National Tea Day is celebrated in the United States on Sunday, and the world’s largest teapot is located in Chester, West Virginia. Heinz History Center and Lincoln Highway historian Brian Butko shared that this teapot was originally a giant root beer barrel in Imperial, Pennsylvania until it was brought to West Virginia in 1938 by a local entrepreneur named Babe Devon.
Devon had a pottery business along Carolina Avenue, which is now part of the Lincoln Highway. He converted the barrel into a teapot to advertise his business, taking advantage of the area’s history as the pottery capital of America with over 200 potteries. The teapot eventually moved to the Route 30 Bypass next to the old Rock Springs amusement park and has undergone several restorations over the years.
According to Butko, the teapot stands at 14 feet high and 14 feet wide, and could hold over 13,000 gallons of tea. It serves as a symbol of pride for the region’s past and future, representing the local industry and history. Teapot Day is celebrated each August in Chester to raise money for the upkeep of the attraction.