Sundials of North America

This is a complete listing of sundials in the North American Sundial Society Registry. Click on any dial thumbnail picture or city name to display the full dial listing and images. To see sundials from a particular state or province, you may click on the list at right to see all registered sundials in that state, province or country (at bottom) displayed in city order.

You may also type into the NASS search field at upper right any search word such as "equatorial" to get a list of all articles mentioning equatorial dials and a list of all equatorial sundials in the registry. (Try other dial types: "vertical", "horizontal", etc).

 
 
Carmel California USA Equatorial Dial Dial 179
A simple 12 inch diameter equatorial ring dial of rusted steel on a cast iron base bolted to a brick floor. This replacement dial has Arabic numerals and the base has Zodiacal symbols. The original "Sundial Lodge" was renovated as a boutique hotel but during the construction the original horizontal dial was lost. The original horizontal dial was about 16 in. diameter, made of bronze with a circular plate with Roman numerals on a plain concrete column and displayed the inscription, "Count none but the sunny hours."
 
 
Bristol Connecticut USA Horizontal Dial Dial 178
Horizontal dial designed by Richard R. Bolster. Stone. "Mr. Bolster couldn't find dials to collect so he made his own collection."
 
 
South Hadley Massachusetts USA Horizontal Dial Dial 177
ca 18 inch diameter horizontal dial. Roman numerals, 5 AM to 7 PM. Zodiac signs in circle within numerals. Capricorn and Sagittarius misplaced. The gnomon was replaced in 1991, but again has been vandalized. Dial sits atop a granite 4-finned pillar with circular granite capital.
 
 
Woods Hole Massachusetts USA Pillar Dial Dial 176
Stone pillar. Brass EOT graph Four-sided column. Dial on each face, with stone sphere containing a polar axis mounted on the top. Known as the Yalden dial. North gnomon has been placed incorrectly since at least the early 70's.
 
 
Sandwich Massachusetts USA Armillary Sphere Dial 175
Bronze armillary dial about 40 inches in diameter, weighing between 1100-1200 pounds. The dial has wide 4 inch meridian and equatorial rings. The equatorial ring is flanked with small arctic and antarctic circles near the poles. The gnomon is a brass rod 1 inch in diameter. According to Heritage Museum, "Originally the sundial was highly polished and the engravings on the dial and the instruction plaques were all filled with red paint to make it easier to read. The piece has acquired a patina now and traces of the red paint are still visible." The dial is corrected for longitude and along one side of the octagonal stone pedestal is a graph of the equation of time with instructions on how to read corrected time from the dial.
 
 
Annapolis Maryland USA Obelisk or Vertical Gnomon Dial 174
4'x4' Bronze & Brass 4' Dial plate is elaborately engraved bronze with hour and date lines. Self-orienting dial. Locate line for the date; rotate dial until shadow tip touches that line. Read time from intersection of the shadow's tip and the time line radiating from dial center. Gnomon is a model of a naval missile, resting on an anchor. A ship's binnacle supports rotating sundial plate.
 
 
Richmond Virginia USA Obelisk or Vertical Gnomon Dial 173
'Built in 1981 after an article in Scientific American (Dec 1980 "The Amateur Scientist") described a computer program for building a gnomonic dial with analemma hour lines. The dial was painted on the museum's parking lot, using a ball atop a 25 ft aluminum flagpole as the nodus. Semi-annual analemmas were painted in different colors, allowing correction for the equation of time. The dial was refurbished June 1992.
 
 
Boulder Colorado USA Equatorial Dial Dial 172
A large polar equatorial dial by Erickson Monuments, known as the "Tippit Sundial" given by John Tippit in memory of his son. The dial is of dark red granite, 6 feet in diameter and 6.375 inches thick. The gnomon shaft is steel, extending from the ground through the dial plate and outward another two feet. 24 hours are inscribed on each side of the dial (summer and winter) as radiating lines with Arabic numbers at the end. Time is graduated by half-hour and 5 minute marks. Designed to be read from the upper surface in Spring/Summer, from the under side in Fall/Winter. The hours on the under side of the dial were originally engraved backwards. Two plaques provide the Equation of Time to convert solar time to watch time. The dial rests on a cement work 7 feet high.
 
 
Napanee Ontario Canada Armillary Sphere Dial 171
4 ft Steel Sphere. Gnomon frame and dial frame made of 6 in. x 4 ft. steel wagon tires. Gnomon is 6 in. diameter steel rod. Mounted on base using standard pipe fittings. Dial sits atop a 2.5 inch diameter pipe.
 
 
Mount Laguna California USA Equatorial Dial Dial 170
The odd bowl-shape of this equatorial dial designed and built by C.T. and W.M Thwaites shows a reversed engraved map of the world. A horizontal bar across the bowl has a small metal nib which points out the time of the day (top and bottom for standard and daylight times) and also indicates the spot on the world where the Sun is currently directly overhead. On full Moon nights, this dial has been used to effectively tell time and show the position of the Moon over the Earth as well.
 
 
Saint Anthony Newfoundland Canada Heliochronometer Dial 169
A Pilkington & Gibbs Heliochronometer, 9 in. diameter, 9 in. high bronze with two sights, 3 x 1.5 in. Points of compass on dial base, months and dates on face. Rotates to compensate for EOT. Dial is a circular plate, mounted to allow adjustment for latitude. Gnomon consists of two cast posts with vertical slits, about 6 in. high, on opposite sides of plate. Another adjustable scale permits EOT corrections. It was part of original house from 1909-1939. Not dated, but the chronometers were sold between 1907-1914. Now on display in museum and not set up for use. Heavily patinated with some corrosion. Fabricated by Pilkington & Gibbs Ltd, Preston England, # 433. The dial is mounted to a solid Labradorite pillar, 1 foot square, 21 inch high.
 
 
Mt. Vernon Virginia USA Horizontal Dial Dial 167
A bronze octagonal horizontal dial about 12 inches on a side. Original dial is badly worn and virtually illegible; this original is now stored inside the museum. A 6 inch replica of the dial is located on a pedestal in the center of a circular lawn. This replica has an 8-pointed compass rose in the center and Roman numerals from 5 AM to 7 PM. The hour intervals are graduated into two-minute increments, with Arabic numerals 20-40-60 at appropriate places between the hour lines. Pictures of both the replica and the original dial are in the Image Archive.
 
 
Knoxville Tennessee USA Horizontal Dial Dial 166
78" w x 168" h x 78" d Steel, brass & etched glass As the sun penetrates the building a shadow is cast from the gnomon onto the 1 inch thick laminated glass which has hour lines etched into its surface. The time is viewed from the underside of the dial. A deep carved mountain landscape is artificially lighted in the lower section.
 
 
Poughkeepsie New York USA Armillary Sphere Dial 165
Built by Kenneth Lynch & Sons, Wilton CT
 
 
Washington Crossing New Jersey USA Horizontal Dial Dial 164
A 13-inch diameter horizontal dial made of iron. The dial has hour lines from 5am to 7pm, marked with Roman numerals. The gnomon is of unusual design. Set at 45 degrees, the style is supported by the profile of an eagle, head facing northward, and tail tapering to the southern point of the style. The base is a square pedestal, cobbled of stone and mortar. At top is a stone cut square to hold the dial.
 
 
New Bedford Massachusetts USA Vertical Dial Dial 163
1820 Federal style building owned by the Univ. of Mass. at Dartmouth. Referred to as the Sundial building because of a vertical dial over the main entrance.
 
 
Burlington Vermont USA Vertical Dial Dial 161
2'8" x 2' oval. Probably of Bronze. Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Willard Pope. Planned by Prof. Betty Bandel. Hour lines are curved to compensate for EoT. Rings indicate months. Difficult to read due to height above ground. (ca. 12' above ground level.) Dial faces approx 5 degrees East of due South. Built by W. M. Schenk.
 
 
Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA Horizontal Dial Dial 160
A 1 foot diameter bronze horizontal dial. It was presented by National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors in 1991. However, the style angle is 52deg
 
 
Laramie Wyoming USA Horizontal Dial Dial 159
An ornate 18 inch brass horizontal dial sits on a massive four-stone block pedestal. The dial has hour lines from 4am to 8pm, with hours in roman numerals. Time is graduated into 5-minute intervals. The 12-noon mark is 3/8 inch wide, allowing for the gnomon which is missing.
 
 
Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA Analemmatic Dial Dial 158
Analemmatic dial with bronze standing figures.
 
 
Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA Horizontal Dial Dial 157
A 1 foot diameter bronze horizontal dial on a square granite pedestal 3 feet tall. Possibly made in 18th century. Beautiful engraving.
 
 
Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA Horizontal Dial Dial 156
A 1 foot diameter bronze horizontal dial in backyard garden. May be from 18th century. The gnomon is shaky for its bolts are loose. Style angle is about 51deg, an angle for London, not for Philadelphia.
 
 
Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA Horizontal Dial Dial 150
A 21 inch diameter horizontal dial on three foot brick pedestal. Hour lines only. Gnomon reclined. Made in 1989 to commemorate Bicentennial of the General Assembly Presbyterian Church (USA). Visible through locked gates.
 
 
Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA Horizontal Dial Dial 148
Horizontal dial approximately one foot diameter mounted on old stone atop a 3 foot stone pedestal. It is sitting against north wall of the garden and not aligned in proper direction. Plaque at the base states "This sundial stood for over a century in the gardens of Dorchester House, Park Lane, London, England. Presented by The Soroptomist Club of Philadelphia, December 23, 1935". This may be true for the dial plate because the hour angles indicate a latitude of 51°, the London latitude. It may not be true for the gnomon, whose style angle is 40°, the Philadelphia latitude. Access by taking guided tour, $5; then ask for garden.
 
 
Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA Vertical Dial Dial 147
Evelyn Taylor Price Memorial Sundial A vertical dial within a bronze sunflower held overhead in the outstretched arms of the bronze sculpture of two children. Dial is a vertical south decliner with hour marks from 6am to 6pm in Roman numerals.
 
 
Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA Horizontal Dial Dial 146
A 10 inch diameter horizontal dial on a 40 inch tall square marble pedestal with dedication plaque. Gnomon is missing.
 
 
Sparkill New York USA Vertical Dial Dial 145
11' H x 7' W x 2' D. Mosaic tile and bronze Entitled 'Thorpe Village Sundial'
 
 
Brooklyn New York USA Vertical Dial Dial 144
10' H x 7' W x 2' D Wood and stainless steel Entitled 'Sundial and Arches'
 
 
Carona Queens New York USA Equatorial Dial Dial 143
11' H x 18' W x 11' D Bronze on Granite base Entitled 'Crack of Dawn Sundial.' Equatorial type, using a slot of sunlight as the gnomon
 
 
Port Richmond, Staten Island New York USA Vertical Dial Dial 142
17' H x 11' W x 8' D Painted steel with stainless steel wire cloth Noon mark and analemma features made of concrete and brass.
 
 
Cove Oregon USA Equatorial Dial Dial 141
An unusual sun sculpture 5 foot tall and approximately 20 inches in width and depth. Has hour and minute markings arranged on horizontal members. A 1/4 inch steel rod functions as the gnomon. The dial is set to read Pacific Daylight Solar Time, with a stated accuracy of 15 seconds of time.
 
 
New York New York USA Equatorial Dial Dial 140
A 20' H x 10' W x 5' D Equatorial in Bronze and Stainless Steel. Entitled "Song to the Sun." Dial by Robert Adzema; gift of George and Annette Murphy in 1984.
 
 
Franklin Center Pennsylvania USA Equatorial Dial Dial 139
A modernistic equatorial dial about 6 feet in diameter. The analemma shaped gnomon casts standard time onto a wide metal semicircle band. The hours with 10-minute marks are inscribed on the center of the equatorial band. This unique sundial tells the time, indicates the approximate day of the month and projects the zodiacal constellation signs as they are aligned with the sun and the earth in this era. It is accurate to within two minutes.
 
 
Shreveport Louisiana USA Horizontal Dial Dial 138
Stone Dial vandalized. Gnomon missing, apparently knocked off with some damage to horizontal dial plate. Dial bears Roman numerals, from IV to VIII.
 
 
Boulder Colorado USA Horizontal Dial Dial 137
A horizontal dial using a 60 cm brass plate gnomon with a slit that projects a shaft of light onto the dial face inscribed with un-numbered hour lines. Dial sits atop a cubical marble base with a plaque bearing the inscription.
 
 
College Station Texas USA Armillary Sphere Dial 134
Called the Texas A&M Armillary Sphere, this sundial is 60 inches in diameter. Made of wrought iron, it has one large vertical ring representing the meridian at College Station. Attached to the inside of this ring is a wide band representing the celestial equator. The outside of this band is decorated with gold signs of the zodiac. On the inside are gold roman numerals for each hour. A rod with gold tip and ornate fan is the gnomon. A metal plaque mounted nearby gives a description of the dial and EoT corrections. Dial donated by Searcy Bracewell, class of '38. Built by Kenneth Lynch & Sons, Wilton, CT. Dial sits atop a concrete cylinder, 2 foot high, 3 foot diameter.
 
 
McMinnville Oregon USA Vertical Dial Dial 133
8 x 6 ft Stainless steel and copper The hour lines project beyond the dial face, which is mounted about 12' out from the wall and cast digit-shaped shadows on it. Thus both the hour-lines and stile line are shadows. The dial is mounted on the south face of a tower, structurally an elevator shaft. The bronze plaque at the base contains the inscription.
 
 
St. Johns Newfoundland Canada Armillary Sphere Dial 132
A 38.5 inch diameter bronze armillary with equatorial, meridian and horizon rings and with Roman hour numerals. Dial sits atop a six foot high concrete pedestal. The dial was restored in 1999 by Memorial University's Technical Services Department to celebrate the Festival of Anniversaries.
 
 
Salem Massachusetts USA Horizontal Dial Dial 131
Approx. 10 inch diameter cast bronze horizontal dial. Inner ring has zodiac signs, middle ring has cherubs, leaves and a crown, and outer ring has hours 4AM-8PM in Roman numerals but no hour lines. The 6AM and 6PM lines are opposite each other but their hour lines do not pass through the root of the gnomon. It is believed the dial was installed about 1910 by then owner Caroline Emmerton. The dial was moved in 2007 to a less sunny location to make room for a seaman's memorial sculpture. The dial pedestal is traditionally decorated stone with circular top
 
 
Portsmouth New Hampshire USA Horizontal Dial Dial 130
Octagonal, approx 6 in. on a side Brass/Bronze Center compass rose, 4AM-8PM in Roman numerals. Standard stone pedestal. Probably not the original, as it is oversize for the dial plate.
 
 
Toronto Ontario Canada Horizontal Dial Dial 128
Approx 55 ft square Stone (concrete?) 4AM-8PM marked in Arabic numerals, half and quarter hours marked with lines. A huge dial. The gnomon is sunk below the outer level by a series of steps. The hours are marked by stone slab 'seats' spaced around the outer square. There are two seats at the noon position to allow for the width of the gnomon. This dial no longer exists.
 
 
Ottawa Ontario Canada Vertical Dial Dial 127
Two vertical declining dials declining 58.1° west and 31.9° east on adjacent sides of the south corner of the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa Mother House. The western dial is approximately 7x8 feet and the eastern dial is approximately 7x4 feet. The dials are of gray plaster with black painted iron gnomons. The dials decline 58.1? west of south and 31.9? east of south. The western dial has hour lines from 10 AM to 7 PM and the eastern dial has hour lines from 7 AM to 3 PM. These dials predate the use of time zones and show local solar time.
 
 
Cambridge Massachusetts USA Collection Dial 125
Harold C. Ernst Collection
 
 
Salem Massachusetts USA Horizontal Dial Dial 124
Here is a bronze dial approximate 8 inches in diameter with the date 1644. In spite of its age, it is now highly polished showing little if any wear to lines, engraving, and mounting holes. Roman hour numbers go from 5am to 7pm and the chapter ring is divided into quarter hours. The dial face is square and outside the hour ring are many small 5-point stars, stamped with a tool. The dial looks different from those made in London and the Proctor family immigrated to the New World in1635. Measuring the hour lines, the dial was probably made for Salem at 42.5 deg latitude. However an analysis of the hour lines shows the best fit latitude is 44.5 deg. The dial was presented to the Peabody Museum in 1907 by Abel Proctor and is attributed to John Proctor, who along with his wife Elizabeth, were accused of witchcraft in 1692. At the time Proctor was a wealthy tavern owner, but nevertheless was hanged. His wife was spared due to the fact she was pregnant, but remained "convicted" through out her life.
 
 
Accokeek Maryland USA Armillary Sphere Dial 118
Copper armillary dial 18 inches diameter. Two main rings are square1/2 inch tubing. Other parts of armillary are made of flat copper, about 3/4 inch wide. Has Roman numerals. Probably built by Ferguson family and installed in the 1920's. The dial base is cast cement, partly fluted, about 3-1/2 foot high, round at top, square at bottom.
 
 
Seattle Washington USA Vertical Dial Dial 117
Large vertical dial declining 36? west of south with hour lines, analemmal lines, sunrise and sunset limits, solstice lines. Metal structure mounted slightly away from brick building surface. Gnomon is a ball mounted on a rod emanating from sunburst. Visit the university of Washington web page to see this beautiful dial.
 
 
Williamsburg Virginia USA Horizontal Dial Dial 116
A unique bronze 12-3/8 inch octagonal horizontal dial with one main hour ring for local time and six subsidiary rings that give the time in London, Vienna, Constantinople, Jerusalem, Barbados and Mexico City. The main hour ring shows hours in Roman numerals and ten minute intervals in Arabic numbers; each hour is divided into sixty minute intervals and "fleur-de-lis" decorations are placed at the thirty-minute marks. The subsidiary rings are inscribed with Roman numerals for daylight hours and Arabic numbers for night hours. The presence of subsidiary rings suggests the dial was made with an instructive or "world-view" intent.
 
 
Williamsburg Virginia USA Horizontal Dial Dial 115
A 14 inch square brass horizontal dial with hour lines and Roman numerals, compass rose and inscriptions honoring John Barrow. A fluted square pillar supports the dial.
 
 
Salt Lake City Utah USA Horizontal Dial Dial 114
Horizontal brass dial with a hexagonal shape, about 8 inches on a side. .Unusually small gnomon, only about 4 inches high. A beehive in relief is pictured at the base of the gnomon, perhaps explaining the hexagonal dial shape. Roman numerals with hour and quarter hour lines. Dial sits on a hexagonal pillar.
 
 
Collegedale Tennessee USA Cylindrical Dial Dial 113
ca 6'cylindrical segment, about 3' high Stainless steel Large equatorial, corrected for longitude. Nodus is a hole on a horizontal gnomon rod running E/W across face. Can compensate for DST by shifting dial via bolts/slots in base. Solstice lines run along top/bottom edge of cylinder. Built by Fabricators Inc., Chattanooga TN