Robert Wadlow was celebrating his 17th birthday in 1935. He stood 8 feet, 1.1 inches tall, and weighed about 370 pounds He had grown 3 inches in the previous year.

Jessa Price, 7, plays on the life-size statue of Alton's Gentle Giant Robert Pershing Wadlow as her grandmother takes photos on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018, in Alton.

Robert Wadlow ’s 107th birthday was celebrated at the Old Bakery Beer Company with live music and the re-release of the brewery’s popular Gentle Giant Double IPA beer. The 8-foot, 11-inch-tall ...

Robert Wadlow stands by a car in Alton, Ill., on July 22, 1939, as he prepares to leave on a tour. His father accompanied him on promotional trips. (Courtesy photo) ...

Discover the 7 most iconic Guinness World Records set by Americans, from the tallest man ever to a fast food fanatic. Find ...

You probably know that the world’s tallest man, as verified by Guinness World Records, was from Alton. Robert Wadlow was 8-feet-11-inches when he died, at just 22, in 1940.

Robert Wadlow, world's tallest human, poses with his family in Alton on July 27, 1936. From left are: Eugene, 14, Mrs. Harold Wadlow, Harold Jr., 4, Betty, 12, Harold Wadlow, and Helen, 15.