tallest person ever before his death one year ago. A history of recordbreaking giants 100 years after the tallest man. Mar 22, 2012 today, a lifesize statue there commemorates the worlds tallest man, certified by the guinness book of records.
The twins then named robert wadlow as the tallest man of whom there is. Alistair richards, managing director of guinness world records, presents sultan kosen turkey with a certificate for being the tallest man in the world. The story of robert wadlow, the tallest man who ever lived. My mother went to high school with robert wadlow, probably a couple of years behind him, at alton high school. Clifford thompson 19041955 storstina 18191854 vikas uppal 19862007 robert pershing wadlow 19181940, recognized as the tallest human being. Tallest recorded chinese person and worlds tallest person shortly before her death. The unique life of the boy who became the worlds tallest man. Jun 04, 2018 at years old he became the worlds tallest boy scout, he had to wear a custommade uniform and used a modified tent and a sleeping bag 6 robert broke the record for worlds tallest man when he reached the 2.
He is listed in the guinness book of records as the. Measuring 8 ft 11 inches, robert pershing wadlow, the. It tells an interesting story of the worlds tallest man and at the same time it teaches kids that its ok to be different. The tallest man ever lives on in the history books and the guinness world records archives an enduring record that perhaps will never be beaten. Aug 30, 2019 indeed, guinness world records gwr has a record of 10 confirmed cases of tallest man in the world in history of mankind reaching 8ft or more. A year before his death in 1940, robert wadlow measured taller than the tallest man, and the two are still recorded as the tallest men to ever live on this earth. Robert pershing wadlow 22 fevrier 1918 a alton, illinois 15 juillet 1940 a manistee. The tallest man in history was too huge for words, so take.
Robert pershing wadlow february 22, 1918 july 15, 1940, also known as the alton giant and the giant of illinois, was an american man who was the tallest person in recorded history for whom there is irrefutable evidence. The book humanizes wadlow so we see him as a person rather than just some very, very, very tall kid. Eighteen days prior, he had been measured for the final time, clocking in at 8 feet, 11. This record resonates across the whole world because every country understands how. Photos of robert wadlow, the tallest man in human history. The wadlows would go on to have four more children after robert, who was their first born. A history of recordbreaking giants 100 years after the.
Robert wadlow is the tallest man and person who ever lived. In keeping with the pleasant and unassuming nature of mr. Nov 15, 2014 well, the long and short of it is that the world s tallest man met the world s shortest man for the first time thursday in london, england. May 18, 2014 tallest man in the world browse americas tallest person guiness world record tallest man. Robert wadlows first record title was the tallest teenager ever male. The guinness book of world records, in contrast, sat on a small. Among the inductees was robert wadlow, the worlds tallest man who was measured at 8 feet, 11. On june 27 1940 robert wadlow was the worlds tallest man according to the guinness world records. By his 22nd birthday, he was the tallest man ever to be verifiably measured by competent doctors, 8 feet 11. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times.
This is a list of the tallest people to be measured and verified, living and dead. Photos of the worlds tallest man ever, robert wadlow. Tallest man guinness world records 60th anniversary youtube. Worlds tallest man meets worlds smallest man for guinness. Lifesize robert wadlow statue, the worlds tallest man, in alton, illinois.
As he aged, robert had a hard time walking due to limited feeling in his legs and feet, and was forced to use leg braces when moving about. It was about this time over ninety years ago that a 9yearold robert pershing wadlow ran up to santa claus on the sidewalk to tell him about his christmas list. Robert wadlow, who died in 1940, still holds the guinness world record for the tallest man to ever live at eight feet 11. May 30, 2018 wadlow broke the record for world s tallest man when he reached 8ft 4in 1937 robert went on tour with the ringling brothers circus and drew large crowds wadlow was the oldest of five children. Robert pershing wadlow was born, educated and buried in alton, illinois. Robert was born on february 22, 1918, and weighed a normal eight pounds, six ounces. The exhibit, all about robert wadlow, the tallest man ever, must have been fascinating to the shortest man living especially as khagendra is just 20 cm 7. If you are a man who is quick on the uptake, and i believe that you are. Robert wadlows first official record title was the tallest teenager ever male, measuring a huge 2.
Another hall of famer is lee redmond, whose fingernails famously. Robert wadlow stood 811 tall at his full adult height just before his death in 1940. The tragically short life of robert wadlow, the worlds tallest man. Is robert pershing wadlow the tallest person on earth. Robert wadlow, the worlds tallest ever human kottke. The tallest person at the moment is sultan kosen, from turkey. Robert wadlow, the alton giant, became world famous for being, at 8 feet 11. For our 60th anniversary, we looked back over the years at the tallest people, from robert wadlow to sultan kosen who currently stands 8 ft 2. Rare color footage of the worlds tallest man who at 8. Robert pershing wadlow holds the record as the tallest man ever at 8 11 from the us. I remember going into a ripley s odditorium, and they had a full scale wax model of robert wadlow, and it blew my mind.
At birth he weighed a normal eight pounds, but due to a pituitary gland disorder, he grew quickly. The tallest man in medical history for whom there is irrefutable evidence is robert pershing wadlow usa born 6. Robert pershing wadlow was born on february 22, 1918 in alton, illinois. Robert wadlow the tragically short life of the worlds. Visit this weird roadside attraction on a road trip through illinois with kids or adults. He was born at alton, illinois, usa, on february 22, 1918, and when he was last measured on june 27, 1940, was found to be 2.
The worlds tallest man was robert wadlow of alton, illinois. Oct 06, 2019 interestingly, robert pershing wadlow is yet to be beaten as the worlds tallest man ever recorded. Robert wadlows height the worlds tallest man page 3. Even todays contenders for the title of worlds tallest person dont come anywhere near his great height. Robert was the first born of addie and harold wadlow. Nov 08, 2010 the book gives a few anecdotes about robert wadlow that you wont find in wikipedia, as well as a few decent photos. His name was robert wadlow, and he was born on february 22, 1918 to addie johnson and harold wadlow. He was born and raised in alton, illinois, a suburb of st. We look back over the years at the tallest man, from robert wadlow tallest man ever at 8ft.
However, there have been a few people to have come very close to beating his record, and they had made sure to make their tallness known. According to the guiness book of world records the tallest man ever was robert wadlow measuring in at an incredible 8 ft 11 in. As an adult, he was a member of the freemasons and his freemason ring was the largest ever made. Alton, illinois was home to the tallest man whoever lived in recorded history. The unique life of the boy who became the worlds tallest man phillips, jennifer on. Robert wadlow died in 1940, and there is no way of knowing if there were taller people off record, before people cared, of in a third world country, but he is the tallest person there is record of. New guinness record holders in pandemic chicago tribune. Jan 31, 2018 on july 15, 1940, robert wadlow died in his sleep. Leonid stadnyk, a 37yearold former veterinarian from podolyantsi in central ukraine, was measured at 2. Many may not know this, but roberts last words were said at 10. Also known as the giant of illinois and the alton giant, he suffered from hyperplasia that resulted in his abnormally high rate of growth that didnt. He was taller than his father by the age of 8, and in elementary school, they had to make a special desk for him due to his size. A photo of robert wadlow, the worlds tallest man, standing with his father, harold wadlow. Robert wadlow, worlds tallest man midwest wanderer.
842 1143 1173 768 1507 1254 173 994 971 16 1388 467 131 1206 359 240 1057 253 735 1233 185 912 733 288 169 1372 89