Sitting Pretty in Thomasville

Other states may be home to the largest ball of twine, the largest dam and the largest lake. But it’s only fitting that North Carolina – long known for its furniture industry – be home to the largest chair.

Located in Thomasville, the “big chair,” a Duncan Phyfe design, is considered by many to be the world’s largest chair. At 30 feet tall and more than 10 feet wide, who would argue?

It is now a top local tourist destination, representing the world-renowned furniture-making heritage of the state and of Thomasville. Replacing a 1922 wooden “big chair,” the current armchair is painted to appear wooden with an upholstered striped fabric. It was made to last, with steel mesh covered in cement.

And when the giant cornerstone was laid on Jan. 9, 1951, a time capsule was placed inside that included, among other things, a Bible, photos, a safety razor, a prospectus for eliminating railroad grade crossings, a city directory, brochures, civic records and a letter from then-mayor Harry B. Finch.

The Thomasville Chair earned national attention in 1960 when vice presidential hopeful Lyndon B. Johnson greeted supporters from atop its seat. The mammoth armchair has since hosted several celebrities, and it also achieved acclaim with a listing in “Ripley’s Believe It or Not.”

“ The big chair brings thousands of visitors here,” says Thomasville Tourism Director Mark Scott. “I don’t think I could quantify how much money it makes the city of Thomasville. People come and see the big chair and then spend thousands of dollars on furniture.”

Images of Davidson County, NC 2003 Edition

Story by Kari K. Ridge
Photo by David Mudd