Ella Ewing holds the distinction of being the tallest woman of her generation. She was born in LaGrange, Missouri, on March 9, 1872, the only child of Benjamin and Anna Herring Ewing.

Shortly after Ella’s birth, the Ewing family moved to a farm in Scotland County, Missouri. At the age of seven, Ella began to grow rapidly, and by age fourteen, she was reportedly six feet, two inches tall. It is believed she suffered from pituitary gigantism, a medical condition caused by the overproduction of growth hormones.

Ewing Family Ewing Family.



Ben, Ella, and Anna Ewing. Ella was always accompanied by a family member or friend when on tour.



[The State Historical Society of Missouri, Photograph Collection (009582)]

Although many in the local community accepted Ella, people from nearby towns often gawked and stared because they had never seen anyone as tall as her. They made fun of her appearance, but Ella ignored them, even though their cruelty hurt her feelings.

In 1890 Ella was asked if she would appear at a Chicago museum for a month. At first her parents were angry and upset at the thought of their daughter being put on public display, but friends reportedly convinced them, “If people were going to gawk—make them pay.” Ella agreed to go on exhibit and earned $1,000 for her first appearance.

Giant Giantess Giant Giantess.



This poster was used by the Barnum & Bailey Circus to advertise Ella Ewing as the “Giant Giantess.” Circus employees known as advance men traveled ahead of the circus and would put up posters all over a town to announce the circus’s impending arrival to drum up business for the show. The posters often advertised the more unusual and exotic aspects of the circus to attract curious spectators who would pay to see the show.



[Courtesy of Circus World Museum, Baraboo, Wisconsin, CWi 14934]

Ella knew that her parents struggled to make a living, so she chose to continue to exhibit at select events to help them financially. She was always accompanied by family members or a friend when on exhibit. In 1893 Ella exhibited at the Chicago World’s Fair, which was attended by more than 27 million people. She was well on her way to becoming known as the “Missouri Giantess.”

By age twenty-two Ewing stood eight feet, four inches tall. An everyday dress required twenty-four yards of fabric, an amazing seventy-two feet of material. An elaborate gown Ella wore during exhibitions was made out of eighty yards of cloth, equivalent to 240 feet. She wore a size 24 shoe that required over three pounds of leather to make.

Ella’s Shoes Ella’s Shoes.



Ella Ewing reportedly wore a size 24 shoe. She was very self-conscious about the size of her feet and always tried to keep them covered and out of sight.



[Courtesy of the Missouri State Archives]

Already well known in the Midwest, Ewing became world famous in 1897 when she joined the Barnum & Bailey Circus on a nationwide tour. When the circus arrived in St. Louis, Ewing was interviewed by a reporter from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. When asked what she thought of circus life, Ewing responded, “I am delighted with it and find it quite different from what I expected before I entered it…I have always received the best treatment from all the people in the show, and enjoy traveling about and seeing the country…It was terribly embarrassing to me at first but I have almost gotten used to it now and enjoy the traveling and excitement.” At the end of her six-month contract, Ewing received $3,250, much more than the average American made in an entire year.

Ewing used her earnings to make her life at home comfortable. She bought a farm and built a house to her exact specifications. To accommodate her height, the doorways were eight feet, eight inches tall and the windows were six feet tall so that she could look outside without bending down. She purchased custom-made furniture large enough for her, but also had regular furniture for visitors. Ewing installed one of Scotland County’s first residential telephones, which she shared with neighbors. She also purchased a farm for her parents within walking distance of her residence.

Ella Ewing’s Residence Ella Ewing’s Residence.



Ella Ewing with her father and an unidentified woman outside of her home. The doorways were tall enough that Ella could come and go without stooping.



[Courtesy of the Missouri State Archives]

Ewing enjoyed traveling, but she always returned home for rest and relaxation out of the spotlight. A faithful member of Harmony Grove Baptist Church, Ewing studied the Bible, attended Sunday school, and participated in the local Christian Endeavor Society. She always made time to visit with friends who eagerly listened to her stories about life on the road and the interesting things she saw during her travels.

Obituary Obituary.



This obituary for Ella Ewing appeared in the Memphis (Missouri) Reveille. Because it was the largest town near her home, Ella often traveled to Memphis, and was well known to area residents.



[Memphis Reveille, January 16, 1913, Page 1, Columns 1, 2, 4, 5]

The St. Louis World's Fair held in 1904 is also known as the Louisiana Purchase Exposition because it celebrated the centennial of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. Located on the grounds of current-day Forest Park and the campus of Washington University, the international exposition featured exhibits from 62 countries and 43 of the then 45 U.S. states. The exhibits showcased cities, industries, private organizations, and businesses among its educational displays and entertainment. More than nineteen million people visited the fair between its opening day on April 30 and its closing on December 1. in St. Louis and the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition of 1905 in Portland, Oregon. For the rest of her life, Ewing continued to do tours at county fairs and international exhibitions, including the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis and the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition of 1905 in Portland, Oregon.