Arizona Oddities

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Your Guides
  • Departments
    • Art
    • Dose of History
    • Culture
    • Natural Surroundings
    • Odd Observations
    • Weather Talk
    • Food & Dining
    • Small Town Scene
    • Recreation
    • Only in Arizona
  • Get the Books
  • Contact Us

logo

Arizona Oddities

  • Home
  • Your Guides
  • Departments
    • Art
    • Dose of History
    • Culture
    • Natural Surroundings
    • Odd Observations
    • Weather Talk
    • Food & Dining
    • Small Town Scene
    • Recreation
    • Only in Arizona
  • Get the Books
  • Contact Us
ArtValley of the Sun
Home›Art›Carefree Sundial is Among the World’s Largest

Carefree Sundial is Among the World’s Largest

By Andrea Aker
September 8, 2013
3874
1

CAREFREE – One of the world’s largest sundials anchors a colorful and eclectic desert garden in Carefree. This time-telling sculpture measures 90 feet in diameter and points to the North Star. The metal gnomon (which casts the shadow on the sundial) stands 35 feet and stretches 62 feet.

Carefree Sundial

Carefree Sundial is among the world’s largest. Photo Credit: Kevin Korycanek

Solar engineer John Yellott and Architect Joe Wong designed the Carefree Sundial in 1959 for Kenyon Turner (K.T.) Palmer, a co-founder of Carefree. It’s made of steel and covered in anodized copper. Local solar time is 27.7 minutes behind Mountain Standard Time, yet the hour markers are adjusted to compensate.

At the time the sundial was constructed, it was considered the second largest sundial in the Western Hemisphere. The world’s largest sundial is reportedly in Jaipur, India. It’s called Samrat Yantra, or “Supreme Instrument.” Another massive sundial – the Singleton Sundial – is located New South Wales, Australia.

The Kiwanas Club of Carefree acquired the sundial in 1976, and then it was gifted to the Town of Carefree in 1988. The sundial sits in the Carefree Desert Gardens, which features a self-guided walking tour, fountains, amphitheater, playground and a meticulously manicured garden with regional cacti and other flora.

The Carefree Sundial and gardens are located on Easy Street in the heart of Carefree’s shopping district, east of Tom Darlington Drive and south of Cave Creek Road.

 

(Visited 889 times, 1 visits today)

Related Posts:

  1. One of the World’s Largest Open Pit Mines in Sahuarita
  2. Giant Kachina Guards Carefree Subdivision
  3. World’s Largest Kokopelli in Camp Verde
  4. World’s Largest Petrified Tree in Holbrook
  5. The World’s Largest and Smallest… Funky Claims to Fame in Arizona
Tagsartcarefreelandmarkrankingssculpture

1 comment

  1. SaraD 9 September, 2015 at 15:09 Reply

    In the 1960s, this was one of my father’s favorite features to show to out-of-state visitors. To me, it always seemed large and rather awesome. When I last saw it, about 8 years ago, it seemed smaller and somehow forlorn. I guess the passage of time may change perception.

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Arizona Oddities Archive

Most Popular Posts

  • How to Keep Scorpions Away from Your Home
  • How to Keep Javelinas Away from Your Yard
  • What’s With All the Backyard Concrete-Block Fences…
  • Did You Know it’s Against the Law to Grow…
  • Four Deserts, One State

This Week Past Years

2019

  • 5 Facts About the Southwest’s Strangest, Smelliest Inhabitant – The Javelina

2015

  • A Beer Between the Forked Tree in Flagstaff

2014

  • Mow the Lake?

2013

  • Peach-Faced Love Birds Live in the Valley?

2012

  • Walk in the Path of Ancient Hohokam at Sears-Kay Ruin
  • Rest Stop Marks Border of Gadsden Purchase

2010

  • Why Do People Paint Citrus Tree Trunks White?
  • Elephant Feet in Northern Arizona?
  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • Find a Famous Writer and Explorer's Mountain Retreat in Greer

    Find a Famous Writer and Explorer’s Historic Mountain Retreat in Greer

    By Taylor Haynes
    July 31, 2020
  • thousands of Mexican free tail bats make Phoenix tunnel their summer home

    Thousands of Mexican Free-Tail Bats Make Phoenix Tunnel Their Summer Home

    By Taylor Haynes
    July 17, 2020
  • How to Keep Scorpions Away from Your Home

    By Andrea Aker
    January 3, 2011
  • Javelina

    How to Keep Javelinas Away from Your Yard

    By Andrea Aker
    November 23, 2011
  • Phil Motta
    on
    August 27, 2021

    Why Does Downtown Phoenix Seem to Have Two Downtowns?

    I know this post ...
  • Carol
    on
    October 17, 2020

    The Tucson Artifacts are the Southwest’s Greatest Hoax

    lol ... these "clues" ...

Follow us

© Copyright 2009 – 2023 Aker Ink, LLC :: Arizona Oddities is published by Aker Ink.