The World's Tallest Thermometer is a landmark in Baker, California, US. It is a steel electric sign that commemorates the weather record of recorded in nearby Death Valley on July 10, 1913.
The sign weighs and is held together by of concrete. It stands tall and is capable of displaying a maximum temperature of , both of which are a reference to the temperature record.
History It was built in 1991 by the Young Electric Sign Company of Salt Lake City, Utah for Willis Herron, a Baker businessman who spent US$700,000 () to build the thermometer next to his Bun Boy restaurant. Its height——was in honor of the 134-degree record temperature set in nearby Death Valley on July 10, 1913. The thermometer is electric and registers temperatures using an outside source. The thermometer displays temperatures in 10 degree increments.
Soon after its construction, winds snapped the thermometer in half, and it was rebuilt. Two years later, severe gusts made the thermometer sway so much that its light bulbs popped out. Concrete was then poured inside the steel core to reinforce the monument.
Herron sold the attraction and restaurant to another local businessman in 2003, Larry Dabour, who sold it in 2005. In September 2012, the owner at that time, Matt Pike, said that the power bill for its operation had reached US$8,000 per month () and that he turned it off due to the poor economy.
In 2013, the thermometer and accompanying empty gift shop were listed for sale. The family of Willis Herron (who died in 2007) recovered ownership of the property in 2014 and stated their intention to make it operational again. The renovation was funded with sweat equity and a contribution from the owner's mother of US$150,000 (). The original light bulbs were replaced with LED lights and the official re-lighting took place on July 10, 2014.
In July 2016 the thermometer was featured in a series of promotional events held by Google to celebrate new features added to Google Maps. Visitors were able to try "the world’s coldest coffee" as part of the promotion. In December 2016, EVgo announced building the first US fast charge station for electric vehicles at up to 350 kW. The station is located in the thermometer parking area.
References
External links
Roadside America