No mailing the world’s largest ball of stamps at Boys Town

We’ve seen the world’s biggest ball of twine and bull, among others, but the world’s largest ball of stamps? Well, it’s in Omaha…of course.

It’s actually at Boys Town, which is its own city. The visitors center is home to the Leon Myers Stamp Center. The center offers more than just a look at the world’s largest ball of stamps. But, the stamps are what drew us there.

The ball was created in the 1950s. It’s about 32 inches in diameter, according to statistics from Ripley’s Believe It or Not. It weighs more than 600 lbs. It contains more than 4.6 million canceled stamps.

The ball is in the open and can be touched. People can’t add stamps to the ball or remove them (though some have tried). Its background is a cool mural consisting of stamps.

The center also has a copy of the 4-cent Father Flanagan stamp. As some people may know, he is the founder of Boys Town. He started the home for wayward boys in the early 1900s. It now includes girls. Spencer Tracy portrayed him in the movie, “Boys Town.” Mickey Rooney also starred in it as one of the boys. The movie won an Academy Award.

Stamps featuring children’s art, fairy tales and other items are on display at the center.

For more information on Boys Town and its attractions (including Father Flanagan’s house), please visit www.boystown.org.