Illinois Selected Sundials

Click on any photo or city name to get more sundial details and more photos.
 
Chicago Illinois USA Horizontal Dial 296
Approximately 4 foot diameter. A cement disk with a cleft at the top acts as a sundial. Cement, wood.
 
Chicago Illinois USA Equatorial Dial 271
ca 8' dia. Stone ca 7' high Two curved C shaped forms placed at perpendicular angles.
 
Chicago Illinois USA Equatorial Dial 228
Equatorial in bronze. 2 meters in diameter. Arabic hour numerals. Hour scale is subdivided into 5 minute intervals.
 
Chicago Illinois USA Equatorial Dial 223
Henry Moore Sundial Sculpture: 13 foot bronze equatorial dial built in 1980. Two bronze semicircles, one set inside and at right angles to the other, form the main elements. A slim rod runs from one end of the outer semicircle to the other end and its shadow on the inner semicircle below marks the time of day. EOT correction is provided.
 
Chicago Illinois USA Collection Dial 120
John C. Tomlinson Collection
 
Chicago Illinois USA Collection Dial 119
Mensing Collection
 
Collinsville Illinois USA Woodhenge Dial 94
At the Cahokia Mounds is a woodhenge discovered in the early 1960's during excavations and has been reconstructed. There are a series of wood posts in multiple circles that indicate various solar events such as the solstices, equinoxes, and what are thought to be special festival days related to the agricultural cycle of the region. Critical posts also align with the mounds of the site on certain dates. The outer of 3 circles of posts has a diameter of 410 feet with 48 equidistant posts. Each post is about 20 feet high. Equinox and solstice sunrise observations are held at the site on the Sunday morning closest to the event.
 
DeLand Illinois USA Four-dialed pillar Dial 360
Granite four-dialed pillar about 5 foot high, possibly dating from the mid 17th century. Purportedly found in 1650 in Tinturn, Monmouthshire, England, and consistent with the dial latitude of 52 N. Dial face is 18 x18 inches. Gnomons on both east and west sides are turned off its original declination. A gift from Robert H. Allerton. The dial is well-traveled, and was brought to the United States in 1890 by the John Wanamaker stores. The fascinating history of this dial can be found in NASS Compendium Vol. 6 No. 1, Dec., 1998.
 
Evanston Illinois USA Horizontal Dial 298
This was once a horizontal sundial of unknown construction commissioned by the Works Progress Administration. The dial has been removed and only a 24x24 inch pedestal remains, now adorned by a flower pot.
 
Graylake Illinois USA Stonehenge Dial 521
"Sun Pivot" is a set of vertical "gatestones" that allow the viewing of two major solar alignments: The summer sunrise stone is set about 33 degrees north of east while the equinox stone is set due east. The angular cuts in the gatestones allows the framing of the sunrise event above the stones, which are set about 200 feet away in a field of prairie grass.
 
Highland Park Illinois USA Analemmatic Dial 400
A simple analemmatic dial with a cement base with marks for standing at the months of the year. Surrounding the base is a light brick plaza with markers for the hours. The plaza is surrounded by flowers.
 
Highland Park Illinois USA Polar Dial 377
This cast iron polar dial is centered in a 7 foot diameter, echoing the form of a "train wheel", matching the theme of a small park situated between a historic train station on the ancient Green Bay Trail and a pioneer cemetery. The polar dial has raised hour lines on the cast iron plate. Designed by Stephen Luecking and built at St. Mary's Foundry.
 
La Fox Illinois USA Horizontal Dial 547
A 30-inch diameter cast bronze dial with natural patina after more than 30 years exposure. Replaces a "garden" dial donated by Class of 1967 but destroyed by vandals. Dial is located on campus of private school but available for viewing during daylight hours.
 
Pekin Illinois USA Horizontal Dial 233
A unique horizontal dial using both a sloping 15 foot aluminum gnomon and much taller 45 foot vertical pole. The ground level dial face consists of seven analemmas drawn in the grass field that surrounds the dial center. The analemmas are drawn for the hours 8-AM to 3-PM 3, corresponding to the tip of the sloping aluminum gnomon. However, the noon analemma is larger and corresponds to the shadow of a disk atop the vertical pole.   Click Photo or City Name to READ MORE
 
Peoria Illinois USA Horizontal Dial 607
An 18 inch octagonal horizontal dial of cast bronze. The dial face includes hour lines with ten minute marks and Roman numerals. The dial is on an octagonal polished granite pedestal. The bronze gnomon is correctly set at 40° but appears to be more modern than the cast dial face. This is one of two "sister" dials ordered cast by Grant Hood; the second dial was placed at Bradley School of Horology but later disposed and now in private ownership in Lynchburg, Virginia.
 
Rock Island Illinois USA Horizontal Dial 632
A horizontal dial approximately 30 inches diameter reportedly cast from an old brass (bronze, likely) cannon and weighing 175 pounds. Dial was weathered and damaged by vandals but restored in 1970 using black light to reveal the original engraved markings, which were re-engraved. Access may require admission to arsenal.
 
Rockford Illinois USA Armillary Dial 401
A large stainless steel armillary dial approximately 10 feet in diameter. The equator and sunrise/sunset meridian bands are about 6 inches wide, with other bands about 3 inches wide. The central gnomon is a stainless steel rod with an open shaped arrow point and tail. The hours on the equatorial ring are raised bronze roman numerals with 15-minute intervals marked by bronze dots. The time marks are set for daylight saving time, with sunset at VII. Marks continue to VIII
 
Rockford Illinois USA Collection Dial 123
Time Museum collection of dials
 
Urbana Illinois USA Horizontal Dial 289
Horizontal dial 14 inches diameter, with 5 inch tall gnomon. Sits on stone pedestal 40 x 40 x 42 inches.  Click Photo or City Name to READ MORE
 
Weaton Illinois USA Horizontal Dial 589
Horizontal dial with 20 foot stainless steel gnomon. On the ground (dial face) are hour lines, analemma, date, and time before sunset. Built to commemorate DuPage County residents killed in military conflicts.
 
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