Collinsville, Illinois, is known for its catsup … bottle, that is.
photo, http://www.catsupbottle.com/
Since 1949, “The World’s Largest Catsup Bottle” has drawn visitors from across the U.S. to marvel at the kitschy, 170-foot-tall roadside attraction. The bottle itself is 70 feet tall, standing on a 100-foot-tall steel base. The bottom of the bottle is 25 feet in diameter and would hold 100,000 gallons of catsup, but has instead served over the years as a water tower. It was built to mark the adjacent catsup bottling plant for “Brooks Old Original Rich & Tangy Catsup.”
The tower was restored to its original appearance in 1995 with over $100,000 in donations and named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
But it’s now for sale, along with the adjacent warehouse. How much does the world’s largest catsup bottle cost? A rich-and-tangy half-million!
What a cool icon from the past. I love this little piece of history. Hopefully, someone with a love of America’s history will find a way to save it and maybe move it to a museum close by where people can continue to stop and enjoy a piece of our past. I wonder what the ketchup tasted like in comparison to the brands today. At least back in 1949, we didn’t worry about GMO and high fructose corn syrup being in everything on the shelf!
I love this!!!!! It makes me miss the Landmarks from my childhood! Like all the very elaborate neon signs! We had one that was a giant billboard, with a pitcher of milk filling up a blue glass! and The Coco -cola Bottling Company, no words to describe!
My daughter, Holly, in her travels for her new job, visited the “Mustard Museum” in Wisconsin! who knew?? It is sooo adorable!!!!!
Thanks for sharing this!
That is so cool!
I hope the person or company that buys it will keep it how it is; It would be sad to see it go.
Thanks for sharing this interesting land mark. 🙂
If you pine for the giant catsup bottle, I highly suggest this book :
http://www.amazon.com/New-Roadside-America-Travelers-Wonderful/dp/0671769316/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408108447&sr=1-1&keywords=roadside+america
read the reviews for lot more info.
“Roadside America ” tells about all the fun and weird and kitschy places to visit in the USA- way lots of fun. I have the older version but this is the updated a expanded one. Just as fun to read as an armchair traveller. I have enjoyed this book over the years and have actually visited some of the East coast attractions. enjoy!
The paint on the Catsup Bottle was faded and peeling by the early 19, with some considering it an eyesore. From the Official World s Largest Catsup Bottle® Web Site and Fan Club