Windmill Quaker State
The Windmill Quaker State is a small building in Parkersburg, West Virginia, constructed as a service station. The structure features a simple design with a gable roof topped by a distinctive windmill model that makes it stand out visibly from the street.
The building was designed in 1928 by Glen Reynolds and George Nichols for the Quaker State Corporation as a gas station. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, recognizing its significance in local and American automotive history.
The Windmill Quaker State represents an era when gas stations used creative designs to catch drivers' attention along American roads. This building with its distinctive windmill roof shows how businesses tried to stand out while adding a playful touch to daily commerce.
The building sits on Murdoch Avenue in Parkersburg and is easily visible from the street. Access is straightforward, with visitors able to view the structure from the outside without needing special arrangements.
The windmill model mounted on the roof was originally designed as an eye-catching feature to draw drivers' attention to the gas station as they passed by. This unusual architectural addition has made the building a local landmark and an example of creative advertising tactics from the early automotive age.
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