# Giant Backwards Globe in Boston **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 5, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-backwards-globe-in-boston/577266 "2011-04-05T14:38:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-backwards-globe-in-boston/577266/1 "2011-04-05T14:38:19Z")
Cool picture, though: [http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking\_news/2011/04/global\_silhouet.html](http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2011/04/global_silhouet.html) Please note: 1.) This is _not_ the famous stained-glass Mapparium at the Christian Science Mother Church. It’s an inflated giant globe at the State House. 2.) Everything is backwards. It’s not clear if it’s inside-out, or if the picture is flipped, or what. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-backwards-globe-in-boston/577266/2 "2011-04-05T14:39:38Z")
It looks like maybe the picture was taken from the inside? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-backwards-globe-in-boston/577266/3 "2011-04-05T14:43:31Z")
> [@](#): > > It looks like maybe the picture was taken from the inside? Possibly, but if that’s the case (and the Globe would have to be built with “airlocks” to allow it), you’d think that they would reverse the continents so things looked correct from the inside. That’s what the Mapparium globe does. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-backwards-globe-in-boston/577266/4 "2011-04-05T17:33:42Z")
[Looks OK in this shot.](http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/MetroPhotos04/11/State_House_globe_040411.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-backwards-globe-in-boston/577266/5 "2011-04-05T20:29:48Z")
I’m definitely going to go with the “inside the globe” thing ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-backwards-globe-in-boston/577266/6 "2011-04-05T20:44:22Z")
> [@dhkendall](#): > > I’m definitely going to go with the “inside the globe” thing Yeah, especially since it’s backlit in the first picture. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-backwards-globe-in-boston/577266/7 "2011-04-05T23:57:55Z")
I don’t think it’s an actual sphere. The thing is, it’s not really an accurate representation of the planet. It looks like everything has been shoved into the northern hemisphere, and the Pacific Ocean looks way bigger than it really is. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-backwards-globe-in-boston/577266/8 "2011-04-06T02:02:22Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I don’t think it’s an actual sphere. The thing is, it’s not really an accurate representation of the planet. It looks like everything has been shoved into the northern hemisphere, and the Pacific Ocean looks way bigger than it really is. Actually, that Pacific coastline looks pretty accurate. So does the Pacific, itself. Grab a globe and take a look at the Pacific. It basically takes up half the planet. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-backwards-globe-in-boston/577266/9 "2011-04-06T02:27:22Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I don’t think it’s an actual sphere. It is, but being filled with air it tends to flatten on the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-backwards-globe-in-boston/577266/10 "2011-04-06T02:36:03Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > [Looks OK in this shot.](http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/MetroPhotos04/11/State_House_globe_040411.jpg) It’s the mother of Atlas, and she cares. 🙂