Centennial Light Bulb Celebrates 125 Years of Continuous Glow

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The Centennial Light, a 4-watt lightbulb located at a fire station in Livermore, California, is celebrating its 125th anniversary this summer. Officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest-burning lightbulb, the bulb has been glowing since 1901 with only a few brief interruptions when the fire station moved locations.

Why it matters

The Centennial Light's remarkable longevity has made it a Bay Area celebrity, drawing visitors from around the world to witness this unique piece of history. As a testament to early 20th century engineering, the bulb's continued operation defies the typical lifespan of modern lightbulbs, which often last less than a year.

The details

The Centennial Light was built in 1897 with an exceptionally thick carbon filament. Production of these specific bulbs stopped in 1912, making this one-of-a-kind bulb an irreplaceable relic. Even when the bulb 'went out' in 2013, it was not due to the bulb itself, but rather a generator battery failure.

• The Centennial Light has been glowing since 1901.
• The bulb is celebrating its 125th anniversary this summer (2026).
• Production of the Centennial Light's specific bulb model stopped in 1912.