Thomasville, NC

The world famous "Big Chair"

The population of Thomasville, NC was 19,788 at the 2000 census and has only grown since that census. The city is most notable for its furniture industry as are its neighbors in High Point and Lexington. The Thomasville community was established in 1852 and hosts the state’s oldest festival, “Everybody’s Day”. Built around the local railway system, Thomasville is home to the oldest railroad depot in the state, just a few hundred feet from the city’s most notable landmark, “The Big Chair”.

In fact, Thomasville, NC is commonly referred to as the “Chair Town” or “Chair City”, in reference to a 30-foot landmark replica of a Duncan Phyfe armchair that rests in the middle of the city. The original “Big Chair” was constructed in 1922 by the Thomasville Chair Company, which is now known as Thomasville Furniture industries. The original chair was constructed out of lumber and Swiss steer hide to reflect the city’s prominent furniture industry. However, this chair was scrapped in 1936 after 15 years of exposure to the weather. In 1951, a larger concrete version of the chair was erected with the collaboration of local businesses and civic organizations and still remains today. The Big Chair gained national attention in 1960 when then Presidential Candidate Lyndon B. Johnson greeted supporters on the monument during a campaign whistle stop. Although larger ones have been built, many Thomasville residents still boast that the Big Chair between the two Main Streets is the World’s Largest Chair.