St. Louis  

 Sundial: 847
State/Province:  Missouri Country:  USA
Dial Type:  Horizontal Dial Condition:  Excellent
  Latitude and Longitude: 38° 35.480' N  90° 12.537' W
Location:
  • The dial is located at the St. Louis Arsenal, currently an active Department of Defense facility and site of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. It is managed by the US Air Force as a secure facility with restricted public access.
 
Description:
  • The circular bronze dial has a massive triangular gnomon and is kept under a protective plastic dome. In R. McGuire's book, St. Louis Arsenal - Armory Of The West is a picture of the sundial for which the caption reads "On December 12, 1859, master armorer N. Engels, machinist A. Schaedel, and engraver W. Hawksley dedicated a sundial, which they had created entirely from spare ordnance materials. It was a scientifically precise instrument, measuring 17 inches in diameter, and was used for many years as the definitive chronometer of the arsenal. Engraved upon it was a poem entitled 'The Bird of Liberty,' reflecting the patriotic fervor of the day."

    The Arsenal Dial and a similar dial, The Old Courthouse Dial (#883) were both produced by the Arsenal in 1859.
 
General Information:Inscription:
  • Owner: U.S. Department of Defense
  • Poem 'The Bird of Liberty'

    Plaque: "Remove Not The Ancient Landmark, Which Thy Fathers Have Set" - Proverbs 22:25
    Presented by Consilia Greene Chapter NSDAR 1977
  • Designer: Major W H Bell, U.S. Army
  • Builder: St. Louis Arsena - N. Engels, A. Schaedel, W. Haksley
  • Construction Date: 1859
 
References:
  • St. Louis Sundial Trail
    http://dls-website.com/hobbies/Sundials/StLouisSundialTrail_Site14.htm

Attachments Available:

Last Revised: 2018-01-17 13:04