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).

	Chattanooga	Tennessee	USA	Obelisk or Vertical Gnomon	Dial 670
	An 18 foot diameter horizontal dial of concrete and pebble with a cast bronze figure of a boy with outstretched arm, the 8 foot high finger tip of which serves as a point-in-space gnomon. The dial face includes hour marks and declination lines. An open book plaque on the bronze statue base gives instructions.
	Albuquerque	New Mexico	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 669
	A 36 inch diameter brass and copper horizontal sundial with a gnomon depicting a bird standing and a bird in flight. The bird motif reminds of "The Bird of Time has but a little way to fly--and Lo! the bird is on the Wing" by Omar Khayyam. The gnomon is buttressed for strength and includes a brass ball at the top as a safety feature in light of a nearby middle school.
	Calgary	Alberta	Canada	Analemmatic Dial	Dial 668
	An analemmatic dial with 14.8 foot major axis with hour posts and date line of concrete on a grassy playground. Date line includes footprints of cut aluminum.
	Omaha	Nebraska	USA	Analemmatic Dial	Dial 667
	A 20 foot square dial painted on concrete. Painted hour markers in two arcs for ST and DST include longitude correction. A nearby plaque provides instructions for use of dateline but has the hour marker arcs miss-labeled for ST and DST.
	Calgary	Alberta	Canada	Analemmatic Dial	Dial 666
	An analemmatic dial with 14.8 foot major axis of concrete, pebble and rock with cast concrete hour markers. Hour lines are longitude corrected and mark DST. A Zodiac date line of colored concrete is inlaid on the dial face. Seasonal markers for sunrise and sunset are included.
	Omaha	Nebraska	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 665
	A bronze horizontal dial with 5 AM to 7 PM hour lines and Roman numerals. Placed on a cast concrete pedestal 3 feet high in the form of a tree trunk with an image of a bird cast into the base.
	New Haven	Connecticut	USA	Cylindrical Dial	Dial 664
	A nearly 50 foot tall vertical concave cylindrical projection dial of precast concrete lined with aluminum panels and with an aluminum band projection gnomon. The curvilinear interior surface is inscribed with vertical hour lines and horizontal solstice and equinox marks. The band gnomon features a 2.5 inch diameter hole that projects an image of the sun on the silver-colored interior surface against a shadow cast by the gnomon band itself.
	Victoria	British Columbia	Canada	Analemmatic Dial	Dial 663
	A 20 foot overall tinted concrete analemmatic dial with brass numerals, aluminum and granite slabs. Distance between major axis and small hour marks is 16.4 feet. Brass Roman numerals 10 inches high are set in a grey outer ring. Longitude and EOT corrections are marked beside the monthly date marks. A plaque commemorating the British Columbia 150 year celebration includes instructions on use and information on the dial designers and sponsors.
	Portland	Oregon	USA	Vertical Dial	Dial 662
	A classic stone 20 x30 inch south facing vertical dial with bronze gnomon on brick building above sally port about 30 feet above grade. Hour lines with Roman numerals are corrected for longitude. Flanking the sally port are carved figures of Lux, or light, with open eyes on the east and Nox, or night, closing its eyes for sleep on the west. Reed College is a west coast "Ivy League" college following the Collegiate Gothic traditions of Oxford, Cambridge and the eastern US colleges.
	Calgary	Alberta	Canada	Horizontal Dial	Dial 661
	A 9 inch diameter horizontal dial of Welsh green slate with brass gnomon. Hour lines show DST with longitude correction. Declination lines are shown for solstices and equinoxes. The gnomon includes a NASS logo. The dial sits atop a stone plinth with 12 inch diameter top. The original Sundial of Hope, sponsored by Child Find of Alberta, was placed in 1993 on an original plinth dating to before WW2. The simple dial installed in 1993 had been vandalized and the gnomon was missing. Roger Bailey designed and built this replacement dial to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the founding of NASS. The new dial was unveiled during the 2003 NASS Conference Sundial Tour.
	Portland	Oregon	USA	Vertical Dial	Dial 660
	A 4 x 2.5 foot south-facing vertical dial of mosaic tile whose hour lines include longitude correction.
	Vancouver	Washington	USA	Equatorial Dial	Dial 659
	A 2 meter diameter ring equatorial dial of welded anodized aluminum plate. The dial face shows Arabic numerals with hour and quarter-hour marks. This face can be moved for longitude correction and DST, and was originally adjusted to correct periodically for EOT. In 2009, the original straight gnomon was replaced with an analemmic gnomon, eliminating the need to adjust or correct for EOT.
	Redlands	California	USA	Vertical Dial	Dial 658
	A 60x40 foot vertical dial of stucco, wood and brass, filling the south exterior wall of the building. Roman hour numerals show PST; Arabic hour numerals show PDT. Summer and winter solstice and the equinox lines are shown; the shadow of a nodus on the gnomon indicates the date. Dr. Nordgren explains that the shadow of the 10-inch diameter nodus "is just the right size to take into account periods when sundials are fast or slow relative to clock time. When dials run their slowest, the leading edge of the nodus shadow gives the accurate time. During periods when dials run their fastest the trailing edge gives the accurate time." Dr. Nordgren was among the seven designers of the sundials used on the NASA Mars Rovers in 2004.
	Gold Canyon	Arizona	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 657
	Built as an Eagle Scout project, this 10 x 5 foot semicircular concrete and steel dial features a 3 foot tall figure of a coyote as the gnomon. The tip of the coyote's nose functions as a point-in-space gnomon. The figure is placed well forward, limiting the times and dates the nose-tip shadow will fall within the hour circle to about 9 am to 3 pm on dates near the summer solstice.
	Colwood	British Columbia	Canada	Horizontal Dial	Dial 656
	A 12 inch octagonal stone horizontal dial with Roman hour numerals. Dial face depicts sun rays radiating from a central Beau Soleil to the hour numerals and outer time scale, which displays 5 minute graduations. This historic dial dates from the original Pendray House on the Havenwood, built in 1928. The dial was in poor condition and the gnomon was missing. In July, 2009, NASS member Roger Bailey cleaned the dial, highlighted the markings and fabricated and installed a new brass gnomon. The property is now Essencia at Esquimalt Lagoon, a private resort community but with public access for community activities. A stone path and arch lead to the dial, nearly overshadowed by a large tulip tree.
	Omaha	Nebraska	USA	Armillary Sphere	Dial 655
	A five foot diameter stainless steel armillary dial with central gnomon rod and equatorial, horizon, meridian and equinoctial colure rings. CST and CDST hours are marked with Arabic numerals. The dial rests on a polished black granite base of two supporting arms. The dial is located at the center of the Robert H. Storz Family Rose Garden within Lauritzen Gardens. Dial sits atop a two-arm polished black granite base approximately 4 feet tall. Viewing the dial requires paid admission to the Gardens.
	Omaha	Nebraska	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 654
	A cast bronze horizontal dial with Roman hour numerals and fifteen-minute marks on a pedestal in a stone courtyard. Dial face includes a depiction of an hour glass with wings and a motto, GROW OLD ALONG WITH ME THE BEST IS YET TO BE. Dial sits on a three foot high fluted circular cast pedestal.
	Omaha	Nebraska	USA	Equatorial Dial	Dial 653
	A five foot granite equatorial dial on a granite and stone pedestal with a 5 inch diameter stainless steel gnomon extending through the dial face. Arabic hour numerals for 4 AM to 9 PM are shown on the north face and for 6 AM to 7 PM on the south face. Dial is within the Henry Doorley Zoo which may require admission to see the dial, which is a memorial to Marcia Bekins Shepard. Dial sits on a granite disk atop a mortared stone pedestal.
	Soap Lake	Washington	USA	Sculpture/Artwork	Dial 652
	A monumental, 1-1/3 life-size bronze, steel and basalt rock sundial sculpture of a human figure with raised arm serving as a gnomon. The sculpture, "Calling the Healing Waters," depicts a young Native American couple as Father Sky and Mother Earth, sacred essence of rain and minerals connecting and bringing healing. Reflecting ethnic and historical themes, the winged warrior protects and comforts the maiden holding a catch basin for the healing waters. The sculpture was commissioned to honor the healing properties of the waters of Soap Lake.
	Westfield	Wisconsin	USA	Armillary Sphere	Dial 651
	A 42 inch diameter stainless steel armillary dial with central brass sphere and topped by a 100 mm cobalt blue crystal ball. The armillary includes equatorial, meridian, tropic (2), horizon and colure rings. Above the armillary is a weathervane featuring a landing bald eagle with Swarovski crystal eye. Hour markings are notched on the equatorial ring. The armillary rests on a 43 inch high tapered stainless steel pyramidal base. The overall height of the dial and weathervane is 10 feet. The dial sits on a 43 inch high, 8x8 inch tapered pyramidal stainless steel pedestal. Dial is on private property but is visible from Fourth Avenue. Owner asks that viewers wanting closer access contact him by phone.
	Skippack	Pennsylvania	USA	Analemmatic Dial	Dial 650
	A concrete and engraved brick analemmatic dial set in a garden of crushed rock.
	Gastonia	North Carolina	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 649
	A 56 inch horizontal dial of stone masonry with wrought iron gnomon. Dial center filled with crushed rock with Roman numerals on perimeter stones. Dial is longitude corrected to EST and the EOT correction is shown on an adjacent landscape stone. Dial is on private property but can be seen from the public street. For closer viewing, contact owner.
	Vancouver	British Columbia	Canada	Horizontal Dial	Dial 648
	A large concrete and pebble horizontal dial with a 30 foot high gnomon. Hour lines are wood dividers in concrete with Roman numeral hour markers. Dial center and gnomon are situated in a lily pond. Dial is on private property but is fully visible from public street.
	Lake Havasu City	Arizona	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 647
	An 8 x 9 foot horizontal dial of powder coat painted aluminum panels 1/4-inch thick assembled onto a concrete pad. Perimeter shows Arabic hour numerals 9-2 with 5-minute dots placed in arcs below the numerals. EOT correction is provided through four graphics on the dial face under the gnomon and sliding "T Square" indicators showing the corrections on rulers. EOT values are corrected for longitude. Dial face plates are supported on poured concrete pad. Dial is on private property. Contact the owner to arrange viewing.
	Holt	Michigan	USA	Equatorial Dial	Dial 646
	A four foot high equatorial dial possibly of painted cast aluminum on a four foot high segmented granite pedestal. Hour ring displays Roman numerals for EST with five minute marks with longitude correction. Tiles of pedestal bear names and birth/death dates of those memorialized.
	Vancouver	British Columbia	Canada	Equatorial Dial	Dial 645
	A 30 inch diameter bronze equatorial dial. A slot in the rotatable gnomon project a line of sunlight onto the equatorial ring displaying Arabic hour numerals. Dial is corrected for longitude. Dial is mounted on a 53 inch high stone pedestal. This dial is also known as the George Cunningham Memorial Sundial as it was sponsored by the Cunningham Drug Stores to commemorate the opening of their first store in 1911 at a nearby corner.
	Washington	DC	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 644
	A bronze horizontal dial about 18 inches diameter on a cast concrete pedestal. Perimeter of dial includes three-dimensional cast replicas of roses and butterflies. Bronze gnomon includes replicas of butterfly, tightly-furled rose and leaf. Dial face has hour lines with Roman numerals and 15-minute marks and a sunburst at dial center. The dial rests on a cast concrete pedestal.
	Pasadena	California	USA	Analemmatic Dial	Dial 643
	A 14x8 foot analemmatic dial with an 8x2 foot gnomon-positioning calendar plinth. The dial is installed in the pebble and concrete patio of the Winnett Student Center. The hour markers and calendar line plinth are made of Granodiorite of Knowles, a muscovite-bearing biotite granodiorite rock quarried from Knowles Quarry at Raymond, California. A nearby wall plaque provides longitude and EOT correction. The dial is a gift from the Caltech Alumni Association as a sculpture, a public artwork and a scientific instrument. This dial is located on the private university campus but the public may walk on the campus grounds to view the dial.
	Marshall	North Carolina	USA	Armillary Sphere	Dial 642
	An armillary steel ring equatorial dial approximately 4 feet diameter. Hour ring has Roman numerals cut through the ring to show EST. Mounted on a concrete pedestal marked with city name and builder's mark. The pedestal is also marked with Marshall town map coordinates 35.79° N, 82.68° W, which are not the precise coordinates of the dial. Weathered finish is green enamel paint on steel. The concrete pedestal is marked with Marshall city name, builder's mark and approximate coordinates.
	Pittsburgh	Pennsylvania	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 641
	A 12 inch octagonal carved sandstone horizontal dial with Roman hour numerals from 4 AM to 8 PM. The gnomon is missing. Dial face includes carved figures of a snake and a thistle and is marked latitude 40° 35'. The 1763 date ascribed to the dial's origin is coincident with the relief of the siege of Fort Pitt during Pontiac's Rebellion in that year. The 42nd and 77th Regiments of the Highland Guard and the 60th Regiment of the Royal Americans defeated the Native forces (Delaware, Shawnee, Mingo and Huron Tribes) at the Battle of Bushy Run in August, 1763, successfully quelling the Indian uprising in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The Highland Guard is artistically represented on the sundial by the thistle and the Royal Americans by the snake. Although the assignment of the 1763 date to the dial is not conclusive, the history of Fort Pitt, together with the design elements seen on the sundial and the location of its discovery, provides a plausible conclusion.
	Hastings	Minnesota	USA	Analemmatic Dial	Dial 640
	A 5x3 meter analemmatic dial of natural limestone rocks with red flagstone and white limestone for month markers. Arabic hour numerals and month names are sandblasted into the stones. This dial was designed and built as an Eagle Scout project with an original request from the school science teacher, Mr. Rapatz. Roger Bailey of NASS provided technical guidance.
	Windsor	Ontario	Canada	Vertical Dial	Dial 639
	Two vertical bronze-on-masonry dials on adjacent faces upper faces of a square, 25 foot high tower. Dial faces are aligned approximately SE and SW. A bronze armillary sphere is placed atop the tower. The tower and sundials were designed and built by the Windsor Polish community and dedicated in the Windsor centennial year in memory of M. Kopernik (Copernicus).
	Sydney	Nova Scotia	Canada	Armillary Sphere	Dial 638
	An armillary sphere constructed from a large, dual-loop aluminum radio direction finding antenna. Outer ring is 80 cm (31.5 inch) diameter mounted on a 1.3 m (51 inch) pipe pedestal. Hour ring is stainless steel and marked in ten minute intervals showing local apparent time. A nearby plaque provides Equation of Time conversion to standard time. A second small style projects a shadow at noon local apparent time on a second vertical scale to show the sun's declination.
	Palm Beach	Florida	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 637
	A bronze horizontal dial approximately 24 inches square on a painted masonry pedestal. Inner hour circle shows Arabic numerals for standard time and outer hour circle shows Roman numerals for local time. Dial face includes cardinal direction marks and coordinates. An EOT table is provided in an adjacent bronze plaque atop the pedestal. Dial is located on the entrance walkway to the Flagler Museum, formerly known as Whitehall, Henry Flagler's private home. Museum is open to the public but requires an entry fee.
	Richmond	Virginia	USA	Vertical Dial	Dial 635
	An 87 x 37 inch vertical stained glass sundial in a second story window on the south wall of a tower at Richmond Hill, a historic monastery in Richmond. The glass area of the dial is frosted with hour lines and numerals read from the inside. Richmond Hill is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday; visitors are welcome to view the sundial, which is located in a tower accessible from the main lobby entrance.
	Las Vegas	Nevada	USA	Analemmatic Dial	Dial 634
	An approximate 10 foot x 6 foot analemmatic dial on pavement sloping 3° to east. Hour lines and sunrise/sunset markers are brass inserts placed in pavement.
	Great Falls	Virginia	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 633
	A phosphor bronze horizontal dial whose face is 17.7 inches across four rounded cruciform arms. Designed, made and presented by Tony Moss to commemorate the establishment of the first English settlement at Jamestown on May 14, 1607. The most striking feature is the inclusion of reproductions of the King James Great Seal of the English Virginia Company. The "navette" (little boat) shape of the seal is also reflected in a similar shape for the dial itself. These "English" features are balanced by an American input in the form of the "Celebrate Virginia" logo and that of the local Analemma Society that co-funded the pedestal along with Fairfax County Park Authority. A unique rounded-cruciform shape encompasses all the above elements together with the NASS logo and appropriate inscriptions. The dial is calibrated in 3-minute intervals and quarter hours. Square classical pedestal in reconstituted limestone made by Haddonstone UK. Pedestal is placed in a paved and railed area around the dial. A remarkable steel "safe" is provided to protect the dial and pedestal from theft or damage.
	Rock Island	Illinois	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 632
	A horizontal dial approximately 30 inches diameter reportedly cast from an old brass (bronze, likely) cannon and weighing 175 pounds. Dial was weathered and damaged by vandals but restored in 1970 using black light to reveal the original engraved markings, which were re-engraved. Hours marked in Roman numerals with 2 minute marks. Noon gap mark aligns with North mark on base. The dial sits on a limestone base carved with crossed cannons and belt, date 1877.
	Saline	Michigan	USA	Vertical Dial	Dial 631
	A north-facing vertical dial of wood approximately 30 inches square with steel gnomon. Gnomon support includes "M M" representing 2000 millennium. Dial face includes script "RJ" for owner's initials as well as additional "M M" symbology. Hour markings show Eastern Standard Summer Time. Dial is displayed during summer months only, during which time it can be seen from the street. Dial is on private property but can seen from a public street.
	Norwich	Vermont	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 630
	A 12 inch square gray granite horizontal dial with bronze gnomon on a terracotta and stucco pedestal. Corrected for longitude to read EST. EOT corrections to nearest half-minute for the 1st and 15th of each month are engraved on edges of dial face. This is a private dial, not generally available for viewing. Dial sits atop a post of terracotta covered with stucco.
	Ionia	New York	USA	Vertical Dial	Dial 629
	A 16 x 6 foot wood and steel vertical dial on the south wall of the Louis S. Wolk Observatory at the Marion and Max Farash Center for Observational Astronomy. Dial declines 16.3° W of S. Dial displays EDT with longitude correction. Pedestrian and equine access is unrestricted but vehicular traffic is limited to members.
	Yellow Springs	Ohio	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 628
	A 14.5 inch octagonal bronze horizontal dial on a cast iron pedestal. Dial was originally made for the present owner's great grandfather in the early 1900's. Face has Roman numerals with hour and half-hour markers. Compass rose cast in face aligns to magnetic north and stars of Big Dipper are shown. Dial was made originally for location near Northampton, Pennsylvania in early 1900's and is marked "41° LATITUDE." At present location, dial is tipped 1.2° for latitude correction. Two time arcs are shown on the dial face: "LONG DAY" arc extends from 5 AM to 7 PM; "SHORT DAY" arc extends from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
	Lynchburg	Virginia	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 627
	A 48 inch diameter bronze horizontal dial on a stone pedestal. Polar gnomon includes a scroll and stylized peacock. Dial furniture includes an hour glass and eagle wings. The perimeter around the dial is inscribed, "TIME LIKE LIFE CANNOT BE RECALLED." The dial sits atop a cylindrical mortared stone pedestal.
	St. Louis	Missouri	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 626
	A unique horizontal dial 28 inches square and 1 inch thick of white Carrara marble with two cast bronze gnomons. Four time systems are shown on the dial. The shadow of the short vertical gnomon near the dial center indicates Ezanic hours based on a 24 equal-hour day with two 12-hour periods starting at sunset; Babylonian hours similarly based on two 12-hour periods starting at sunrise; and two Moslem prayer times, Zuhr and Asr. The polar gnomon shadow indicates hours based on two, 12 equal-hour periods starting at noon and midnight. The polar gnomon support consists of seven rings representing the celestial spheres of Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Dial furniture includes a Qibla showing the direction to Mecca, N 42.7° for this location. Dial markings are accentuated with inlaid gold leaf. This dial design is based on the Ottoman dial at Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, built about 1480, and on Ibn Al Shatir's dial in Damascus built 1371, the first sundial with a polar gnomon. Dial rests on three large carved marble blocks 42 inches high. The Botanical Gardens are public but require a moderate admission fee.
	Joshua Tree	California	USA	Armillary Sphere	Dial 625
	A 5 foot diameter steel armillary sphere with 6 foot gnomon rod. Inner surface of equatorial ring has cast Roman numerals; outer surface has cast Zodiac signs colored gold. Sphere is supported by 13 inch high four-flange base. Dial sits on a 42 inch high cast concrete cylindrical base.
	Ukiah	California	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 624
	A horizontal dial of welded steel plate using weld bead for hour lines and numerals. Marked for PST.
	Sahuarita	Arizona	USA	Obelisk or Vertical Gnomon	Dial 623
	An unusual dial by John Carmichael using a gnomon tip to cast the shadow to indicate time. The dial face is poured concrete with inlaid metal longitude-corrected hour lines, and is nearly horizontal, inclining just 1.27 degrees for water drainage. It declines 89.28 degrees east of south. Bronze plaque has User Instructions and an Equation of Time Graph. Dial functions best during the middle part of the day. The style shadow lies outside of the dial face boundaries in the early mornings and late afternoons. The massive elaborate base that supports the gnomon rod is made from stacked flagstone. A waterfall cascades from the back south side of the base and flows a long distance to the south through a canal that has several water fountains and pools along the way. Around the base is a planter with bedding plants. The base and gnomon are lighted at night.
	St. Louis	Missouri	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 622
	A 16.5 inch diameter bronze horizontal dial on a stone pedestal in front of the south entrance to the glass-walled Jewel Box building in Forest Park. The dial was erected by the Missouri Society Colonial Dames of America as a tribute to the memory of Mary Harrison Leighton Shields, who organized the Society in 1896 and served as its president until 1913. The dial face is inscribed, "WE LIVE IN DEEDS NOT YEARS." Dial furniture includes an hour glass and eagle wings. The perimeter around the dial is inscribed, "MARY HARRISON LEIGHTON SHIELDS." Dial sits atop a stone pedestal.
	Toledo	Ohio	USA	Equatorial Dial	Dial 621
	An equatorial projection dial 18 inches wide atop a 3 foot high fluted steel column. Located on the Anthony Wayne Trail Bridge inside the zoo near its entrance, access requires zoo admission. Dial sits atop a three foot high fluted steel column.
	New Harmony	Indiana	USA	Vertical Dial	Dial 620
	A historic wood and iron vertical dial 34 inches wide x 42 inches high x 1-3/4 inches thick. This original Harmonist dial was made in 1821 by the Harmonie Society, a group of Lutheran separatists from Germany who settled in the US in the early 1800's. The original dial hung on a private house; when fire destroyed the house in 1844, the dial was rescued and placed on the south wall of Community House 2, located across the street from the destroyed house. A modern replica (similar at least) now is placed on the exterior wall and the original historic dial is on display inside and can be seen on a daily tour.