
The Chester teapot is billed as the "World's Largest
Teapot
A teapot is a vessel used for steeping tea leaves or a herbal mix in boiling or near-boiling water, and for serving the resulting infusion which is called tea. It is one of the core components of teaware. Dry tea is available either in tea b ...
", which measures in height by in diameter. Its current location is on the former site of a popular amusement park,
Rock Springs Park
Rock Springs Park is a defunct amusement park once located in Chester, West Virginia, Hancock County. The park officially began operation in 1897, and closed in 1970 after the death of its final owner, Robert Hand. After four years of disuse, t ...
(1897–1970), off an onramp along
U.S. Highway 30
U.S. Route 30 or U.S. Highway 30 (US 30) is an east–west main route in the system of the United States Numbered Highways, with the highway traveling across the northern tier of the country. With a length of , it is the third longest ...
in the
City of Chester in
Hancock County Hancock County is the name of ten counties in the United States. All are named for John Hancock who was a leader in the American Revolution. The counties are:
* Hancock County, Georgia
* Hancock County, Illinois
* Hancock County, Indiana
* Hancock ...
,
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the ...
.
History
It was originally brought to Chester in 1938 to represent the largest
pottery
Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other ceramic materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form. Major types include earthenware, stoneware and po ...
industry in the world at that time. The teapot was originally a
Hires Root Beer
Hires Root Beer is a root beer marketed by Keurig Dr Pepper. Introduced in 1876, it is one of the longest continuously made soft drinks in the United States.
History
Hires Root Beer was created by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania pharmacist Charles ...
sign in the shape of a large
barrel
A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container with a bulging center, longer than it is wide. They are traditionally made of wooden staves and bound by wooden or metal hoops. The word vat is often used for large containers for liquids, ...
and was converted into a teapot upon its arrival in Chester. The teapot underwent restorations in 1990 and 2007
by the citizens of Chester. By coincidence
Charles Elmer Hires
Charles Elmer Hires (August 19, 1851 – July 31, 1937) was an American pharmacist and an early promoter of commercially prepared root beer. He founded the Charles E. Hires Co., which manufactured and distributed Hires Root Beer.
Biography Early l ...
' root beer may also have had its inspiration in a kind of
herbal tea
Herbal teas, also known as herbal infusions and less commonly called tisanes (UK and US , US also ), are beverages made from the infusion or decoction of herbs, spices, or other plant material in hot water. Oftentimes herb tea, or the plain term ...
.
Gallery
File:Chester Teapot.JPG, The Chester Teapot at night (2013)
See also
*
American tea culture
American tea culture encompasses the methods of preparation and means of consumption of tea within the context of the culture of the United States.
American restaurants and workplaces typically offer machine-made drip brew coffee by default, ...
*
Teapot Dome Service Station
The Teapot Dome Service Station is a former gas station built in the shape of a teapot located in Zillah, Washington, United States, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Description
Located at 117 First Avenue, the stat ...
References
External links
Official Chester WV Site - World's Largest Teapot
Buildings and structures in Hancock County, West Virginia
Landmarks in West Virginia
Tourist attractions in Hancock County, West Virginia
Roadside attractions in West Virginia
Novelty buildings in West Virginia
Teapots
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