Red Popcorn Wagon
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
A small red popcorn wagon, dating to about 1875 and made by Cretor, sits in Washington Park at the corner of West Washington Row and Columbus Avenue in Sandusky, Ohio. It is built of painted metal, with cut metal decorating the roof curb and glass enclosing the upper portion, where old panel signs advertise buttered popcorn. Four yellow wooden wheels, two small in front and two larger in back, are mounted on the original axles. The rear door and the scrolled sign reading The Red Wagon were added later, and the wagon now rests on a new concrete slab. For its first fifteen years or so it traveled the city's streets. From about 1890 to 1924 it stood in front of the old post office and customs office at Columbus Avenue and Market Street, and it moved to the park when the post office did. It is still used for refreshments, and local sources describe it as one of the real symbols of Sandusky.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the wagon is significant as one of the real symbols of Sandusky. It traveled the city's streets for its first fifteen years or so. It then stood outside the old post office and customs office from about 1890 to 1924, and moved with the post office to the park.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82001432, listed October 20, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 102 W. Washington Row, Sandusky |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | October 20, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001432 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Cretor (listed as contractor or builder) |
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior in good condition; in use as a refreshment wagon, resting on a new concrete slab on city land in Washington Park. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.45506, -82.71114 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82001432.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137779007
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.