Colorado Springs  

Sundial: 604
State/Province:  Colorado Country:  USA
Dial Type:  Horizontal Dial Condition:  Fair
  Latitude and Longitude: 38° 57.600' N  104° 43.800' W
Location:
  • Chinook Trail Elementary School
    11795 Grand Lawn Circle
    Colorado Springs
 
Description:
  • A monumental 120 foot diameter horizontal dial of painted concrete with a vertical 12 foot high concrete gnomon. Standard time and DST hour numerals are shown as are solstice and equinox lines. Dial face includes two 6 foot diameter inlaid mosaic maps of the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. The gnomon is a truncated three-sided equilateral pyramid that inclines to the north so that the northern corner is vertical. Two bronze plaques give instructions for reading and equation of time correction. Seen from above, the overall design incorporates a Yin Yang symbol appropriate for this elementary school specializing in teaching Chinese language and culture.

    Recent photos [2021] of this monumental dial show that age has taken its toll. The paint on the concrete that once was vibrant is now faded and rapidly disappearing. The two hemisphere maps are now missing or destroyed and the bronze plaques are scratched and tarnished with time. At least the gnomon still casts a beautiful shadow still telling the time on engrave hour marks and yearly lengthening and shortening its shadow between the winter and summer solstice boundary lines.
 
General Information:
  • Owner: Academy School District 20
  • Designer: John Carmichael and Chris Coulter
  • Builder: Colorado Hardscapes, John Carmichael, Juanita Canzoneri
  • Construction Date: 7 July 2007
 

Last Revised: 2021-12-04 12:20