World's Largest Concrete TeePee: world record in Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas, United States--The Tee Pee in Lawrence, Kansas it's 50-feet tall, 33-ft. in diameter, and was the centerpiece of a US 40 roadside complex "Indian Village" that included a gas station, restaurant and motor court of smaller teepee cabins; at 50 feet tall, the concrete tee pee sets the world record for being the World's Largest Concrete Tee Pee, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.
"The Tee Pee" is a relic from an earlier time, when Indians were evidently giants who built their homes to last. The teepee has been more recently refurbished and repainted. It was reported open as a restaurant in 2009, and then a party venue," the Roadside America says.
"The main teepee building design was actually patented by its creator, Frank W. McDonald, in 1930, so the structure likely went up in the late 1920s, well ahead of later Wigwam Villages. It's 50-feet tall, 33-ft. in diameter, and was the centerpiece of a US 40 roadside complex "Indian Village" that included a gas station, restaurant and motor court of smaller teepee cabins.
"The 14 teepee cabins are long demolished. Today what remains is a one-floor building with a teepee on either end, and the main teepee. The pole rigged to a sail-like flange gracing the original design is also gone. Marks on the side of this age-stained structure indicate the high water marks from Kansas River floods in 1951 and 1935."
"Way before the Wigwam Village phenomenon swept across the early American Roadside, Frank W. McDonald built this set of teepees in 1928. There had been a filling station serviced by 'native' boys, with small teepees flanking a long low structure housing convenient goods. The larger TeePee served as an office for the campground areas," the
World's Largest Things says..
"TeePee Junction got a facelift in November 2008, which retined some of the reminders of flood levels past(there are markers painted along the sloping side).
"The Lawrence Journal-World did an excellent writeup about the makeover, and interviewed the teepee's 83-year-old owner, Cliff McDonald."
"This place was once the site of the “Indian Village” that included a gas station, cabins, and a a restaurant, and dance room that were all designed with a “teepee” themed architecture," the Legends Of America says.
"Established in 1930, this was a time when many businesses worked hard at attracting passing motorists by creating a unique image that included fanciful names, signage and graphics that spoke to a theme, and specific architectural details.
"His plan for the Indian Village was to include a 40-foot high teepee with a filling station at its 25-foot base. The wooden structure was to have a concrete exterior, and house restrooms, a men’s smoking room, and a second-floor apartment that would serve as living quarters for an on-site filling station operator. McDonald applied for a patent on this design which was granted in 1930. The complex was to also include a restaurant, and motor court comprised of 14 teepee cabins, and a hogan was to be built for restrooms and a bathhouse."
"It's 50-feet tall, 33-ft. in diameter and was the centerpiece of a US 40 roadside complex "Indian Village" that included a gas station, restaurant and motor court of smaller tee pee cabins," the Road Trippers says.
"The 14 tee pee cabins are long demolished. Today what remains is a one-floor building with a tee pee on either end, and the main tee pee. Marks on the side indicate the high water marks from Kansas River floods in 1951 and 1935."
"At 50 feet tall, the concrete teepee that sits on an otherwise nondescript piece of earth a couple hundred yards east of Second Street and U.S. Highway 59, off U.S. Highway 40, is hard to miss. When it was built in 1928, it was part of a larger American Indian village, complete with gas station and curio shops," the Lawrence Business Magazine reports.
"“The idea back then was that Highway 40 was going to be a major east-to-west highway, like what Interstate 70 is today,” says Richard Osburn, who lives in the teepee and manages the property. “Cars back then could only go 300 miles on a tank of gas, so the thought was it was a perfect spot for travelers to stop, gas up and maybe buy a few souvenirs before heading on.”
"The teepee is such a well-known landmark for North Lawrence that the corner of Highways 59 and 40, and surrounding area has long been tabbed “Teepee Junction” where there are a handful of longstanding North Lawrence businesses."
"It's 50-feet tall, 33-ft. in diameter and was the centerpiece of a US 40 roadside complex "Indian Village" that included a gas station, restaurant and motor court of smaller tee pee cabins," the Kansas Tourism says.
Photos: World's Largest Concrete TeePee: world record in Lawrence, Kansas
(1-3) Kansas Tourism
World's Largest Concrete TeePee: Lawrence, Kansas
Address: US Hwy 24, Lawrence, KS
Directions: Tee Pee. I-70 exit 204. Turn right onto 3rd St./US Hwy 59, drive under the interstate, then turn right at the traffic light onto US Hwy 24. The Tee Pee will be on the right.
Phone: +1 785-766-3538
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