The Big Chair | Southeast Washington

The Big Chair in Washington, D.C., is one of the most iconic examples of mid-20th-century American roadside art and a longstanding community symbol in the Anacostia neighborhood of Southeast D.C.

Physical Description

Height: 19.5 feet (approximately 6 meters)

Material: Originally crafted from mahogany; rebuilt in aluminum in 2006

Design: Modeled after a Duncan Phyfe-style armchair, featuring elegantly curved arms and a carved back, similar to what would have been found in an upscale living room in the 1800s

Location: Corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE and V Street SE, in front of what used to be Curtis Brothers Furniture Store

Historical Background

The Big Chair was first installed in 1959 by Curtis Brothers Furniture, a Black-owned business aiming to create a bold and memorable advertisement for their showroom. It was commissioned from Bassett Furniture Industries, a major manufacturer at the time, to stand out in a competitive local market and to draw attention to their offerings.

The chair quickly became more than an advertisement-it became a neighborhood landmark. In fact, the structure was so large that a local woman once lived inside it during a promotional event. A small apartment was temporarily built on the platform for this purpose, making it a local curiosity.

By the early 2000s, after decades of exposure to weather, the chair began to deteriorate. Rather than remove it, the community decided to restore it. In 2006, the chair was reconstructed in aluminum, preserving its classic look while making it weather-resistant. The rebuild was funded and supported by local leaders who recognized its cultural and historical value.

Cultural and Community Significance

Far more than a piece of promotional furniture, the Big Chair has become a symbol of pride, resilience, and identity for Anacostia. In a neighborhood that has often faced economic hardship and underinvestment, the chair stands as a metaphorical and literal seat of strength.

Over the years, it has served as:

A meeting place for locals

A photographic landmark for visitors and journalists

A symbol used in community events, art projects, and urban development discussions

Its enduring presence reflects the civic spirit of the area and has been referenced in various documentaries, local news stories, and even art exhibitions. Some D.C. residents affectionately refer to it as the "Throne of the People."

Interpretive Meaning

While not overtly political or artistic in its original intent, the Big Chair has taken on multiple layers of interpretation over time:

Commercial ingenuity of the mid-20th century, when larger-than-life advertising structures were used to attract consumers

Symbol of dignity in a working-class, predominantly African-American community, reinforcing a sense of local importance

A piece of urban Americana, standing in contrast to the formal monuments of the National Mall, showing how communities create their own cultural icons

Legacy

Today, the Big Chair remains one of the oldest and most famous pieces of oversized Americana in the U.S., and it is likely the most historically significant large chair in an urban setting. Tourists occasionally stumble upon it, but for locals, it continues to serve as a touchstone of community identity, embodying more than six decades of resilience, change, and neighborhood pride.