World's Largest Cedar Bucket | Murfreesboro, TN
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While it might sound simple, the World’s Largest Cedar Bucket has a rich backstory dating back more than 130 years.
In fact, I’d argue that the history of this roadside attraction has everything1. A lack of indoor plumbing. Multiple world’s fairs. Two fires (including an arson attempt). Truly, what more could you want?
Fast Facts
Built: Originally 1887 | Rebuilt in 2011
Diameter: 6 feet at the base and 7.5 feet at the top
Weight: 1,580 pounds
Capacity: 1,573 gallons
The History of the World’s Largest Cedar Bucket
Originally built in 1887, the World’s Largest Cedar Bucket was constructed by the Tennessee Red Cedar Woodenworks Company from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. At the time, the company provided the community’s main industry and was the only producer of cedar buckets in the entire country. So, the giant bucket served as an even bigger advertisement for the business’ exclusive offerings.
Now, you may be asking yourself, “Why were cedar buckets were such a booming industry in the late 1800s?” (I know that I was). Well, in the absence of indoor plumbing a reliable tool was needed to carry water into the home. Enter the cedar bucket.
The World’s Largest Cedar Bucket, which took almost a year to complete, traveled across the country to various fairs, including the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair where it won a blue ribbon. During the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904, a beer company leased the giant bucket and filled it with 1,566 gallons of beer. The company then built a catwalk around the top of the bucket so thirsty visitors could dip their own pints and sample beer from it.
For more than 50 years, cedar buckets had their heyday. With the rise of indoor plumbing though, the once well-regarded workhorse started to become obsolete. Then, in 1952, disaster struck the Tennessee Red Cedar Woodenworks Company when the factory caught fire.
Thankfully, the World’s Largest Cedar Bucket survived and was sold to a local grocer, Crigger’s Market, that displayed it proudly on Southeast Broad Street. In 1965, the wooden wonder was sold at auction to Charles White and displayed at an amusement park called Lake Winnepesaukah in Rossville, Georgia. In 1976, the Cannonsburgh Village was completed and the World’s Largest Cedar Bucket was donated back to Murfreesboro to be displayed in the historical village.
On June 19, 2005, fire once again came for the big bucket when arsonists targeted the historic site. “It was under a gazebo with a cedar shake roof, and the roof caught on fire, and it burned the bucket,” a representative told a local news channel.
Thankfully, with the help of Roy Haney’s sawmill in Cannon County and the Rutherford County Blacksmiths’ Association, the bucket was brought back to its former glory — albeit with slightly larger specs. However, blacksmiths Jeff Henderson, Donnie Fergus and Don Greer were able to use the original handle, hardware and bands for the recreation of the bucket, keeping much of its historic charm.
On October 22, 2011, the reconstructed World’s Largest Cedar Bucket was unveiled during the 35th annual Harvest Days Festival held at Cannonsburgh Village, and has been on view for visitors to experience ever since.
Plan Your Visit
The World’s Largest Cedar Bucket is located in Murfreesboro’s historic Cannonsburgh Village. If you enjoy local history, I’d definitely recommend building in extra time to explore the complex, which focuses on 100 years of early Tennessee history spanning from the 1830s to the 1930s.
While the historic village is a popular attraction, I’d like to think it’s the big bucket that brings its international acclaim. In fact, in 2023, Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation, which manages the complex, told a local news station that within the past year the bucket had drawn visitors from all 50 states and 16 countries.
Address: World’s Largest Cedar Bucket, Cannonsburgh Village, 312 S. Front St., Murfreesboro, TN 37129
Related Links
You’ll find another big bucket claiming to be the World’s Largest Cedar Bucket in Oxford, Mississippi. While this version was created in the 1970s, it didn’t swoop in and attempt to claim the title until the Tennessee version was destroyed by arson. However, it’s slightly smaller than either of the Murfreesboro versions so it remains bested.
Cut to a gif of Bill Hader as Stefon giggling behind his hands.