Cranmer Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cranmer Park
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Sundial at Cranmer Park
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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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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| 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.
