Not a comforting Sign

National Debt Clock

The National Debt Clock is a billboard-sized running total digital clock display which constantly updates to show the current United States public debt and each American family's share of it. It is currently installed on Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) in Manhattan, New York City.

The idea for the clock came from New York real estate developer Seymour Durst, who wanted to highlight the rising national debt. In 1989, he sponsored the installation of the first clock, which was erected on 42nd Street close to Times Square. In 2004, this clock was dismantled and replaced by the new but virtually identical current clock.

Seymour's original clock was erected while the national debt remained under $3 trillion but was rising, but it was temporarily switched off from 2000 to 2002 due to the debt actually falling. In 2008, the debt exceeded $10 trillion for the first time, leading to press reports that the clock had run out of numbers. Following the transition, plans for a third clock were announced, to be installed in the same location, with extra capacity.

The original clock outlived Seymour who died in 1995, with Seymour's son Douglas taking over responsibility for the clock through the Durst Organization.