Entry No. 15 — the Washington, D.C. file — filed under: giant sculpture
The Big Chair (Chair sculpture)
A 19.5-foot Duncan Phyfe-style armchair has loomed over this Anacostia corner since 1959, commissioned by Curtis Brothers Furniture (and built by Bassett Furniture) as advertising and once billed as the 'World's Largest Chair.' The original mahogany version rotted from the weather and was taken down in 2005; the aluminum replica that replaced it was reinstalled in April 2006 with Mayor Anthony Williams and over 250 people watching.
The story
In 1959, Curtis Brothers Furniture needed a way to pull eyes to their corner at Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE and V Street SE in Anacostia. Their solution wasn't a standard billboard—it was a 19.5-foot-tall Duncan Phyfe-style armchair crafted out of solid mahogany by Bassett Furniture. Billed at the time as the 'World's Largest Chair,' the towering piece of living room decor quickly transcended its commercial origins to become the neighborhood's defining landmark.
The catch with leaving a giant mahogany armchair exposed to mid-Atlantic humidity and rain for almost half a century is that wood rots. By 2005, the original structure had deteriorated so severely that it had to be dismantled for safety. Rather than leave the corner bare, the community fought to bring it back: in April 2006, an indestructible aluminum replica was installed on the exact same spot, unveiled before Mayor Anthony Williams and a crowd of more than 250 residents.
What it's like
You'll find the chair looming directly over the sidewalk at the intersection of MLK Jr. Ave SE and V St SE. Visiting requires no admission or planning—you just walk right up, stand under the giant aluminum legs for a scale photo, and take in a bit of mid-century commercial oddity turned civic pride. It doubles as Anacostia's main neighborhood meeting point, complete with seasonal garland during the holidays, making it an easy anchor point before exploring the surrounding blocks.
The move: Stand under it for the obligatory scale photo, then walk the corridor for Anacostia's small-batch spots — it doubles as the neighborhood's go-to meeting point and holiday-decoration centerpiece.
- 📍 Anacostia
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE & V St SE, Washington, DC 20020
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Titanic Memorial — Cross the Anacostia River to contrast a giant roadside armchair with this stark, 12-foot granite figure overlooking the Southwest Waterfront.
- National Bonsai & Penjing Museum — Follow up oversized mid-century roadside sculpture with painstakingly cultivated miniature trees at the National Arboretum.
- Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum — Head into Penn Quarter after your selfie to tour the quiet 1860s third-floor office where Clara Barton searched for missing Civil War troops.
Good to know
How tall is The Big Chair?
It stands exactly 19.5 feet tall, sculpted in the style of a traditional Duncan Phyfe armchair.
Is the chair made of wood or metal?
The current chair is made of weatherproof aluminum. The original 1959 mahogany version rotted from decades of weather exposure and was taken down in 2005.
Why was the chair built in the first place?
It was commissioned in 1959 by Curtis Brothers Furniture and built by Bassett Furniture as a roadside advertising gimmick for their furniture store.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · washington.org · Atlas Obscura
last checked: 2026-07-19