World's Largest Sundial

[bizarre_sundial.jpg]

Carefree, Arizona

Okay, maybe it's only the second or third-largest in the world. In any case, this gigantic sundial in the middle of Carefree's shopping district can be used to measure the correct time with remarkable precision ... except on an overcast day like this one! Here's the text from the plaque on the base of the sundial:

THE CAREFREE SUNDIAL

Solar Engineer John Yellot and architect Joe Wong designed the sundial for K.T. Palmer in 1959. It stretches 62 feet and points to the North Star. Local Solar Time is 27.7 minutes behind Mountain Standard Time, and the hour markers are adjusted to compensate.

Directions: One block southeast of the intersection of Cave Creek Road and Tom Darlington Drive, within the Easy Street Circle.

Last visited: November 2008.

Standard disclaimer: Sites are described for entertainment purposes only, as they were at the time of my last visit. I can not vouch for the current condition of the site or its accessibility.

Revised: November 27, 2008
Copyright © 2008 Joe Orman (except poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley)
Back to Bizarre Backroads Gallery
Back to Joe Orman's Photo Pages
Back to Joe Orman's Home Page