Public building with a really large globe?

Submitted by 4k5 t3_116d5f2 in providence

Hey Providence friends,

Is there a public building that has a really big, like 3 foot diameter globe on public display? My daughter is into countries and places right now and I am trying to explain the world is curved and how a map is flat. I'd like to see a really big globe to give her some perspective.

Thank you

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lonely_dodo t1_j9611fp wrote

if you're willing to schlep to Boston, the Mapparium is definitely worth checking out

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avastyematey t1_j96w9di wrote

this is the answer. bonus have her stand on one side of the walkway and you the other you can whisper to each other!

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Rootin-Tootin-Newton t1_j9alqsj wrote

I didn’t even look! Of course I’m not the only one, interesting perspective though. I clearly vote for the maparium. You can take a train.

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JeffFromNH t1_j965kqi wrote

Not Rhode Island, but if you are roadtripping through Maine, check out the Eartha Globe in Yarmouth, ME. It's not far from LL Bean.

It used to be a Delorme Atlas and Map store, which closed. But as far as I can tell, it's still open to the public.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eartha

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the_falconator t1_j9725zp wrote

This is the answer. Although I'm sad to just be hearing now that Delorme is no more.

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degggendorf t1_j9a3epb wrote

Yeah public allowed at least when I went pre-covid. Had driven past it a million times on road trips to visit my grandparents in Maine, finally actually stopped to visit a few years ago. There was a security guard, but we just told him we wanted to check out the glove and he showed us to the elevator for the best view.

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JeffFromNH t1_j9a5iem wrote

Nice. I've never seen it from above. But I was lucky to visit when the store was there. I don't use them to navigate in my car anymore, but I still have several Delorme atlases.

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JeffFromNH t1_j9a5sq4 wrote

I believe that there is a Maine rest stop nearby. So you can visit both in one exit. I love a good rest stop on a long road trip.

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kickstand t1_j963xlc wrote

Following the "globe" tag on Atlas Obscura leads me to the Babson Globe in Wellesley, MA:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/babson-globe

https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2112

And if you want to go to NYC:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-daily-news-building-globe-new-york-new-york

And in Yarmouth, Maine:

https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/10408

All considerably larger than 3 feet.

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4k5 OP t1_j965dzx wrote

Thank you for looking these up! I was hoping to find one like chest high so we could look at everything, but I never knew about that one in Wellesley. Funny thing she is heading to her grandparents there today so I sent them the link! Thanks again.

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wenestvedt t1_j9610dw wrote

Not that I know of.

The Christian Science Mother Church in Boston has that three-story one you could walk through, and there is a public parking garage right there. I mean, you also have to go through their museum, which is...maybe not something to linger over with a kid?

https://www.christianscience.com/find-us/visit-the-mother-church/visit-the-christian-science-plaza/how-do-you-see-the-world-experience

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MonicaPVD t1_j96kco9 wrote

This is the mother of all globes. Plus, it's super fun to see how seriously the church takes itself despite being founded by a random Boston woman after slipping on ice, hitting her head, and having a revelation.

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jonelson80 t1_j969fjh wrote

There's outside the Brown Urban Environmental Lab on Angell St.

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JeffFromNH t1_j966vcu wrote

Keep an eye out for exhibits at the Waterfire Arts Center. Most are free (donations accepted) or you can support them by buying merch in the gift shop.

I went to both the earth and the moon exhibits, which were very cool. Here's the description of the Earth exhibit.

The earth sculpture was compiled by real photos, so there's no markings and lots of clouds.

https://waterfire.org/events/planet-earth-the-environment-and-our-future/

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SharpCookie232 t1_j96qeea wrote

I also vote for the Mapparium at the Christian Science Center. It's an incredible experience. While you're up here, you could visit Kendall Square (MIT Museum is a great place for kids, or head down Mass Ave to the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Harvard, which is free if you enter before noon on Sunday). Kendall has a large bronze Earth sculpture she might like.

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nygrl811 t1_j966q8h wrote

Boston Museum of Science had a 6ish foot one, assuming they still do.

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guyston t1_j96vd9j wrote

There’s one on angel st across from the brand new brown building

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Pun-Li t1_j961nth wrote

Not sure about a globe, but you might want to show her this

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freehand_underhand t1_j97c4cz wrote

There's one at Brown University near a like public Garden or research facility or something. It's right at ground level. Not very impressive, and the countries are kind of crudely depicted, but it does give a sense of round earth and it's in town.

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Muchmuchgo t1_j97z1t0 wrote

waterfire arts center had a giant moon for a while. Might be worth checking them out.

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grem111 t1_j985jr8 wrote

this is cute good content keep it coming

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