Saint Louis  

 Sundial: 1042
State/Province:  Missouri Country:  USA
Dial Type:  Sun Alignment Condition:  Excellent
  Latitude and Longitude: 38° 41.247’ N  90° 13.773' W
Location:
  • Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum
    4947 W Florissant Ave, St. Louis, MO 63115
    The Cascade Mausoleum is located at the southwest end of the cemetery, at the south-most end of Cascade Lake.
 
Description:
  • The sundial, or more properly an alignment gap in the shape of a cross, is cut into the south wall of the Cascade Mausoleum. The cross shaped gap was cut into a 32,000-pound block of granite located at the top of the second flight of stairs, carefully angled at 27.9 degrees through this two-foot-thick block. Every year, on Dec 20th at 11:58 am, the sun shines through the cut and projects a cross 4x 8 feet in size on the granite floor located at the bottom of the stairs. The cross illuminates the floor for about 4 minutes, only aligning on Dec 20th at solar noon.

    The date of Dec 20th was chosen over the winter solstice for significance to matriarch of the anonymous donor's family.
 
General Information:Inscription:
  • Owner: Anonymous
  • One would never know this is a sundial, unless they are looking for it. It is one of the many hidden elements designed into the mausoleum referencing meaningful facts about the family.
  • Designer: Thomas Wall Mitchell Wall Architecture and Design
  • Builder: Tarlton Corporation / Mason Made
  • Construction Date: Nov 2021
 
References:
  • Photos © Thomas Wall (1), Alise O’Brien (2)

Last Revised: 2024-01-11 18:20