10 Fascinating Things That Are 500 Feet Long or Big

Ever wondered how big 500 feet really is? It’s a distance that might seem abstract at first, but once you start looking around, you’ll find it’s more common than you think. From towering skyscrapers to sprawling landmarks, 500 feet pops up in surprising places. Let’s dive into this measurement and explore some incredible examples that’ll help you visualize just how far 500 feet stretch.

Understanding the Scale: How Big is 500 Feet?

Before we jump into our list, let’s get a grip on what 500 feet looks like in everyday terms. Imagine standing at one end of a city block in a bustling downtown area. The other end, where pedestrians become tiny dots and building details start to blur, is roughly 500 feet away. It’s a distance that’s long enough to make you pause, but not so vast that it’s beyond comprehension.

“The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.” – John Muir

This quote captures the spirit of our exploration. Like Muir’s curiosity about the world, we’re about to take a good look at the 500-foot scale before it fades into abstraction.

Now, let’s embark on our journey through eight things that measure up to this impressive length.

1. The Iconic Statue of Liberty

When you think of American landmarks, the Statue of Liberty likely springs to mind. But did you know it’s a perfect example of something that’s 500 feet tall? From the base of the pedestal to the tip of the torch, Lady Liberty stands at a majestic 305 feet. Add the foundation and pedestal, and you’re looking at a total height of 151 meters or 496 feet – just shy of our 500-foot mark.

Imagine the statue laid on its side. That’s how far 500 feet stretches. It’s a mind-bending way to visualize the scale of this iconic monument. The next time you see the Statue of Liberty, whether in person or in photos, you’ll have a new appreciation for its towering presence.

2. The Intriguing St. Louis Arch

The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is another architectural marvel that helps us grasp how big 500 feet really is. This stainless steel monument isn’t just a pretty sight – it’s a mathematical wonder that perfectly illustrates our 500-foot measurement.

Feature	Measurement
Height	630 feet
Width at base	630 feet
Width at top	17 feet
Visible height from ground	500 feet

While the arch itself is 630 feet tall, what’s visible above ground matches our five hundred foot focus perfectly. It’s like nature and architecture conspired to give us the perfect yardstick!

Standing at its base and looking up, you’ll get a visceral sense of this height. It’s tall enough to inspire awe, yet not so tall that it becomes incomprehensible. The arch’s unique shape also helps us understand how five hundred feet can curve and bend, showing that this measurement isn’t just about straight lines.

3. A Titanic Comparison

The ill-fated RMS Titanic provides another compelling comparison. While the ship’s total length was 882 feet, imagine cutting it almost in half. You’d end up with a section that is 500 feet long – still an enormous vessel by any standard.

This comparison helps us understand how far 500 feet extends horizontally. Picture walking the length of half the Titanic. You’d pass by numerous cabins, dining halls, and even the ship’s famous grand staircase. It’s a journey that would take you a good few minutes at a brisk pace.

The Titanic’s scale also helps us appreciate how big 500 feet is in terms of engineering and construction. Building something of this size is no small feat, whether it’s a ship, a building, or any other structure.

4. Nature’s 500-Foot Wonder: Sequoia Trees

Shifting our gaze from human-made structures to nature’s marvels, we find the awe-inspiring sequoia trees. These giants of the forest can grow to heights of over 300 feet, with some specimens reaching close to our five-hundred-foot mark.

The General Sherman Tree, the largest known living single-stem tree on Earth, stands at 275 feet tall. While not quite five hundred feet, it helps us imagine what a five-hundred-foot tree might look like. Now, picture nearly two General Sherman trees stacked on top of each other – that’s how big 500 feet is in the natural world.

These trees aren’t just tall; they’re ancient. Some have been growing for over 3,000 years, slowly inching their way towards the sky. It’s a reminder that in nature, reaching 500 feet is a process that unfolds over millennia.

5. The High Roller: A 500-Foot Circle in the Sky

Las Vegas is known for its extravagance, and the High Roller observation wheel doesn’t disappoint. This massive Ferris wheel perfectly encapsulates our 500-foot measurement.

Feature	Measurement
Diameter	520 feet
Height	550 feet
Circumference	~500 feet

The High Roller’s circumference is almost exactly five hundred feet, giving riders a circular journey that matches our focus distance. As you complete one rotation, you’re traveling five hundred feet through the air, offering a unique perspective on how far 500 feet extends when wrapped into a circle.

This attraction also helps us understand the vertical aspect of five hundred feet. At its highest point, you’re more than five hundred feet above the Las Vegas Strip, providing a bird’s-eye view of the city and surrounding desert landscape.

6. The Washington Monument: A Slice of History

The Washington Monument, standing tall in the heart of the nation’s capital, offers another perspective on our 500-foot measurement. While the obelisk itself is 555 feet tall, imagine a line drawn at the 500-foot mark. Everything below that line represents how big 500 feet is when standing upright.

From the ground, five hundred feet of the monument’s height is easily visible on a clear day. It’s a distance that’s significant enough to dominate the skyline, yet not so tall that it loses its human scale. Visitors can ascend to an observation deck at five hundred feet, giving them a tangible sense of this height and spectacular views of Washington, D.C.

The monument’s construction also tells a story of scale. Building something this tall in the 19th century was a monumental task, quite literally. It helps us appreciate the engineering and effort required to create structures that reach 500 feet into the sky.

7. A Different Perspective: 500 Feet Underwater

We’ve looked up at the sky and across landscapes, but what about 500 feet below the surface of the ocean? This depth marks the beginning of the mesopelagic zone, also known as the twilight zone.

At 500 feet underwater, sunlight is scarce, and the pressure is intense – about 15 times what we experience at sea level. Yet life thrives here. Creatures with bioluminescent abilities light up the darkness, and unique adaptations allow fish and other organisms to survive in this challenging environment.

Imagining how far 500 feet extends vertically underwater gives us a new appreciation for the vast depths of our oceans. It’s a reminder that this measurement isn’t just about what we can see, but also about the unseen worlds that exist within this space.

Fun Fact: The deepest known cave on Earth, Veryovkina Cave in Abkhazia, Georgia, extends to a depth of 7,257 feet – that’s more than 14 times our 500-foot measurement!

8. The Taipei 101: A Modern Marvel

Rounding out our list is the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan. While the building’s total height is 1,671 feet, let’s focus on its first five hundred feet.

Within this space, you’d find:

• The iconic green-tinted glass exterior
• Several of the building’s 61 elevators
• Part of the massive tuned mass damper that keeps the building stable in high winds

The Taipei 101 helps us understand how big 500 feet is in the context of modern architecture. It’s a height that allows for impressive structures but is still relatable to the human scale.

Feature	Height (feet)
Ground to 89th floor	1,474
Spire	197
First 500 feet	Approx. 40 floors

This breakdown shows that five hundred feet in a skyscraper context is substantial – enough space for dozens of floors of offices, restaurants, and observation decks.

9. The Magnificent Space Needle

Seattle’s iconic Space Needle offers another excellent example of a structure that helps us visualize how big 500 feet really is. This futuristic tower, built for the 1962 World’s Fair, stands as a testament to human ingenuity and architectural prowess.

Feature	Measurement
Total height	605 feet
Observation deck height	520 feet
Height to restaurant level	500 feet
Width of widest point	138 feet
Foundation depth	30 feet

While the Space Needle’s total height exceeds our 500-foot focus, its restaurant level sits at almost exactly 500 feet. Imagine dining in the rotating restaurant, SkyCity, knowing you’re suspended five hundred feet above the ground! This vantage point offers breathtaking 360-degree views of Seattle’s skyline, Puget Sound, and the Cascade Mountains.

The Space Needle’s unique design also helps us understand how far 500 feet extends vertically in an urban context. Its slender profile punctuates the Seattle skyline, providing a visual reference for this height that’s visible from miles around.

10. The Astounding Antonov An-225 Mriya

Shifting gears from stationary structures to the realm of aviation, let’s consider the Antonov An-225 Mriya. This massive cargo aircraft, whose name means “dream” in Ukrainian, was the longest and heaviest airplane ever built.

The An-225’s dimensions are truly staggering:

• Length: 275 feet 7 inches
• Wingspan: 290 feet
• Height: 59 feet 5 inches
• Maximum takeoff weight: 1,410,958 pounds

While the An-225’s length falls short of five hundred feet, it helps us appreciate how big 500 feet is in the context of aviation. Imagine nearly two of these enormous planes lined up nose to tail – that would give you a distance just shy of five hundred feet.

The An-225’s wingspan, at 290 feet, covers more than half of our 500-foot measurement. Picture this plane’s wings stretched out across a football field, and you’ll start to grasp the immense scale we’re dealing with.

Fun Fact: The An-225 Mriya held several world records, including transporting the single heaviest cargo item ever airlifted – a generator weighing 418,834 pounds. That’s equivalent to about 140 average-sized cars!

Wrapping Up: Embracing the 500-Foot Perspective

As we’ve journeyed through these eight examples, we’ve gained a richer understanding of how far 500 feet extends and how big 500 feet truly is. From natural wonders like sequoia trees to architectural marvels like the St. Louis Arch, this measurement pops up in surprising and awe-inspiring ways.

The next time you encounter something close to 500 feet in length or height, you’ll have a wealth of comparisons to draw upon. Whether you’re looking up at a skyscraper, down from an observation wheel, or even imagining the depths of the ocean, you now have a deeper appreciation for this significant yet graspable distance.

Remember, 500 feet is more than just a number – it’s a gateway to understanding the scale of our world, from the tallest trees to the most impressive human-made structures. It’s a measurement that bridges the gap between the everyday and the extraordinary, inviting us to look at our surroundings with fresh eyes and a newfound sense of wonder.