Co-authored by Minnesota authors Karal Ann Marling and Corine Wegener ; introduction by Minnesota author Christopher P. Monkhouse. Weathervanes have adorned rooftops and towers since ancient times, dependably and often amusingly indicating which way the wind blows. Produced in an array of appealing forms - from banners and arrows to roosters and horses to mythical figures and human beings - they reached their peak of popularity in America during the nineteenth century, topping church steeples, barns, fence posts, and civic structures nationwide. Today, the weathervane and its cousin the whirligig are enjoying enhanced status among collectors and museums alike as prized items of American folk art. In Wind and Whimsy, renowned cultural historian Karal Ann Marling traces the history, literature, and lore of these utilitarian yet whimsical objects, focusing on their role in American popular culture. Accompanying her illustrated essay is a selection of more than 60 plates, offering superbly detailed full-color views of prime weathervanes and whirligigs from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and private collections in the Twin Cities. - Back cover.