Dresden, Ohio: World's Largest Basket

Dresden is a city known for its baskets. Flowers along the town’s sidewalks grow out of basket-shaped planters. Stores sell new and used Longaberger baskets of all shapes and sizes. And of course, the centerpiece of it all is the larger-than-life picnic basket that fills a city block downtown.

According to a plaque, Dresden’s “World’s Largest Basket”:

is 48 feet long, 11 feet wide, and 23 feet tall.

is made from 10 hardwood maple trees.

required 2,000 employee hours to construct.

Dresden is located off Ohio Rte. 60. Main Street runs parallel to the state highway. You’ll find the basket at the corner of Main and 5th St. This part of Ohio is also home to other big baskets, all of which compete for the title of World’s Largest. The winner is probably the 7-story corporate headquarters of the Longaberger Basket Company, in Newark (30 miles from Zanesville via I-70 west and Ohio Rte. 13 north).

Dresden is a great place to take a leisurely stroll, especially if your traveling companion wants to spend a few hours shopping for the perfect basket. I suggest walking for a few blocks along the railroad tracks (about 2 blocks from main street), then return through the center of town.

This feed store is near the railroad tracks, and appeared to be one of the town’s more rustic structures.

The town’s railroad station appears a bit run-down, but was still worth a few pictures.

When you leave Dresden, head north on Ohio Rte. 60 for just a few miles, until you reach Rte. 16. Take it north to Coshocton, then continue north on Rte. 83. This will take you to Millersburg, the heart of Holmes County and Ohio’s Amish Country.

Muskingum River Locks

Ohio’s Amish Country: Walnut Creek, Sugarcreek

Note: This trip was first published in 2005.

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