Teapot Dome Service Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Teapot Dome Service Station
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The Teapot Dome Service Station is an example of novelty architecture and of a roadside attraction, August 2017.
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 Location in Washington (state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | Old State HW 12 Zillah, Washington United States |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1922 |
| Architect | Ainsworth, Jack |
| Architectural style | Follies |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001943 |
| Added to NRHP | August 29, 1985 |
The Teapot Dome Service Station is a unique building in Zillah, Washington, United States. It was once a gas station but is shaped like a giant teapot! This special building is recognized as a historic place.
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What is the Teapot Dome Service Station?
The Teapot Dome Service Station is located at 117 First Avenue. It is a great example of novelty architecture. This means it's a building designed to look like something else. In this case, it looks like a teapot.
Why is it shaped like a teapot?
The building was made to remind people of the Teapot Dome Scandal. This was a big event that happened in the 1920s. It involved President Warren G. Harding and his Secretary of the Interior, Albert Fall. Secretary Fall was found to have acted improperly. He leased government oil reserves in places like Teapot Dome, Wyoming.
History of the Teapot Dome Service Station
This interesting station was built in 1922. It was placed along what later became U.S. Route 12. The building is round with a pointy roof. It has a metal "handle" and a concrete "spout" to look just like a teapot.
How did it become a roadside attraction?
In the 1920s and 1930s, more and more people were traveling by car. The national highway system was growing. Many unique buildings like this one were built. They served as roadside attractions to get drivers to stop.
The Teapot Dome Service Station worked as a gas station for many years. But in 1978, a new highway, Interstate 82, was built nearby. This highway changed how people traveled.
Where is it now?
The station was moved less than a mile down the Yakima Valley Highway. It kept selling gas until 2006. The city of Zillah bought it in 2007. They fixed it up and moved it again in 2012.
Today, the Teapot Dome Service Station is at 117 First Avenue. It no longer sells gas. Instead, it serves as Zillah's visitors center. It welcomes people to the area.
