Kings whiskers: holder for the longest beard in the world

In 1967, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History received a very unusual donation. Russell Langseth handed over 17 feet and 6 inches of his father’s beard. This measurement is often cited as the full length of Hans Langseth’s beard, but that was only the portion saved before his burial. Hans’ beard was actually an astounding 18 feet, six inches long.

Can you imagine carrying around a beard nearly nineteen feet long? The care required—washing, brushing, and even transporting it—must have been incredible. But Hans Langseth, often called “King Whiskers,” took great pride in his world-record beard.

Who was Hans Langseth?

Langseth was born in Eidsvoll, Norway in 1846 and immigrated to the United States as a teenager. At nineteen, he began growing his beard for a competition—and simply never stopped. At one point, he attempted to cut it off, but halfway through he changed his mind. The preserved beard shows a visible narrowing where the cut would have been completed.

Hans often wrapped his beard around a corn cob and tucked it into his jacket pocket, or carried it in an over-the-shoulder pouch. He even spent time touring with a circus sideshow, though he eventually quit after too many spectators yanked on his beard to test if it was real. In 1922, his beard was officially declared the longest in the world—five feet longer than the second-longest recorded beard.

How Hans Cared for the World's Longest Beard

Beard hair naturally dies and breaks as it grows longer, so Hans had to take special care to maintain every extra inch. His secret was intentionally matting older beard hair together with newer growth, similar to modern dreadlock maintenance. This technique helped his beard retain extraordinary length.

As Hans aged, his beard grew lighter and greyer, creating a natural ombré effect in the preserved hair. Today, the beard artifact is stored safely and only displayed privately for Langseth’s descendants, though it was exhibited publicly at the National Museum of Natural History until the 1990s.

Hans passed away in Wyndmere, North Dakota in 1927 at age 81. His final wish was for his beard to be preserved. His family honored that request, cutting all but 12 inches from his chin. The saved portion remained in family storage until Russell donated it to the Smithsonian in the 1960s.

Learn more about curious beards in history by subscribing to our newsletter !