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All the United States Kansas Lucas Bowl Plaza

Bowl Plaza

This artsy public restroom is shaped like a giant john.

Lucas, Kansas

Added By
Lew Blank
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Tank and seat   Photo courtesy of Lucas Area Chamber of Commerce
Tank and seat   Photo courtesy of Lucas Area Chamber of Commerce
In the Men’s Room   Photo courtesy of Lucas Area Chamber of Commerce
Lucas Artist Eric Abraham with the drain that he designed and made   Photo courtesy of Lucas Area Chamber of Commerce
In the Women’s Room   Photo courtesy of Lucas Area Chamber of Commerce
In the Women’s Room   Photo courtesy of Lucas Area Chamber of Commerce
Bowl Plaza   Map Data © 2017 Google 
North outside wall   Photo courtesy of Lucas Area Chamber of Commerce
  megandeer / Atlas Obscura User
  breaingram / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the ladies’ room   1just4looks / Atlas Obscura User
  penywisexx / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Bowl Plaza may sound like the name of a bowling alley or a dinnerware emporium, but this obscure art installation in Lucas, Kansas is actually a different type of bowl entirely: a toilet bowl.

In a town known for its outsider art, it would only be expected that the public restroom would be just as unusual as the main attractions. Every year, some 15,000 visitors flock to Lucas to witness bizarre wonders like the Garden of Eden and the World’s Largest Collection of Smallest Versions of Largest Things. But they always ran into the same problem: There was no public restroom to use in times of urinary need.

Coming to the rescue was Bowl Plaza, which, to blend in with the other grassroots art attractions around town, was no ordinary loo. Described as a “world renowned toilet,” Bowl Plaza is shaped precisely to resemble a massive john. To enter, you must walk along a winding sidewalk, emulating an unspooled stretch of toilet paper. Then, you have to traverse through the toilet bowl, formed by two semicircular benches. The door to the restroom is shaped like a toilet lid, and the building itself resembles a toilet tank.

But the toilet shape is not Bowl Plaza’s only aesthetic draw (if you can call it that). The toilet is surrounded by a slew of quirky sculptures, and the toilet’s interior and exterior are covered in folk art mosaics created by the 400 residents of Lucas themselves. The women’s toilets are named “Oval Office” and “Porcelain Throne” and the men’s latrines are dubbed “Porcelain Bus” and “Superbowl.” Bold names for bold latrines.

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Art Outsider Art Roadside Attractions

Community Contributors

Added By

lewblank

Edited By

Blindcolour, Meg, 1just4looks, breaingram...

  • Blindcolour
  • Meg
  • 1just4looks
  • breaingram
  • penywisexx
  • megandeer

Published

April 19, 2017

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Sources
  • http://www.lucaskansas.com/bowl-plaza.html
  • http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/33788
  • https://www.roadtripsforfamilies.com/worlds-most-artsy-public-toilets-lucas-kansas/
Bowl Plaza
121 S Main St
Lucas, Kansas
United States
39.058983, -98.538356
Get Directions

Nearby Places

World's Largest Collection of Smallest Versions of Largest Things

Lucas, Kansas

miles away

The Garden of Eden

Lucas, Kansas

miles away

World's Largest Souvenir Travel Plate

Lucas, Kansas

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Lucas

Lucas

Kansas

Places 5

Nearby Places

World's Largest Collection of Smallest Versions of Largest Things

Lucas, Kansas

miles away

The Garden of Eden

Lucas, Kansas

miles away

World's Largest Souvenir Travel Plate

Lucas, Kansas

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Lucas

Lucas

Kansas

Places 5

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