As you already know we love to see things that are a bit different when we travel.
I think this is also why I’m always attracted to the states and then especially traveling off the beaten track, or as we call it the “tourists traps” and yeah ok mostly we arrive in areas that can be labelled as tourists traps, so let me put it this way, you won’t find us in Disneyworld or Seaworld most of the times (we did visit some theme parks and enjoyed it) but put me in the dessert on an old road finding empty buildings that’s where I love to be.

 

During our trip over a small part of Route66 we also visited Baker.

 

In Baker you will very easily find the World’s Tallest Thermometer, it is an electric sign that commemorates the record 134 degrees Fahrenheit (57 degrees Celsius) recorded in nearby Death Valley on July 10, 1913. The sign weighs 76,812 pounds (34,841 kg) and is held together by 125 cubic yards (96 m³) of concrete. It stands 134 feet (41 m) tall and is capable of displaying a maximum temperature of 134 °F (57 °C), both of which are a reference to the temperature record

 

It was built in 1991 by the Young Electric Sign Company of Salt Lake City, Utah for Willis Herron, a local businessman who spent $700,000 to build the thermometer next to his Bun Boy restaurant. Soon after its completion, it was damaged by high winds and rebuilt. Herron sold the attraction and restaurant to another local businessman, 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 $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 official re-lighting took place on July 10, 2014.(Wikipedia)

 

While visiting things like this I also love to talk with the people working there to see what drives them, how the landmark was build etc. Much to my surprise we were actually able to talk to the owners, an awesome couple that told us everything about their pride and joy. I didn’t have my strobes with me and due to some aggressive allergy attacks the day before I was not 100% fit but still managed to shoot some images of them which I can share today.

 

Make sure to visit Baker and the Thermometer, it’s really worth a visit.