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).

	Goldendale	Washington	USA	Cylindrical Dial	Dial 242
	The sundial has a 53-inch semicircular steel equatorial ring and is 18-inches wide. The 18-inch rod gnomon is suspended above the dial by two horizontal rods. A small cross-bar in the middle of the gnomon acts as a nodus for telling the date. A mechanical adjustment allows for the equation of time correction. The dial is mounted on a large boulder on the Northwest end of the Goldendale Observatory close to the Solar Telescope Building.
	Maryhill	Washington	USA	Sun Alignment	Dial 241
	The Maryhill Stonehenge was the first monument in the US to honor the dead of World War I. It is 180-feet across with pillars of reinforced concrete, duplicating, as nearly as possible the original size and design of Stonehenge. The outer circle has thirty 16-foot pillars while the inner circle has forty pillars 9-foot high. Build by a wealthy entrepreneur Sam Hill as a memorial to servicemen of Klickitat County.
	Penticton	British Columbia	Canada	Analemmatic Dial	Dial 240
	This analemmatic dial, the "Skaha Solar Timepiece", dates from 1984 and spans an area of 65' x 35'. At the center is a platform marked out with a steel analemma, acting as the date scale. The steel is embossed with a date scale and zodiac. The hour and cardinal direction markers are concrete posts, installed in 1998 to replace the rotted originals. The size and positioning of the analemma is somewhat mismatched to the placement of concrete markers, but overall it is a well-made piece in a pleasant setting. A nearby explanatory plaque claims, incorrectly, that this is the third-ever analemmatic sundial in the world.
	Cohoes	New York	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 239
	12' Bronze 10' Metal dial mounted on marble(?) square atop column. Roman numerals 5AM-7PM. 'Van Schaick Island Golf Club' on dial face above inscription. 'In memory of/ John F. Gaucas/ Who Served as Golf Professional at the/ Van Schaick Island Country Club/ 1944 to 1974' on small granite marker near base of dial.
	Rocklin	California	USA	Vertical Dial	Dial 238
	Small, circular 12.5 in. vertical dial mounted 56 in. above ground on the south wall of the library. Dial is aluminum mounted on concrete. Hour line missing from 6AM to gnomon base. Wall faces 26 degrees SW. Hour lines, numbered only at 6, 9, 12, 3 and 6. Two memorial plaques adjacent to dial. One reads 'Sierra College Honors/ E. R. 'Russ' Fallon/ for Dedicated Services/ Building Inspector/ Building and Grounds Supervisor/ 1959-1975'. Other reads 'In Admiration and Fond Memory/ of Our Colleague/ Dwight Hall/ 1927-1972/ by the/ Academic Senate and Friends/ at Sierra College.'
	New Orleans	Louisiana	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 237
	This large horizontal sundial sits on a slightly pink concrete egg-shaped base 24 x 17.5 feet. This dais is nearly at ground level. The gnomon is an elegant stainless steel blade approximately 8 feet high sitting at the widest part of the dais, with hours marked around the dais edge with small bronze animals at each hour from 6am to 6pm. For example the noon hour is represented by a turtle.
	Oakland	California	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 236
	Large horizontal dial, with steel gnomon 22 ft. long, 14 ft. high. It looks like a sculpture of three interlocking triangles. The triangles of 2-inch thick Cor-Ten steel plates create the dial's gnomon and supporting structure. The dial sits in a courtyard where the only hour markers are placed on the lawn and brick patio around the dial. EOT values for every 5 days are shown on the north face of the support.
	Vallejo	California	USA	Equatorial Dial	Dial 235
	A 5-foot equatorial sundial with elegant time and meridian supporting arcs. The gnomon A 5 ft. aluminum polar dial. The gnomon has the profile of the Golden Gate Bridge. Time is marked in both standard and daylight saving time with Roman numerals. The dial was a gift from Vallejo's Sister city, Akashi, Japan.
	Louisville	Kentucky	USA	Equatorial Dial	Dial 234
	Park rangers set up a 16 x 20 inch portable equatorial sundial. The dial is used for teaching a solar energy class.
	Pekin	Illinois	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 233
	Two sundials. One is a horizontal sundial 6-ft. tall with a sloping 15-ft bright aluminum gnomon. The dial is called "Sundance". Adjacent is a gnomonic sundial with a 45-ft pole projecting its shadow onto the lawn in front of it. The ground level dial face consists of seven analemmas drawn in the grass field that surrounds the dial center. The analemmas are drawn for the hours 8 am to 3 pm, However, the noon analemma is larger and corresponds to the shadow of a disk atop the vertical pole.
	Santa Barbara	California	USA	Equatorial Dial	Dial 232
	A small bronze equatorial dial made by Victor E. Edwards in the 1920's. It has an unusual crescent shaped arm with notch at the upper end. The arm is rotated until sunlight through the notch strikes an analemma on the lower inner curve of the crescent. Time is then read on a circular dial from an "hour hand" pointer extending from the base of the crescent. The dial is mounted on a granite pedestal with spherical top 21 inch high.
	Ewing	New Jersey	USA	Compound Dial	Dial 231
	A combination horizontal and equatorial dial. Stainless steel equatorial ring is 8 feet wide x 10 feet high. Equatorial gnomon extends to cement face of horizontal dial. Bronze plaque provides a table of corrections for EOT and longitude. Identified as the William H. Hausdoerffer Sundial to honor Dr. Hausdoerffer, Class of 1936, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, Department Chairman, Dean of Men, TSC Athletic Hall of Fame, Alumni Executive Board and adviser to many groups, serving from 1940 to 1979.
	Ottawa	Ontario	Canada	Horizontal Dial	Dial 230
	A large horizontal floral dial approximately 20 feet in diameter. Large circular area on ground forming the dial face with gravel and flower-beds between the hour lines. The flowers are annuals, best seen in the summer blooming season. Update June 2018: The dial has been refurbished with a new, accurately placed gnomon and wonderful bright flowers.
	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 229
	Bronze horizontal dial by Alexander Stirling Calder. Local Hour lines plus EoT monthly corrections and differences between 12 world cities. Tip of gnomon appears damaged. The elegant pedestal sculpture is made of white marble and depicts 4 seated young women as the four seasons holding the dial plinth on their shoulders. The plinth itself is intricately carved with the animals of the zodiac. Height 42-inches, Diameter 50-inches. The dial was a gift of Mrs. Charles P. Turner, through the Fairmount Park Art Association (now the Association for Public Art) to the City of Philadelphia
	Chicago	Illinois	USA	Equatorial Dial	Dial 228
	Equatorial in bronze. 2 meters in diameter. Arabic hour numerals. Hour scale is subdivided into 5 minute intervals.
	Silver Bay	Minnesota	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 227
	A horizontal dial on the ground, with an hour circle about 12 feet. The gnomon is of steel, about 4 foot high. The gnomon is oriented to magnetic north. It is not an accurate device. Three boulders surround the dial and cut off the shadow much of the time. Gravel hour circle has rocks to mark the hours, but the rocks can be moved and are strewn all about. More suggestive of a dial than a real dial.
	Macon	Georgia	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 226
	A horizontal dial 16 inches in diameter located beside the observatory, just outside the museum. Includes hour markings for EST and DST and an EOT graph. Hour lines corrected for longitude. Mounted on a 24 inch high pedestal low enough for children to enjoy.
	Steamboat Springs	Colorado	USA	Equatorial Dial	Dial 225
	This equatorial sundial is a memorial to Barbara Perry Cosel and sits in front of the"Bud" Werner library. A large 6 ft. thin iron equatorial, it is constructed of two 270 degree arcs that intersect at right angles. Time marks are simple detente marks on the equatorial arc. The gnomon is a traditional arrow. At the base of the dial is a plaque containing a graph of the Equation of Time to determine Mountain Standard Time.
	St. Petersburg	Florida	USA	Equatorial Dial	Dial 224
	An equatorial dial built by Erickson Monument Co in 1974 for the War Veterans Memorial Park. Dial is 6 feet in diameter made from granite. The gnomon rod of about 3 inches diameter is stainless steel. Hour, half hours, quarter hours and five minute marks show the time. For symmetry, the face has hours marked for the entire 24 hours, though in Florida the excursion of time from 6am to 6pm is relatively small. The hour lines are rotated for the site longitude.
	Chicago	Illinois	USA	Equatorial Dial	Dial 223
	Henry Moore Sundial Sculpture: 13 foot bronze equatorial dial built in 1980. Two bronze semicircles, one set inside and at right angles to the other, form the main elements. A slim rod runs from one end of the outer semicircle to the other end and its shadow on the inner semicircle below marks the time of day. EOT correction is provided.
	Colorado Springs	Colorado	USA	Analemmatic Dial	Dial 222
	Analemmatic dial in granite and bronze. 9ft x 12ft. Mottled granite block surface with number border of smooth granite blocks. Hour numbers are engraved in granite. Zodiac marker is brass, embedded in the granite face. As with most analemmatics, the dial is not corrected for longitude. Fortunately, the location is very close to the center of the time zone at 105 deg W. User stands on a central analemma at correct date and acts as the gnomon to cast a shadow that points to local solar time. The aspect ratio is not correct for the latitude and the positions of the solstice markers are slightly off.
	Lake Buena Vista	Florida	USA	Gnomonic or Projection Dial	Dial 221
	Conical dial 120 ft. high, 122 ft. diameter at base and has an 85 ft circular opening to the sky. In the middle of the opening is a spherical nodus that casts its shadow into the concrete structure. According to the Guinness Book of Records in 1995, this is the world's largest sundial. Designed by Isozaki and calculated by Ross McCluney, the sundial is a large truncated, slanted cone, with hour markings on the inside. McCluney was NASS's first president.
	Indianapolis	Indiana	USA	Equatorial Dial	Dial 220
	A five foot diameter donut-shaped full circle equatorial pierced by equally massive Indiana Limestone shaft as gnomon. Hour numerals are Arabic. Subdivided into 15 minute increments. Equation of Time is given in the plaque at base
	Oberlin	Ohio	USA	Vertical Dial	Dial 219
	Once, high on the physics building south wall was a student made vertical dial. The 5'x8.5' resin coated particle board made by Mark Kearns in 1979 had curved hour lines to account for the equation of time, declination of wall, and offset from standard meridian. This dial has not been on display for some time. Perhaps some student would create a new dial. The brick wall is an excellent location.
	Washington	District of Columbia	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 218
	Horizontal dial 12 in. square designed and built by David Shayt and David Todd of the Smithsonian Institution. Roman numerals, 5AM-7PM. Subdivided into 15 minute increments. Also has compass rose. Dial sits atop a rectangular granite pedestal.
	La Crosse	Wisconsin	USA	Equatorial Dial	Dial 217
	A 40 inch diameter armillary on a 2 foot tall cement cubic base. The original analemma-shaped gnomon was missing and replaced with a section of loose ordinary electric wire. Includes a longitude-correction plaque showing the corrections throughout 15 degrees longitude. Dial sits atop a 26 inch high, 26 inch square pedestal. Robert Allen states that this dial is a scaled down version of the one at the San Diego Zoological Garden, and that there is a similar one at Williams College in Williamstown MA.
	La Porte	Texas	USA	Armillary Sphere	Dial 216
	Approximately 6 foot diameter bronze armillary dial with equatorial, meridian and equinoctial colure rings and with Arctic and Antarctic circle rings. Hour lines have 5 minute marks and Roman numerals. Equatorial ring has Zodiacal signs. Base shows the Great Seal of Texas and includes a bronze eternal flame. Names of fallen heroes are inscribed on the base and paths to and from the dial lead to location of Sam Houston's troops prior to the battle of San Jacinto. The San Jacinto Monument is seen in the distance.
	New York	New York	USA	Cylindrical Dial	Dial 215
	A half-cylinder equatorial dial whose body structure is exactly the same as the one (#28) at Trinity College, Hartford, CT, only the pedestal here is lower. Named ?The Camp Columbia Sundial?, a gift of Camp Columbia to memorialize Dean Hennessy (1917-1991).
	El Cajon	California	USA	Armillary Sphere	Dial 214
	Armillary dial about 3 ft. diameter designed by Don LeGrande. As of Christmas 1992, a stunning armillary sphere-type of sundial ... The framework of the dial is constructed of burnished stainless steel. ... The rod-like gnomon was destroyed by vandals many years ago, but the rest is in good shape.
	San Diego	California	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 213
	This is not the Koester dial at SDSU, but a far more interesting horizontal dial originally dedicated to the San Diego Normal School for elementary teaching by the class of June, 1911. The 18-inch octagonal bronze dial was originally designed by San Diego Clock maker Joseph Jessop and mounted on a miniature Doric column. The dial was placed within the circular lawn directly in front of the school's main entrance at the intersection of Park and El Cajon Boulevards.
	Anacortes	Washington	USA	Vertical Dial	Dial 212
	A vertical dial 4 x 8 feet on marine plywood painted the same color as the building. An aluminum rod gnomon casts the shadow, supported by a copper strut of plumbing pipe. Early photos show dial with no hour lines. By 2017, short hour and half hour lines added near the Arabic hour marks. Both form a semicircle around the gnomon, telling time from 7am to 6pm.
	Windsor	Connecticut	USA	Equatorial Dial	Dial 211
	Equatorial dial about 5 ft. diameter made of brass and stainless steel The analemma is incorporated into the gnomon compensating for equation of time. Equatorial ring is rotated to compensate for difference in longitude to time zone. Designed and built by Physics/Astor Dept, University of Calgary, Alberta Canada. Dial sits atop a stone plinth marked with Keller's laws.
	Washington	District of Columbia	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 210
	Circular horizontal dial 20 in. diameter cast in bronze. Has Roman numerals at hours and 15 minute marks. Gnomon missing from dial, but kept by groundskeeper, as it will not stay in place. Was temporarily re-installed for the NASS tour in 1995. The dial is modern, honoring George Donald Meid for service to the National Academy. Dial is mounted atop a concrerte cylindrical post.
	Washington	District of Columbia	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 208
	Large, ground level horizontal dial 16 ft. in diameter with 49 in high stepped hollow painted-green metal gnomon that is 5 ft 16 in long. Roman hour numerals with hour lines from 4:30 AM to 9:30 PM. Gnomon structure recalls the much larger Indian observatory dials. An appropriate poetic passage, once bolted to the gnomon, has disappeared.
	Washington	District of Columbia	USA	Vertical Dial	Dial 207
	Vertical bronze dial with Arabic numerals and long cast sunburst gnomon. On oblong sandstone. Dial is 60-80 feet up on an octagonal power plant smokestack. It is difficult to read, but safe from vandalism. School dated 1928. Similar to Eastern High School (#202).
	Washington	District of Columbia	USA	Vertical Dial	Dial 206
	Sandstone Vertical declining dial, with gnomon offset to account for it. Above doors to rear terrace of admissions building. Arabic hour numerals with half hour lines. Carved hourglasses on both sides frame the dial. Brass compass rose set into the brick terrace below suggests the general alignment of both house and dial.
	Washington	District of Columbia	USA	Armillary Sphere	Dial 205
	Very nicely armillary sphere about 3 ft. diameter, with equatorial, meridional and hour circles. Roman hour numerals from 5 AM to 7 PM. One of Washington DC's cleanest examples of a working armillary sphere. Erected by the Georgetown Garden Club in 1956 in tribute to Sarah Louisa Rittenhouse. Dial is placed atop a sandstone pillar.
	Washington	District of Columbia	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 204
	Horizontal dial about 16 inch square made of bronze. Gnomon is 4.125 inch high, 5 inch long. Below gnomon is motto, "Horas non numero nisi serenas" (I only count sunny hours). House was built in 1805 and is now open to the public as a museum. Years before this property was opened to the public, a family member brought this dial from Crossbasket Castle in Scotland, the family seat. The lengthy inscription is probably a later addition, since it is unlikely that they would be quoting Whittier in Scotland. The gnomon angle is 39? 30', probably made for the Washington DC location. However, the dial plate has a latitude of about 48? N, certainly not Scotland. What is the true origin of this dial?
	Washington	District of Columbia	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 203
	In the Bishop's garden is a weathered 13th C. capital on which sits a 41 cm diameter horizontal brass dial. It is engraved with "Tho Heath, London" and the year 1712. On the noon line is the indication "Hammersmith", a location on the (then) outskirts of London at 51:30N 0:14W. Heath is one of the Grocers' Company mathematical instrument makers Many of Heath's dials have a coat of arms.
	Washington	District of Columbia	USA	Vertical Dial	Dial 202
	Vertical dial with bronze Roman numerals and trefoil pierced gnomon on square sandstone. Dial is on south facade over main entry, facing East Capitol Street. School is dated 1923 and architect Snowden Ashford. Elevation above entrance is approximately 30 ft. making dial hard to read. Large projecting towers place dial in shadow in early morning and late afternoon. Similar to McKinley High School dial (#207).
	Pueblo	Colorado	USA	Sun Alignment	Dial 200
	Stonehenge type dial designed by Judy Guttormsen and built in 1984 . Stonehenge itself an amphitheater. If you stand on a brass marker in the center of the stage, on the solstices and equinoxes, you can observe the rising and setting of the sun aligned with metal posts viewed through slits in the wall. At the south edge of the site is a 6 foot horizontal dial laid out in the concrete floor. There are two rings of numbers, one for standard time, one for daylight time. Not corrected for longitude, but the location is very close to the center of the time zone. The gnomon is cement and is unusually thick (approximately 40 cm), making it very sturdy, presumably to prevent vandalism. The surface of the gnomon is very rough, having embedded pebbles, making it an uncomfortable place to sit or climb. The metal inscription plate on the gnomon has faded too badly to read. The site also has a North Star finder made of wrought iron and has a small bench for children to use.
	Ann Arbor	Michigan	USA	Vertical Dial	Dial 199
	A stone and bronze vertical dial approximately 10x6 feet just below the roof of the Mack School. Dial face includes Roman numerals showing Eastern Standard Time and a polar gnomon. Inscription appears below gnomon.
	Calgary	Alberta	Canada	Analemmatic Dial	Dial 197
	Stone analemmatic dial designed by Kasian Kennedy. Dial is laid out in a circle. Monthly markers designate where observer is to stand to act as the gnomon. Both standard and saving time hour marks time from 5am to 8pm.
	Wooster	Ohio	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 196
	Brass or bronze Gift to the College from the Class of 1907. On S side of gnomon, an embossed figure, possibly Father Time with scythe. Mounted atop a carved stope base with motto, "United in time, parted in time to be reunited when time shall be no more."
	Edmonton	Alberta	Canada	Horizontal Dial	Dial 195
	A horizontal dial of varnished wooden shaped as octagon, perhaps 24 in. across, 2 in. thick, with very thick wedge-shaped gnomon. Roman numerals carved at ends of hour lines. Dial sat atop a segment of tree trunk.
	Frankenmuth	Michigan	USA	Equatorial Dial	Dial 194
	This monument sundial is an Erickson equatorial polar dial 6 feet in diameter made of light granite with a 3 inch steel rod as gnomon. Time is graduated by hour, half-hour, quarter hours and 5 minute marks over 24 hours. Noon is at the bottom, matching the 105 degree meridian. Designed to be read from the upper surface in Spring/Summer, from the under side in Fall/Winter. Unlike other Erickson dials, the Equation of Time plaque is presented in a circular arc on the ground.
	Fredericksburg	Virginia	USA	Horizontal Dial	Dial 193
	A 7 inch diameter brass horizontal dial with 3.5 inch high brass gnomon on a weathered octagonal stone pedestal. Reported to be contemporary with Mary Ball Washington's occupancy of this house in the 1780s. Dial sits atop a stone pillar.
	Arcata	California	USA	Armillary Sphere	Dial 192
	Armillary dial with horizon ring 4 ft. 4.5 in. diameter designed by Ken Lynch. Dial is made of brass and horizon ring has signs of the zodiac on it. Mounted at ground level with a separate plaque with Equation of Time. After the dial was installed the university ordered the point on the end of the gnomon sawed off. It was feared that someone might become impaled on it. Gift of Harvy S. Kieval, Professor Emeritus - Math.
	Waltham	Massachusetts	USA	Vertical Dial	Dial 191
	A declining vertical sandstone dial approximately 3x6 feet with bronze gnomon. Mounted at 2nd floor level on large stone house. Roman numerals. Hour lines from 6 am-5 pm are not in standard vertical position, presumably offset to correct for wall not facing due South. Dial reclines approx 2 degrees north. Dial # 190 (Cambridge MA, Mt. Aubry Cemetery, Story Chapel) has same Whittier inscription.
	Cambridge	Massachusetts	USA	Vertical Dial	Dial 190
	Approx 2' x 2' Bronze Square bronze plate, with Roman numerals, is open in the center. Gnomon extends through this open space. Dial is mounted above a window of the chapel, angled from wall face. (presumably so that it will face true South.)