Weed’s Iconic Totem Pole Knocked Down in Late-Night Crash

A longtime roadside landmark in the Siskiyou County city of Weed has been knocked down after a late-night crash.

Just after 11 p.m. Tuesday, officers with the Weed Police Department responded to a report of a vehicle collision in the parking lot of Ray’s Food Place. When they arrived, they found that a big rig hauling a trailer had struck the city’s well-known totem pole, toppling the 32-foot structure to the ground.

Photos shared by police show the pole fully collapsed and heavily damaged. Authorities said the driver remained on scene and provided insurance information from the trucking company.

The totem pole was originally installed in 1962 to mark the opening of what was then a Safeway store. Over the decades, it became a recognizable stop for travelers passing through Weed, a town tucked beneath Mount Shasta.

Whether the historic structure can be restored remains uncertain, as officials have not yet determined the full extent of the damage.

Weed, named after lumber mill founder Abner Weed, is no stranger to unusual attention. The city’s highway exit sign has famously been stolen multiple times because of its name. Now, residents are left wondering whether another quirky piece of local history can be saved.