Most people keep a supply of light bulbs in their home so that they can quickly replace burned-out bulbs. Depending on the type of bulb, this can happen surprisingly frequently, much to the frustration of whoever has to replace that just-out-of-reach bulb in the hallway.
However, for the employees of Fire Station #6 in Livermore, California, there’s one light bulb they’ve never had to change. According to the fire department, the so-called Centennial Light was installed there in 1901 and has been burning ever since, earning recognition by Guinness World Records as the world’s longest-lasting light bulb.
The Centennial Light (which has now far exceeded its nickname) has attracted widespread media attention from outlets and programs ranging from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! to MythBusters to NPR. The lightbulb, hung from a pendant fitting, is available for public viewing in case you’re ever passing through, though you may need to wait if the firefighters are out on a call.
Many people have pointed to the Centennial Light as evidence that light bulb manufacturers purposely make bulbs with lower-quality filaments, forcing customers to constantly buy new light bulbs when the old bulbs inevitably burn out. Yet although the Centennial Light was clearly manufactured with high-quality materials, including brass components, hand-blown glass, and a carbon filament (which is thicker and stronger than today’s standard tungsten filaments), other factors have contributed to its longevity.
The fact that it has only been turned off a few times in its long history is undoubtedly significant. Frequently turning lightbulbs on and off is a major cause of burnouts, as the heating and cooling of the filament cause it to expand and contract, leading to stress cracks that eventually break the filament. It’s also worth noting that although originally a 60-watt bulb, it now emits a much dimmer light, equivalent to about a 4-watt nightlight. The inside of the bulb, which is a high-nitrogen environment, may have also contributed to its incredible lifespan.
Keep the lights on:
- Fans of the Centennial Light (yes, it has fans) were alarmed in 2013 when a webcam appeared to show that it had burned out. However, it later turned out that the bulb’s dedicated power supply had been faulty, and after nearly 10 hours, the light returned.
- Although the Centennial Light is the undisputed longest-lasting light bulb, several others have also turned 100, or are close to it. The Centennial Light’s nearest competitor is the Palace Theater Light, also known as the Eternal Light, which was installed at the Byers Opera House (later renamed the Palace Theater) in Fort Worth, Texas, in September 1908. It is now kept at the Stockyards Museum in Fort Worth, where it has survived despite several power outages.
- A light bulb at the Ruskin Generating Station at the Ruskin Dam in British Columbia, Canada, has been burning since 1930. Though somewhat younger than the Centennial Light and Palace Theater Light, it has never gone out.
