Des Moines  

 Sundial: 483
State/Province:  Iowa Country:  USA
Dial Type:  Horizontal Dial Condition:  Excellent
  Latitude and Longitude: 41° 36.115' N  93° 39.131' W
Location:
  • On the campus of Drake University, 2507 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311. Just north of Sheslow Auditorium and west of Harmon Fine Arts Center in Wifvat Plaza.
 
Description:
  • A very large and striking horizontal dial 50 feet in diameter with a 15 foot tall metal gnomon. Dial has standard time marked in brass Roman numerals and daylight saving time in smaller circular brass discs with Arabic numerals. The 16 large granite markers radiating from the center are artistic effect only and to not mark time. This large monumental dial is surrounded by a knot-garden. The dial granite base is raised 2.5 feet.The knot-garden theme is continued on the upper, center level.
 
General Information:Inscription:
  • Owner: Drake University
  • Wifvat Plaza given by Dwight D. Opperman, LW'51, honors his beloved wife,
    Jeanice Wifvat Opperman (1923-1993) and members of her family, Harry Wifvat, LW'10,
    Maude Wifvat, ED'12, Samual Wifvat, LA'14, and Van Wifvat, LW-47.
  • Designer:
  • Builder:
 
References:
  • Dwight D. Opperman, has been a generous supporter of the Drake Law School for many years. He endowed the Dwight D. Opperman Lecture in Constitutional Law, which has brought eight present and former U.S. Supreme Court justices to campus. He also was the major contributor to Opperman Hall and Law Library, which is named in his honor. In addition, he funded the development of Wifvat Plaza, a major landscaping and sculpture project named in memory of his wife, the l

Last Revised: 2019-07-19 19:58