Cheshire, Massachusetts: Monument to the Mammoth Cheese
Replica of the cider press that made the cheese, which weighed 1,235 pounds and was presented to President Thomas Jefferson in 1802. Its critics mocked it as the "Mammoth Cheese" and the name stuck.
Cheshire Cheese Monument
- Address:
- Church St., Cheshire, MA
- Directions:
- About a half-mile east of Hwy 8 on Church St. Northeast corner of Church and School Sts.
- Admission:
- Free
Results 1 to 2 of 2...
Visitor Tips and News About Monument to the Mammoth Cheese
Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.
Cheshire Cheese Monument
The Cheshire Cheese Monument isn't really in honor of the Big Cheese but rather commemorates John Leland. The plaque on the monument calls him "Eloquent preacher, beloved pastor, influential patriot" and lists some of his accomplishments, concluding with "Carried every vote in Cheshire for the election of President Thomas Jefferson and presented to him on Jan. 1, 1802, in the presence of foreign diplomats, Supreme Court judges, and the Congress, The Big Cheshire Cheese weighing 1235 lbs."
But yes, as stated previously, the monument itself is a great big concrete cheese press. It's been there since 1940.
[Dean Jeffrey, 09/22/2009]A lovely commemoration of a truly big cheese. The Cheshire Cheese Monument, Cheshire, Massachusetts (Berkshires). It commemorates the making of a massive cheese which was shipped to the President of the United States, where it was displayed at the White House. While not the greatest to look at (a cast concrete cheese press), cheese-lovers may take heart that this monstrous cheese was so honored.
[Ray Coffey, 07/31/1997]The original cider press produced a half-ton cheese which was sent to newly-elected President Thomas Jefferson in 1802! BTW, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is the name of a crusty London pub once frequented by Charles Dickens.
Nearby Offbeat Places
Latest Tips Across Roadside America
Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.
Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!
Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.
And it's a good thing it's a big cider press... or it would be completely ignored.