Celebrating Hoosier Cabinets with a Giant Replica

Once a staple in early 20th-century American kitchens, Hoosier cabinets, which are essentially all-in-one kitchen solutions, have faded from popularity. However, to honor their role in culinary history, a massive, climbable replica has been unveiled in a small town in northern Indiana.

This towering 30-foot model of a Dutch kitchenette was revealed last month during the 150th-anniversary celebration of Koppes Napanee Co., one of only two companies still producing Hoosier cabinets over a century later.

The name “Hoosier” originates from its largest manufacturer, the Hoosier Manufacturing Company. This replica, said to be the largest in the world, is situated against a brick backdrop and features a staircase leading to a loft where visitors can enjoy a scenic view.

This model looks over the Coppes Commons, a transformed version of the original Coppes Napanee factory, now serving as an indoor market, artisan space, and museum.

Interestingly, the company continues to manufacture custom cabinets right next door.

Wesley Mast, the owner of Coppes Napanee, shared that visitors typically express two kinds of reactions when they first encounter the giant cabinet. “Some people are really puzzled, asking, ‘Why? Why such a big cabinet?'” he said. “To which I reply, ‘Why not?’ Then there are others who enthusiastically say, ‘That’s so cool! Where did you come up with that idea? I love it!’

Mast feels this creation elevates the location’s visibility, transforming it from a mere stopover into a destination.

Hoosier cabinets functioned as kitchen workstations and storage areas that streamlined meal preparation. They enjoyed popularity from the 1890s to the 1930s but saw a decline post-World War II as homes shifted to wall-to-wall cabinetry.

According to Mast, “A century ago, this was the kitchen. It was truly the first piece of furniture designed for the home as a kitchen, embodying the all-in-one concept.”

Mary Figueroa, a curator at the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, mentioned that there were around 5,000 dealers of Hoosier cabinets throughout the country, while the museum holds four cabinets in its collection.

Prior to these cabinets, kitchens typically had multiple shelves, a separate work table, and a corner cupboard. “But this was a single piece of furniture that consolidated everything, making it easier for women to access all they needed for meal prep right at their fingertips,” Figueroa explained.

Hoosier cabinets offered storage for items like flour, sugar, spices, and bread, earning them the nickname “kitchen piano” for their comprehensive utility.

They also included built-in features like a flour sifter and a mini cookbook filled with recipes from meats to desserts.

Advertisements from the time even claimed these cabinets could “strengthen marriages” and enhance beauty by saving time and effort for homemakers.

Napanee, located in Elkhart County—recognized as a hub for recreational vehicle and wood products manufacturing—also boasts the third largest Amish settlement in the U.S. It sits about 240 miles north of Indianapolis.

Now, with the addition of this giant cabinet, Napanee is positioned to attract more tourists.

“It’s increasing awareness,” Figueroa remarked. “You can’t miss it.”