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The World's Tallest Thermometer in Baker, California, is a towering roadside landmark along Interstate 15 that was built in 1991 to honor the 134-degree temperature recorded in nearby Death Valley on July 10, 1913. Commissioned by businessman Willis Herron beside his Bun Boy restaurant, the illuminated steel structure matches that record in both height and maximum reading. Its history includes storm damage, rebuilding, structural reinforcement, rising operating costs, a period of darkness, and restoration by the Herron family. Relit on July 10, 2014, it remains one of Baker's best-known sights and a classic example of oversized American roadside architecture.
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Baker, California · United States