Airplane Service Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Airplane Service Station
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | 6829 Clinton Hwy Powell, Tennessee |
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| Nearest city | Knoxville, Tennessee |
| Built | 1930 |
| Architect | Wayne L. Smith, Elmer F. Nickle, Henry C. Nickle |
| Architectural style | Mimetic |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000198 |
| Added to NRHP | March 18, 2004 |
The Airplane Service Station, also known as the Powell Airplane, is a very special building in Powell, Tennessee. It was built in 1930 and looks exactly like an airplane! This unique building is located at 6829 Clinton Highway in Powell, an area near Knoxville. It is so important that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Airplane Service Station: A Building Shaped Like a Plane
This interesting building was first used as a service station. It was designed to catch people's attention. Imagine driving down the road and seeing a giant airplane! That's what people saw when this station opened.
Why Was This Gas Station Built Like an Airplane?
The Airplane Service Station was built by two brothers, Elmer and Henry Nickle. They wanted their business to stand out. They hoped a unique building would bring in more customers. This was especially true for travelers on the newly improved U.S. Highway 25.
Elmer Nickle loved airplanes. Because of his interest, they decided to build the station in the shape of a plane. This style of building is called Mimetic architecture. It means the building copies the shape of something else.
What is the Airplane Service Station Used For Now?
The building stopped being a service station in the 1960s. Since then, it has been home to many different businesses. It has been a store selling various items, a place to buy fresh produce, and even a used car lot.
Today, the Airplane Service Station is a barbershop. Groups like Knox Heritage and the Airplane Filling Station Preservation Association (AFSPA) are working to protect this historic building. They want to make sure this cool airplane-shaped station lasts for many more years.
