The Big Bedford Coffee Pot along the historic Lincoln Highway

Wait… What?  My head turned sharply. “Did you see that?” I said to my wife.  “We just passed a giant coffeepot.”  “I missed it.” she said.  I flipped a U-turn and pulled up right beside it. 

We got out and walked towards it. It was a closed gift shop. I walked around and investigated the area with a weirdly eager fascination with an 18-foot-high coffee pot building.

Highway 30 also known as the “Lincoln Highway,” runs nearby the Coffee Pott.  The famed road is often overshadowed by the more famous Route 66, but the Lincoln Highway was the first main road connecting New York City and San Francisco.  For many years, and to a lesser extent to this day, tourists drive Hwy 30 to their destinations.

Bedford Coffee Pot History

The coffee pot was built in 1927 by the owner of a gas station, who hoped the massive display of novelty architecture would draw motorists from Highway 30. Over the years, the pot was used for many things, including an ice cream parlor, restaurant, and bar. As time passed, the landmark eventually sat empty and became rundown. 

In 2004, the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor took action.  They restored the curious attraction to its former glory and moved the coffee pot to its current location. When we visited, it certainly caught my eye, just as it has for decades and will continue to do so. 

If you are ever traveling down the Lincoln Highway, swing by and check out this unique and odd tourist attraction.