National Debt clock, Digital billboard at Sixth Avenue between 42nd and 43rd Streets, Manhattan, United States
The National Debt Clock is a digital billboard in Manhattan that displays the current federal debt and the calculated share per American household. It stands on Sixth Avenue between 42nd and 43rd Streets and updates its numbers continuously throughout the day.
Real estate developer Seymour Durst installed the first version in 1989 when government debt reached 2.7 trillion dollars. The original construction used 305 light bulbs that required monthly maintenance.
The name refers to the United States federal debt, a topic that many passersby raise during protests and public debates near Times Square. The display is often photographed by groups wishing to express their views on budget policy.
You can view the display from the sidewalk on the western side of the Bank of America Tower, where it runs around the clock. The numbers change every second, so you can read the current total at any time.
In 2008, the electronics had to be rebuilt because the debt exceeded 10 trillion dollars for the first time. The original display did not have enough digits to show such high amounts.
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