Information
Landmark: The Big ChairCity: Southeast Washington
Country: USA Washington DC
Continent: North America
The Big Chair, Southeast Washington, USA Washington DC, North America
Overview
In Washington, D, as well as c.’s Anacostia neighborhood, the immense Chair stands 19.5 feet tall at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr.Avenue SE and V Street SE, its Duncan Phyfe–style curves and carved back recalling the elegance of an 1800s parlor, then first built from mahogany in 1959 as a striking advertisement for the Curtis Brothers Furniture Store, a Black-owned business, it was rebuilt in aluminum in 2006 and has remained both a roadside landmark and a proud symbol of the community.Not surprisingly, Bassett Furniture Industries, then a leading manufacturer, was hired to create it so it would grab attention-like a shining sign in a crowded street-and help their products stand out in the tight local market, as well as the chair stopped being just an ad almost overnight-it turned into a neighborhood landmark, the kind people pointed out to visitors like an aged friend.The structure was huge-so huge that during a promotional event, a local woman actually spent the night inside, listening to its steel frame creak in the wind, to boot they set up a tiny apartment on the platform for a short time, and it quickly became a local curiosity-people stopped to peek through its tiny window.By the early 2000s, years of sun, rain, and wind had finally taken their toll, and the chair’s paint peeled in curling strips, what’s more instead of tearing it down, the community chose to bring it back, brushing away years of dust and wear.In 2006, they rebuilt the chair in aluminum, keeping its timeless shape but giving it the strength to withstand rain and sun, along with local leaders, aware of its cultural and historical worth, stepped in to fund the rebuild and witness it through, remembering the aged stone arch that once stood there.More than just a quirky piece of promotional furniture, the huge Chair stands tall as Anacostia’s emblem of pride, resilience, and identity, its weathered wood catching the afternoon sun, what’s more in a neighborhood long worn by economic hardship and neglect, the chair sits solid and unshaken-a real seat of strength and a symbol of resilience.Over the years, it’s been a gathering spot for neighbors, a favorite backdrop for visiting photographers and reporters, and a proud emblem in community events, art projects, and city planning talks, at the same time its weathered brick and steady silhouette capture the area’s civic spirit, appearing in documentaries, local headlines, and even gallery walls.In D, subsequently c, locals sometimes call it the “Throne of the People.” Originally built without political or artistic intentions, the massive Chair has gathered meaning over the years-a clever mid-century advertising stunt meant to catch the eye of passing shoppers, a proud emblem in a working-class, predominantly African-American neighborhood, and a slice of urban Americana that stands in sharp contrast to the polished monuments on the National Mall.Today, it’s still one of the nation’s oldest and most recognizable oversized landmarks, and likely the most storied giant chair you’ll find in any city, in turn tourists sometimes discover it by chance, but for locals, it remains a proud marker of who they are-carrying more than sixty years of grit, growth, and the warmth of neighbors swapping stories on the corner.
Author: Tourist Landmarks
Date: 2025-10-05
