The Big Chair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Big Chair |
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The Big Chair
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| Location | Thomasville, North Carolina |
| Height | 30 feet (9.1 m) |
| Built | 1950 (current chair) |
The Big Chair is a super-sized chair that stands tall in Thomasville, North Carolina. It's a famous landmark, meaning it's a well-known and important spot in the area. This giant chair is a huge copy, or replica, of a classic armchair style called a Duncan Phyfe armchair. It was built in 1950 by a company called Thomasville Furniture Industries.
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The Big Chair: A Giant Landmark
Imagine a chair so big you could never sit in it! That's The Big Chair. It's not just any chair; it's a special piece of art and history for the town of Thomasville. It shows off the town's history with furniture making.
The First Giant Chair
Before the chair you see today, there was an even older giant chair. This first chair was built way back in September 1922. It was about 13 feet, 6 inches tall. That's taller than a basketball hoop!
Sadly, the first chair wasn't made to last forever. It was built from pine wood, which isn't as strong as other materials. Over time, the weather and age wore it down. Because it was getting old and worn out, the first Big Chair was taken down in 1936.
The Current Big Chair
After the first chair was removed, it took some time for a new one to appear. The current Big Chair was finally built in 1950. This one was made to be much stronger and last a long time!
The new chair is a huge 30 feet tall. Its seat alone is 10 feet, 6 inches wide! To make it so strong and big, it's built from steel and concrete. The very bottom part, called the base, is made from a special stone called Indianan limestone. This makes sure the chair stands firm for many years.
A Famous Visitor
In 1960, The Big Chair got a lot of attention when a very important person visited. Lyndon B. Johnson, who was running for Vice President of the United States at the time, stood on the chair! He waved to the people of Thomasville as he campaigned for the 1960 presidential election. He later became the Vice President and then the President of the United States. His visit made The Big Chair even more famous!
