Giant Globes

Travel the Bizarre Backroads and See the World!

Phoenix Zoo

Phoenix, Arizona

This giant globe dominates the visitors entranceway to the zoo.
Directions: 455 N. Galvin Parkway (in Papago Park). Fee is charged to enter the zoo, but the globe is outside the entrance.
Last Visited: March 2010 (Update November 2012: Globe is now gone).

Arizona Science Center

Phoenix, Arizona

This globe is user-controlled; an internal projector shows dynamic weather systems, plate tectonics, or global events. The user also controls the orientation and rates of animation and rotation.
Directions: 600 E. Washington St. Admission fee is charged.
Last Visited: June 2010.

Arcadia High School

Phoenix, Arizona

Caption on statue's plaque: ATLAS, KING OF ARCADIA, TITAN COMMANDER, SYMBOL OF ENDURING STRENGTH.
Directions: 4703 E. Indian School Rd. (at 47th St.)
Last Visited: October 2011.

Robert L. Duffy High School

Phoenix, Arizona

Robert L. Duffy High School has four dome-roofed buildings, each of which is painted to represent a different planet. The school's gymnasium is Earth. The domes are best seen in this Google Maps satellite view.
Directions: 2550 E. Jefferson St. (at 25th St.)
Last Visited: October 2011.

Gilbert Historical Museum

Gilbert, Arizona

This globe tops a war monument.
Directions: 10 S. Gilbert Road (southwest corner of Gilbert Road and Elliot Road). Fee is charged to enter the museum, but the globe is outside the building.
Last Visited: April 2010.

Rainforest Cafe

Tempe, Arizona

A golden god shoulders this globe, which glows with the neon message Rescue the Rainforest.
Directions: 5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle #573 (in Arizona Mills Mall, southeast corner of Interstate 10 and Superstition Freeway / Highway 60).
Last Visited: May 2010.

Leisure World

Mesa, Arizona

This colossal metal-frame globe stands at the entrance to the Leisure World retirement community.
Directions: On the west side of Power Road, 1/2 mile north of Southern Blvd. Leisure World is a gated community, but the globe is outside the entrance.
Last Visited: April 2010.

9/11 Memorial

Tucson, Arizona

This memorial to the victims of the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks was constructed in 2002 by artist David Campbell and a group of local high school students.
Directions: Southwest corner of Irvington Blvd & Benson Highway.
Last Visited: April 2012.

Leisure World

Seal Beach, California

This Leisure World globe is even larger than the one in Mesa. It appears to have a motor to allow it to rotate, but was not rotating when I visited.
Directions: On the west side of Seal Beach Boulevard, 1/2 mile south of Interstate 405. Leisure World is a gated community, but the globe is outside the entrance.
Last Visited: October 2010.

Aquarium of the Pacific

Long Beach, California

This globe is made of countless stitched-together satellite photos, specially selected to show an earth without clouds.
Directions: 100 Aquarium Way. Admission fee is charged.
Last Visited: January 2001.
Update April 2011: I have received a report that this globe is no longer on display at the aquarium.

Griffith Observatory

Los Angeles, California

Since this photo is so old (1986), and the Observatory has undergone extensive renovation since then, the globe may be long gone.
Directions: 2800 E. Observatory Avenue (in Griffith Park). Admission fee is charged.
Last Visited: Photo taken April 1986.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Albuquerque, New Mexico

I took this photo of a world-shaped hot air balloon in 1975, at the fourth annual balloon fiesta; I don't know if the balloon still exists.
Directions: Balloon Fiesta Park, 5000 Balloon Fiesta Parkway NE. Admission fee is charged.
Last Visited: Photo taken October 1975.

Our Cabaña

Cuernavaca, Mexico

Photo by Bizarre Backroads contributing photographer Pam Orman.

Our Cabaña is one of the four World Centres of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
Directions: Rio Mayo 1 esquina Rio Lerma, Colonia Vista Hermosa, Cuernavaca, Morelos (private property).
Last Visited: October 2009.

Standard disclaimer: Sites are described for entertainment purposes only, as they were at the time of my last visit. I can not vouch for the current condition of the site or its accessibility.