Ddi you know that Ohio is home to the world’s largest washboard? What about the world’s largest rubber stamp? It”s true, it’s quirky—and it’s Ohio. From backyard museums to massive earth-moving machine remnants, there are several quirky yet interesting places in the Buckeye State. Many of them make excellent road trip stops or sights to see along a leisurely drive.
- World’s largest pumpkin (Circleville)
Justin Masterson/Flickr The small city of Circleville in Pickaway County is home to the annual Circleville Pumpkin Show and its water tower is depicted as the world’s largest pumpkin, (of course).
- Big Muskie Bucket (McConnelsville)
kgilbert78/Trip Advisor Miner’s Memorial Park in McConnelsville, Ohio is home to remnants of the largest single-bucket digging machine ever made. The Big Muskie Bucket is a manmade marvel you have to see to believe, telling the story of Ohio’s past coal mining days. Witnessing the size of this 230-ton empty bucket firsthand is worth the trip alone.
- Ghost Town (Findlay)
Ghost Town Findlay, Ohio/Facebook Created by the Galitza family, this unique roadside attraction in Findlay features a replica of an 1880s-era ghost town that was first open to the public in the 1950s. Today, the ghost town has been restored after a period of abandonment and even features arts and crafts vendors and antique and flea market vendors on select dates.
- World’s largest basket (Newark)
Adam Schweigert/Flickr The Longaberger Company’s former headquarters features the world’s largest basket. This seven-story basket building along State Route 16 in Newark is a novelty piece of architecture you have to see to believe. After the company shut down, the future of the basket remained in question but it still stands today.
- Johnson Pencil Sharpener Museum (Logan)
Porthos7/TripAdvisor This one-of-a-kind museum is home to the largest collection of pencil sharpeners in the country. Inside this whimsical little museum, you’ll find more than 3,400 pencil sharpeners. It’s a quirky collection that’s fascinating to see. It’s located right next to the Hocking Hills Welcome Center.
- World’s largest stamp (Cleveland)
Brook Ward/Flickr Cleveland is home to the world’s largest rubber stamp. Known as “The Free Stamp,” this large outdoor sculpture in Willard Park has been there since the early ’90s.
- Cornhenge (Dublin)
Miguel Castaneda/Flickr Ohio has its own version of Stonehenge, thanks to Dublin’s Field of Corn, also known as “Cornhenge.” (But I highly doubt foreigners would speculate that we use it as a calendar.)
- The Lucky Cat Museum (Cincinnati)
Lucky Cat Museum/Facebook This quirky museum is dedicated to Japan’s famous Beckoning Lucky Cats, also known as “Maneki-Neko.” It’s home to the largest collection of Lucky Cats in North America.
- World’s largest washboard (Logan)
macwagen/Flickr Columbus Washboard Company in Logan is home to the world’s largest washboard (and all kinds of vintage laundry products.)
- The Wall of Gum (Greenville)
Cindy Funk/Flickr Customers routinely discard chewed gum and stick it on the side of this Maid-Rite Drive-In in Greenville. Why? We’re really not sure! But it’s definitely one of those weird places in Ohio you just have to accept.
- Vasehenge (Zanesville)
Tricia J./Flickr What was once the pottery capital of the United States is now home to yet another homage to Stonehenge. This collaborative effort of local artists can be found at the foot of the Y-Bridge.
Have you ever explored any of these quirky places before? What others would you add to this list? Share your photos and experiences with us!
Justin Masterson/Flickr
The small city of Circleville in Pickaway County is home to the annual Circleville Pumpkin Show and its water tower is depicted as the world’s largest pumpkin, (of course).
kgilbert78/Trip Advisor
Miner’s Memorial Park in McConnelsville, Ohio is home to remnants of the largest single-bucket digging machine ever made. The Big Muskie Bucket is a manmade marvel you have to see to believe, telling the story of Ohio’s past coal mining days. Witnessing the size of this 230-ton empty bucket firsthand is worth the trip alone.
Ghost Town Findlay, Ohio/Facebook
Created by the Galitza family, this unique roadside attraction in Findlay features a replica of an 1880s-era ghost town that was first open to the public in the 1950s. Today, the ghost town has been restored after a period of abandonment and even features arts and crafts vendors and antique and flea market vendors on select dates.
Adam Schweigert/Flickr
The Longaberger Company’s former headquarters features the world’s largest basket. This seven-story basket building along State Route 16 in Newark is a novelty piece of architecture you have to see to believe. After the company shut down, the future of the basket remained in question but it still stands today.
Porthos7/TripAdvisor
This one-of-a-kind museum is home to the largest collection of pencil sharpeners in the country. Inside this whimsical little museum, you’ll find more than 3,400 pencil sharpeners. It’s a quirky collection that’s fascinating to see. It’s located right next to the Hocking Hills Welcome Center.
Brook Ward/Flickr
Cleveland is home to the world’s largest rubber stamp. Known as “The Free Stamp,” this large outdoor sculpture in Willard Park has been there since the early ’90s.
Miguel Castaneda/Flickr
Ohio has its own version of Stonehenge, thanks to Dublin’s Field of Corn, also known as “Cornhenge.” (But I highly doubt foreigners would speculate that we use it as a calendar.)
Lucky Cat Museum/Facebook
This quirky museum is dedicated to Japan’s famous Beckoning Lucky Cats, also known as “Maneki-Neko.” It’s home to the largest collection of Lucky Cats in North America.
macwagen/Flickr
Columbus Washboard Company in Logan is home to the world’s largest washboard (and all kinds of vintage laundry products.)
Cindy Funk/Flickr
Customers routinely discard chewed gum and stick it on the side of this Maid-Rite Drive-In in Greenville. Why? We’re really not sure! But it’s definitely one of those weird places in Ohio you just have to accept.
Tricia J./Flickr
What was once the pottery capital of the United States is now home to yet another homage to Stonehenge. This collaborative effort of local artists can be found at the foot of the Y-Bridge.
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Address: Circleville, OH 43113, USAAddress: Big Muskie Bucket, 4470 OH-78, McConnelsville, OH 43756, USAAddress: Ghost Town Findlay, Ohio, 10630 Co Rd 40, Findlay, OH 45840, USAAddress: 1500 E Main St, Newark, OH 43055, USAAddress: Paul A. Johnson Pencil Sharpener Museum, 13178 OH-664, Logan, OH 43138, USAAddress: Willard Park, Cleveland, OH 44114, USAAddress: Field of Corn, 4995 Rings Rd, Dublin, OH 43017, USAAddress: Ohio’s Lucky Cat Museum, 2511 Essex Pl, Cincinnati, OH 45206, USAAddress: 14 Gallagher Ave, Logan, OH 43138, USAAddress: Maid-Rite Sandwich Shoppe, 125 N Broadway St, Greenville, OH 45331, USAAddress: Muskingum River Y Bridge, Zanesville, OH 43701, USA
