Cranmer Park
{{Short description|Public park in Denver, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Cranmer Park
| nrhp_type =
| designated_other1 = Colorado
| designated_other1_date =
| designated_other1_number = 5DV.5313
| designated_other1_num_position = bottom
| image = Cranmer_Sundial.jpg
| caption = Sundial at Cranmer Park
| location = Roughly bounded by E. Third Ave., Cherry St., E. First Ave., and Bellaire St., Denver, Colorado, United States
| coordinates = {{coord|39|43|10|N|104|56|6|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = Colorado#USA
| built = 1919
| architecture =
| added = September 17, 1986
| area = {{convert|24.3|acre}}
| mpsub = {{NRHP url|id=64000072|title=Denver Park and Parkway System TR}}
| refnum = 86002216
}}
Cranmer Park is a city park in Denver, United States[http://www.denvergov.org/parks/FindaPark/tabid/430490/Default.aspx Find a Denver Park] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111226172335/http://www.denvergov.org/parks/FindaPark/tabid/430490/Default.aspx |date=December 26, 2011 }} located in the Hilltop neighborhood off Colorado Boulevard between East 1st and East 3rd Avenue. It is notable for its large sundial.
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 George E. Cranmer, 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.[http://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?uri=full=3100001~!14539!0#focus Art Inventories Catalog, viewed June 20, 2009.] It was restored again in 2018 to repair cracking stones.{{Cite web |title=Save Our Sundial |url=https://theparkpeople.org/What-We-Do/Capital-Projects/Save-Our-Sundial |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=theparkpeople.org}}
The park is on the National Register of Historic Places.{{Cite web |title=Cranmer Park |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail/58f983f6-3704-48d6-b9b2-df9cf791e1b1 |access-date=May 7, 2024 |website=National Register of Historic Places Digital Archive}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://saveoursundial.com/ Save Our Sundial]
Category:Astronomical instruments
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Denver
Category:Parks on the National Register of Historic Places in Colorado