kids encyclopedia robot

Cranmer Park facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Cranmer Park
Cranmer Sundial.jpg
Sundial at Cranmer Park
Cranmer Park is located in Colorado
Cranmer Park
Location in Colorado
Cranmer Park is located in the United States
Cranmer Park
Location in the United States
Location Roughly bounded by E. Third Ave., Cherry St., E. First Ave., and Bellaire St., Denver, Colorado
Area 24.3 acres (9.8 ha)
Built 1919
MPS Denver Park and Parkway System TR
NRHP reference No. 86002216
Added to NRHP September 17, 1986

Cranmer Park is a popular city park in Denver, Colorado. You can find it in the Hilltop neighborhood. The park is located between East 1st and East 3rd Avenue, near Colorado Boulevard. It is most famous for its very large sundial. This sundial is not just for telling time; it's also a fun climbing spot for kids!

The sundial has a special pointer called a gnomon. An inscription at its base explains how the gnomon is angled. It points 39°43' towards polar north. The stone base is set at a 50°17' angle to the gnomon. This means the stone is parallel to the equator. The south side of the stone also has markings for wintertime.

At the base of the sundial, there's a chart called a polar chart. This chart shows the zodiac signs and the sun's position. It also teaches you how to tell time using the gnomon's shadow. For winter, the chart continues on the sundial's south side.

History of the Cranmer Park Sundial

The sundial you see today is actually the second one at Cranmer Park.

The First Sundial in Cranmer Park

The first sundial was given to the park in 1941. It was a gift from George E. Cranmer. He was the longtime Manager of Denver Parks. The park is named after him. Sadly, the first sundial was badly damaged in September 1965.

Building the New Sundial

After the first sundial was damaged, the community wanted a new one. The Denver Junior Chamber of Commerce led a citywide effort to raise money. Thanks to their success, a new sundial was installed in March 1966.

kids search engine
Cranmer Park Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.