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A to Z Texas: 2nd Longest Burning Light Bulb in the World

There's a famous light bulb in the Fort Worth Stockyards in Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
There's a famous light bulb in the Fort Worth Stockyards in Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

The Eternal Light of Fort Worth, Texas

Fort Worth, Texas is home to the second longest lasting light bulb in the world. Nicknamed the “Eternal Light,” this legendary light bulb has been burning since September 21, 1908.

That’s nearly 105 years!

Now on view at the Fort Worth Stockyards Museum, where it is protected from the harsh Texas elements and kept on a protected electrical circuit, this little 4 watt wonder started out on the back porch of the Byers Opera House, which later became the Palace Theater. The name of the joint really didn’t matter to the bulb, of course, it simply kept burning… and burning… and burning!

Second Longest Lasting Light Bulb in the World

As early as 1928, people began to marvel over the longevity of this particular light bulb.  For a bulb to burn for two decades seemed pretty amazing. Little did they know it would keep on going for over a century.

In 1970, The Guinness Book of World Records listed the Fort Worth light as the longest burning bulb in the world. It was  bumped to second place,  however, in 1973 by The Centennial Light, which burns in a Livermore, California fire station, and even boasts its own webcam. Even in second place, I think the Eternal Light of Fort Worth, Texas is mighty impressive.

For more information,  as well as photos of both of these legendary light bulbs, check out Roadside America’s article, Light Bulb Methuselahs.

More A to Z blog posts

This was my post for the letter L of the A to Z blogging challenge. Tune in tomorrow to see what quirky Texan thing the letter M will bring!

In the meantime, click on this link to find out what other A to Z blogging challenge folks are writing about.

Tui Snider
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Published inTravel Photo Essays

16 Comments

  1. Yve Yve

    Love it :) Will “M” perchance be the Marfa Lights? Or Marfa itself? So enchanting :)

  2. I like your blog because you find these quirky, unique things that belong to Texas alone. That’s amazing 105 years. It doesn’t seem possible.

    • mentalmosaic mentalmosaic

      Hi Courtney,

      Yup, that about sums it up: Texas is full of the bizarre but wonderful!

      ~Tui

    • mentalmosaic mentalmosaic

      Awww! Thank you, Tarkabarka. :) It’s so nice to have other people share my enjoyment of the quirky things here in Texas. ~Tui

    • mentalmosaic mentalmosaic

      Hi Carol,

      Yeah, I’m not sure how I found out about this little oddity. I love it when I find out something new (well, new to me!) about Texas.

      ~Tui

    • mentalmosaic mentalmosaic

      Hi Ruby,

      Thanks for swinging by and for the Liebster nomination. I’ll check it out!

      ~Tui

    • mentalmosaic mentalmosaic

      Hi Rebeccah,

      Just think if they were all made that well!

      ~Tui

    • mentalmosaic mentalmosaic

      Hi Angela,

      I’m amazed that the bulb survived all the stormy weather we get here for all those years.

      ~Tui

    • mentalmosaic mentalmosaic

      Hi Rhonda,

      I know~! It’s hard to believe.

      They really *don’t* make ’em like they used to.

      ~Tui

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