Cranmer Park
Cranmer Park | |
![]() Sundial at Cranmer Park | |
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Location | Roughly bounded by E. Third Ave., Cherry St., E. First Ave., and Bellaire St., Denver, Colorado |
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Coordinates | 39°43′10″N 104°56′6″W / 39.71944°N 104.93500°WCoordinates: 39°43′10″N 104°56′6″W / 39.71944°N 104.93500°W |
Area | 24.3 acres (9.8 ha) |
Built | 1919 |
MPS | Denver Park and Parkway System TR |
NRHP reference No. | 86002216 [1] |
CSRHP No. | 5DV.5313 |
Added to NRHP | September 17, 1986 |
Cranmer Park is a Denver city park[2] located in the Hilltop neighborhood off of Colorado Boulevard between East 1st and East 3rd Avenue. It is most famous for a large sundial, which does double duty as a climbing appliance for children.
An inscription at the base describes the axis of the gnomon as elevated 39°43' in the direction of polar north. The stone is perpendicular to the gnomon at 50°17', which makes it parallel to the equator. The south side of the stone is similarly marked for wintertime observation.
A polar chart at the base of the sundial describes the zodiac and degrees of the sun's position, and how to set a clock based on the gnomon's shadow. For winter viewing, the chart continues on the south side of the stone.
History of the Sundial[]
The current sundial is the second one to exist at this location in the park. The first was donated in 1941 by longtime Manager of Denver Parks , for whom the park is named. It was destroyed by vandals who exploded dynamite under it in September 1965. The replacement sundial was installed in March, 1966 after a successful citywide fundraising effort led by the Denver Junior Chamber of Commerce.[3]
References[]
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ Find a Denver Park Archived December 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Art Inventories Catalog, viewed June 20, 2009.
External links[]
- Sundials
- Astronomical instruments
- Parks in Denver
- National Register of Historic Places in Denver
- Parks on the National Register of Historic Places in Colorado