From the largest pair of cowboy boots on Earth to an exact replica of Stonehenge, Texas is full of quirky sights. One of them, the Palace Light Bulb in Fort Worth, also happens to hold a Guinness World Record. It’s the second longest burning light bulb in the world, and few have even heard of it.
When you think about Fort Worth, the world-famous Stockyards probably come to mind right away. After all, the cattle industry is what shaped the city into what it is today.
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You can learn about the fascinating history of this attraction at the Stockyards Museum, which features a vast collection of artifacts, photos, and exhibits - but that’s not all you’ll see there.
Google/Mario Flores
Perhaps the quirkiest and most unique find in the museum is the Palace Light Bulb, which holds a Guinness world record for being the second longest-burning light bulb in the world. It’s outshined (literally) only by the Centennial Bulb in Livermore, California.
Google/Salil Kulkarni
The Palace Light Bulb has been burning since 1908, when a stagehand at the Byers Opera House screwed it in. Over a decade later, in 1919, the opera house became the Palace Theater, which was scheduled for demolition in 1977 - but a man named George Dato saved the bulb from going dark.
Wikimedia Commons/Frey Wholesale Post Card Co. (Dallas) - UTA Libraries Digital Gallery
In 1991, the bulb was moved to the Stockyards Museum and encased in glass to protect it from any outside influence. You can see it for yourself - and even attend its birthday party on Sept. 20 of each year!
Facebook/Palace Theater Light Bulb
Address: 131 E Exchange Ave #113, Fort Worth, TX, 76164. Museum hours are 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and the entrance fee is $2 per person over 12 years of age.
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Visit the light bulb’s Facebook page for more information.
P A Thompson / The Image Bank Collection / Getty Images
Google/Mario Flores
Google/Salil Kulkarni
Wikimedia Commons/Frey Wholesale Post Card Co. (Dallas) - UTA Libraries Digital Gallery
Facebook/Palace Theater Light Bulb
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Did you know about the Palace Light Bulb? If so, have you seen it in person? Tell us your thoughts in the comments! Don’t forget to check out our previous article for another quirky find in Texas.
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Address: Stockyards Museum, 131 E Exchange Ave #113, Fort Worth, TX 76164, USA
