The Big Chair of Thomasville: A Monument to Craftsmanship and Community

If you ever find yourself passing through the small town of Thomasville, North Carolina, you may be surprised to spot a rather unusual sight rising above the landscape — a 30-foot-tall Duncan Phyfe–style chair perched on a stone pedestal in the middle of downtown.

It’s not a roadside oddity built for novelty. It’s a piece of history — one that tells the story of a town that built its name (quite literally) on furniture.

A City Built on Furniture

Thomasville, like its neighbor High Point, is deeply rooted in North Carolina’s furniture-making tradition. In the early 20th century, this region became a hub for American furniture manufacturing, thanks to its access to hardwood forests, railroads, and skilled labor. By the 1950s, Thomasville was home to the Thomasville Furniture Industries, a major employer and producer of fine furniture distributed nationwide.

To commemorate this legacy, the town erected the now-famous “Big Chair” in 1950. Made of steel and concrete and modeled after the classic designs of American cabinetmaker Duncan Phyfe, the chair wasn’t just built for show — it was meant as a permanent monument to the craftsmanship, labor, and pride that defined the region.

More Than Just a Photo Op

While it’s become a beloved local landmark (and, yes, a very popular photo stop), The Chair was originally built with a deeper purpose. A plaque at the base explains its intent:

“The Chair is an exemplar and inspiration for future generations to emulate and perpetuate the achievements of our time-honored furniture designers and craftsmen.”

This wasn’t about whimsy — it was about honoring a way of life, a thriving industry, and the generations of North Carolinians whose hands shaped wood into artistry.

A Visit Today

Today, the chair sits in a well-kept plaza surrounded by flower beds and shade trees, a peaceful space that reflects the town’s character. Across the street, local businesses still line Main Street, many in brick storefronts that speak to the town’s mid-century heyday.

If you're exploring the Triad region, Thomasville makes for a short and meaningful stop. It’s a chance to see how history can be both monumental and everyday — towering above the street, yet rooted in the work of ordinary people.


📍 The Big Chair
Corner of Main Street & Salem Street
Thomasville, North Carolina

🕰️ Erected in 1950
📐 Modeled after a Duncan Phyfe design
🔍 Restored in the 2000s after decades of weathering


Sources:

  • On-site plaque at the Chair of Thomasville
  • Archival records from Thomasville Furniture Industries
  • Local historical societies

For more historic landmarks across North Carolina and beyond, keep following The History Girl.


#TheHistoryGirl #ThomasvilleNC #TheBigChair #NorthCarolinaHistory #AmericanCraftsmanship #FurnitureCapital #HistoricLandmarks #RoadsideHistory #TriadNC

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