Teapot Dome Station, a photo from Washington, West

Photographer's Note

Possibly the most unique gas station in the USA, the Teapot Dome Gas Station was built in 1922 in Yakima, Washington. Ten years later, it was moved to Zillah, Washington which is 20 miles southeast of Yakima in the lower Yakima Valley. The Teapot Dome can be seen from Interstate 82.

It is a 15' tall, round building with a conical roof, sheet metal handle and concrete spout.

The intent behind the teapot shape was a humorous reference to the Teapot Dome scandals that rocked President Warren G. Harding's administration in the 1920s.

The Teapot Dome originally sold oil products and continues to sell gas today. It fell on hard times for many years until it was restored in the mid-1980s. It is listed among the USA's National Historical Landmarks.

God's best to you, Tim
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richtersl, mdchachi, mimi, nmess, snuggleaphagus, shadi_atos, hojper, nwoehnl, Jeppe, AndrewGarn, sulucas, izanoza, orme, Clochette, gadinga, strangiato, nbournas, rabani, Xalkida, gg01, rajhema, Mondaychild has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

afaust (302) 2004-03-22 22:54

I love it, it's soooo cute! I also like how you put it right smack in the middle of the frame. Great photo!

richtersl (3546) 2004-03-22 23:02

This is adorable! And, what a piece of history you've captured. I agree, putting the little "teapot" in the center of the composition works well. The Christmas lights hanging off the roof are great.

mdchachi (1612) 2004-03-22 23:06

Nice shot -- nice saturated colors and centered composition -- and nice note. Interesting how its original intent as commentary on scandals almost a century ago are lost in time. In 75 years the Iraq War & 2004 U.S. presidential election will just be a minor historical event.

mimi (2325) 2004-03-22 23:07 [Comment]

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nmess (2301) 2004-03-23 0:03

A colorful snapshot of history americana. The close crop focus attention on the gas station and DOF is quite good too. The perspective is good as had the center pump lined up with the door, obsuring the bottom, it would have broken the line and left the top of the door orphaned.

snuggleaphagus (4146) 2004-03-23 1:00

This is so silly, and wonderfull. I like everything about it. It actually looks like the type of teapot you'd find in an old lady's home. The reds and white against the blue sky and the hazy mountains is just lovely.

Gbutler (772) 2004-03-23 1:27

One word...actually 3 words...BIZARRE...great shot ;o) It's photo's like these which show us a part of our daily life that I can really appreciate...no matter how bizarre looking hehe

shadi_atos (403) 2004-03-23 1:37

Great composition, very funny gas station, the colors is so clear and natural well done

hojper (2832) 2004-03-23 3:44

A superb note to a fine photo, Tim. This is true TE - learning and enjoying. And I am glad to find this in the tricolor theme where it definitely belongs. The photo is incredibly sharp, but there is a little bit of noise in the sky (you only notice if you look hard). Any postprocessing? No NeatImage, I guess?

nwoehnl (122) 2004-03-23 5:02

Yes, this is Americana at its best, Tim. An engagingly colorful sight, and your tight cropping around this great subject works perfectly. Your note is excellent in setting the context for this unique sight. Thanks for showing this!

By the way, I had already started my personal (not group) "Americana" theme a while ago, into which I've happily added your shot ;-)

floteusrx (150) 2004-03-23 13:31

I love this stuff! It serves to remind us what a kookie bunch of people Americans really are.
And the only way to see it is to really drive the roads.
Great capture Tim. Washington is by far the most beautiful state in my opinion. God's country for certain.

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Jeppe (18654) 2004-03-23 17:12

Oh - sorry I forgot to comment on this nice photo - I was in a hurry on my way to work and just added it to the theme. Very fine capture you done here and what a mofif ;-) surely not an ordiany gas station. Thanks for sharing this fine and funny photo Tim.

izanoza (777) 2004-03-25 17:45

Very nice and funny picture. I've never seen this gas station, but I have a chance, because it is not very far from my home :). Well done, Tim.

orme (7219) 2004-03-25 21:16

A great photo, Tim, of an "extremely unique" construction. I like the strong red colours and the fact that it was built in 1922. Well framed. Good note.

touristdidi (8583) 2004-03-26 10:48

I love this, it is so funny, .... I love these kinds of buildings, I used in eat in a giant artichoke near the westchester mystery house, then one trip, we searched but it too was gone.... in Simi Valley, the politicians hate bottle village, and it disappears a bit at a time....... this is fun in a boring world, kirstch art at it's best!

Clochette (8076) 2004-03-27 6:07

Incredible ! When you meet this station on your road, I guess that you first check that the pumps do not deliver tea !... ;-)
This is really unique, Tim, thank you for sharing.

strangiato (10) 2004-04-05 8:00

Interesting catch. I love extraordinary things and this is one of them. Thanks for sharing and well done.

Padre (59) 2004-04-26 13:06

Interesting, colorful, good composition. great job.

Piotr (0) 2004-05-11 4:00

You right, very unique and funny gas station! good compose, sharp and clear picture, well done :-)

rabani (9645) 2004-05-27 20:41

You know Tim, if anyone in my country came up with a gas station like this,I would probably need to line up everytime,just to get a refill.I probably imagine your deck too, coming up looking like something from the kitchen :) Still, take care and miss your posting too Tim. God loves you Tim.

Xalkida (11744) 2004-08-23 9:44

LOL! I agree with you. It must be one of the kind all over the world! :)

gg01 (355) 2004-09-03 14:24

Excellent clich� : couleurs, nettet�, d彋ails.
bien vu

rajhema (1873) 2005-12-14 9:30

Some one got a nice taste in designing this. The colors are also very good.

Mondaychild (378) 2006-09-06 9:51

Nice theme, nice composition - and your comment is also very interesting. Of course, I knew about the Teapot Dome scandal - but I didn愒 know about the gas station. If I ever come to the US, I MUST make a trip to this place!

jonathan_hart (21276) 2007-03-02 19:59

wow incredible gas station!!!
so funny!!!
;o)
jo