Thomasville, North Carolina: World's Largest Duncan Phyfe Chair

Thomasville calls itself "Chair City" and "Chair Capital of the South," so it makes sense that it erected a giant chair in its downtown.

In order for a town's public art to make the grade as a Roadside America attraction, there needs to be some quirky element. One rarity we appreciate is when a civic mural depicts a sculpture or monument just down the street. Thomasville, North Carolina didn't do that exactly, but they feature a depiction of their original World's Largest Chair, later subsumed in the bloodless chair wars of the 20th century. Today, the town's World's Largest Duncan Phyfe Chair (1955) still stands, and this scene painted in an oval among the flowers -- akin to war remembrance poppies -- is simultaneously cheery and somber.

The World's Largest Duncan Phyfe Chair in Thomasville continues to be a well-cared-for town landmark. To augment your pilgrimage, head to the street corner immediately behind the chair (on the right if you are looking at the chair). There's a painted brick wall mural. The World's Largest Chair -- how it looked in the mid-20th century, before the claim was revised to include "Duncan Phyfe" -- is surrounded by colorful flowers.

Impressive up close, in a pretty location, with a nice garden in front of it, railroad tracks next to it, picnic tables right behind it. The chair was up so high that it was a little awkward to take a decent picture. Definitely worth the trip if in the area.