The DC Woman Who Lived In a Glass House Atop Anacostia's Big Chair

Washington DC has many monuments and landmarks, but few have a backstory that can match Anacostia's Big Chair. In the late 1950s, the Curtis Brothers Furniture Store partnered with Bassett Furniture, which built the World's Largest Chair - a 19.5 foot tall, 4600 pound Duncan Phyfe -- and installed it outside the Curtis Bros. showroom in Anacostia. Store owners then held a festival where they named Maureen Reagan, daughter of future President Ronald Reagan, "Miss World's Largest Chair."
But that was just the beginning...
In the summer of 1960, Curtis Bros. built a glass apartment atop the chair and convinced 19-year-old Lynn Arnold to live there in plain view, 24-7. Day after day, Washingtonians flocked to Anacostia to see the spectacle, which the store promoted as DC's own "Alice in the Looking Glass House." Customers placed guesses on how long Arnold would stay in her perch in hopes of winning free furniture. The stunt left an impression on the neighborhood for decades.
ABOUT THE SERIES
“Boundary Stones” is an animated history series from WETA which brings the rich histories of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia to life. Using historic photos and archival footage, “Boundary Stones” tells the stories of the past: pivotal events, strange-but-true tales, and the myths and legends from the DMV. From Black history to unique D.C. protests, true crime to civil rights, and more - “Boundary Stones” is your home for D.C. history.
Watch more DC History videos: • Boundary Stones - Wash...
Read more DC History at our Boundary Stones website: boundarystones...
Subscribe to WETA's newsletter for the latest releases and recommendations!
weta.org/about...
Follow WETA on social:
Twitter: / wetatvfm
Facebook: / wetatvfm
Instagram: / wetatvfm

[@WETAPBS]

For more on the history of The Big Chair and Lynn Arnold's stay atop the chair in 1960, check out our Boundary Stones website: boundarystones.weta.org/2012/11/26/big-chair-anacostia

[@MrFlightsuit]

Rode pass that chair for 40 years, and never knew..

[@alfredwilliams8045]

Alfred T Williams of South East Washington DC I remember that I'm a native Washington I live In Anacustia you when all that took place Attended Douglas junior and Balloo high school

[@ElizabethKaehler]

My son's doctor at Children's Hospital is right there, and we happened to go yesterday. It was fun to see the chair in person and then watch your video. Thanks!

[@WETAPBS]

Cool timing coincidence! Thanks for sharing!

[@sidneyholt2140]

I sat in that chair!!

[@infinitytricks3716]

Wouldn’t happen these days..nights.

[@nollieflipcrook]

Right lol isn’t Anacostia the hood?

[@lauraveney1412]

Shut up . There is a reason things are they way they are in Anacostia

[@traceymanzano4015]

They used to put a huge Santa Claus there for Christmas when I was a child. I loved seeing that chair!

[@In_time]

1:39 erm.. whut?? 👶🏼

[@michellegliss686]

Glad to hear that has not changed 🙂

[@yaaroby]

But how did she go to the bathroom?

[@WETAPBS]

Right there in her apartment! According to the Evening Star newspaper, three walls were glass and there was a bathroom and shower behind a wooden wall covered by a mirror!

[@effie3798]

@@WETAPBS but we all want to know where the stuff went. Did it fly out a hole on the spectators below? 6 weeks seems a lot of 💩 storage

[@WETAPBS]

These are important questions! Wish we had the answer, but given the amount of planning that Curtis Bros. put into this publicity stunt, we bet they came up with a solution that kept spectators dry and clean.

[@effie3798]

@@WETAPBS one would hope.