World's Largest Chest of Drawers, world record in High Point, North Carolina
High Point, North Carolina, United States--The World’s Largest Chest of Drawers in High Point, North Carolina, built by the High Point Chamber of Commerce, draws attention to High Point as the Furniture Capital of the World; now used as an event venue, it features two six-foot tall socks and, at 85 feet tall, this massive piece of furniture sets the world record for being the World's Largest Chest of Drawers, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.
"Known as the Bureau of Information in 1926, this restored, beautiful, 19th-century dresser is the “World’s Largest Chest of Drawers.” Standing 36 feet high, it was built to call attention to High Point as the Furniture Capital of the World," the Visit North Carolina says.
"Two large socks hang from the drawers as a nod to the area's hosiery industry."
"Venture to High Point, North Carolina, and you’ll find a chest of drawers meant for a giant. At 85 feet tall, this massive piece of furniture stands at the entrance of Furnitureland South just outside High Point University," My Modern Met says.
"It is aptly modeled after a highboy dresser and features incredible details that make it look grand from near and afar. This includes ornate decoration on the legs, base, and the top of the dresser as well as handles you'd find on a human-sized one.
"With its monumental size, it is no surprise that this public sculpture has earned the title of the World’s Largest Chest of Drawers. The roadside attraction is considered a fun place to stop when driving along I-85—if only to see the gigantic piece in person."
"This is the original world’s largest chest of drawers in High Point, North Carolina. The socks dangling out of the front of the drawer symbolize the area’s hosiery industry, while the dresser itself represents the area’s strong furniture industry," the NCpedia.com says.
"The building served as the area’s Bureau of Information in the past. A larger dresser, one almost 80 feet high, was built fairly recently at a furniture factory in High Point."
"If you’re living around Fayetteville, it makes for a unique and easy day trip as well as just being plain old cool. Here’s my guide on how to visit the World’s Largest Chest of Drawers in High Point, NC with everything you need to know to plan your day out," The Katie Show Blog says.
"It started in 1926 as the ‘World’s Largest Bureau’ – a less cool looking set of drawers with a mirror on top. It stayed like that for about 70 years, but as age and the elements inevitably took their toll, it was losing its appeal and due for a makeover.
"It was redesigned, renamed, and built directly over the old drawers. There have been a couple of paint color changes since it was redesigned – it even went through a super ugly gray phase, but now stands as a gorgeous brown chest of drawers with gold handles."
"Don’t miss out on this must-see 19th century dresser known as the “World’s Largest Chest of Drawers”, the Visit High Point says.
"Don’t believe us? Check it out for yourself. With two large socks hanging from the drawers as a nod to High Point’s hosiery industry, this 36-ft. tall chest of drawers makes a great backdrop to any photo!"
"The World’s Largest Chest of Drawers has almost 100 years of history and draws attention to High Point as the Furniture Capital of the World. Local artist Brian Davis shares a special connection with the drawers," the Spectrum News says.
"Sid Lenger transformed the drawers from the way they looked when they were first built in the 1920s to the iconic, towering landmark we know and love today. The drawers changed hands and colors over the years until they found their way back to Davis.
"He jumped at the chance to make what he calls a “re-original” work of art, using the exact paint formula Lenger used for the body of the drawers. He then updated the socks with colors to honor High Point. Pink and blue for the nearby children’s museum, the stars as a nod to the High Point Rockers and plenty of High Point University purple."
"Thanks to its century-long run as a major manufacturing hub, the town of High Point, North Carolina, earned the nickname of “the furniture capital of the world.” It’s a moniker worn with pride, as this gigantic, 40-foot dresser in the middle of town clearly shows," the
Atlas Obscura says.
"High Point’s behemoth bureau follows the sensible tradition of home furnishing stores using oversized pieces of furniture as quirky roadside advertisements. The High Point dresser was first built in 1926 and at the time was delightfully known as the “Bureau of Information.”
"It was restored in 1996 as a 19th-century Queen Anne-style piece, with four wide drawers and silver handles. Out of the center drawer hangs a mismatched pair of neon-colored socks, each six feet long (supposedly a shout-out to the town’s hosiery industry)."
"You can't actually store your favorite jeans inside "The World's Largest Chest of Drawers," located at 508 N. Hamilton Street in High Point, North Carolina—but the unique property for sale (asking price: $235,000) does present a myriad of other possibilities for use," the Country Living Magazine says.
It is, after all, something of a High Point icon and a favorite of road-trippers, who come from far and wide to snap a shot outside the 38-foot tall tribute to the city's history. According to the current owner, "not a day goes by that you don't find at least one person has stopped by to get their picture taken in front of the chest."
"The chest was rebuilt in 1950 and again in 1996, when it took on its current look. Now used as an event venue, it features two six-foot tall socks (they're made of Styrofoam with a mesh and stucco covering) hanging from one of the drawers—a nod to the city's hosiery industry."
"High Point is a city in the Piedmont Triad region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. Most of the city is in Guilford County, with parts extending into Randolph, Davidson, and Forsyth counties. High Point is North Carolina's only city that extends into four counties. As of the 2020 census the city had a total population of 114,059. High Point is the ninth-most populous in North Carolina, the third-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad, and the 259th-most populous city in the U.S.
"Major industries in High Point include furniture, textiles, and bus manufacturing. The city's official slogan is "North Carolina's International City" due to the semi-annual High Point Furniture Market that attracts 100,000 exhibitors and buyers from around the world. It is home to High Point University, a private Methodist-affiliated institution founded in 1924.
"Though historically focused on production of furniture, hosiery, and Hatteras Yachts, High Point diversified its economy by becoming a center for distribution and logistics, customer service, banking, manufacturing, photography and pharmaceuticals. The High Point Market remains important to High Point's economy and the city's furniture industry. Its bi-annual trade show is the largest furniture and furnishings industry event in the world." (Wikipedia)
"When planning my road trip through North Carolina, this giant piece of furniture was on the top of my must-see list. And it certainly didn’t disappoint. The huge cartoon-like structure, complete with oversized drawers and golden pulls and a pair of mismatched socks, towered over both us, the traffic lights, and the nearby buildings," the Silly America says.
"First built in the 1920s by the High Point Chamber of Commerce, the biggest chest in the world pays homage to the town’s status as the “Home Furnishing Capital of the World.” But it wasn’t always a “chest of drawers.”
"Luckily, in 2019, the World’s biggest chest was given a new coat of paint that restored it to it’s former, more natural, facade, with a dark brown wood-grain finish and two socks: one brown, one gray argyle."
Photos: World's Largest Chest of Drawers, world record in High Point, North Carolina
(3-4) Facebook/Worlds Largest Chest Of Drawers
(5) Highsmith, Carol M./Library Of Congress
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