A giant sundial. That’s what greets you at the top of Kite Hill in Seattle’s Gas Works Park. This isn’t your average sundial. Oh no. This is the Gas Works Memorial Sundial a truly unique work of art.
The Gas Works Memorial Sundial is more than just a timepiece. It’s a testament to the park’s fascinating history. The park itself sits on the site of a former gasification plant. This plant operated from 1906 to 1956. It was the last coal gasification plant in the United States. Imagine the smoke the sounds the smells of that era.
The city of Seattle acquired the site in 1962. They had a vision. They didn’t want to simply erase the past. Instead they chose to transform the industrial ruins into a beautiful public park. This remarkable transformation was led by landscape architect Richard Haag. His design incorporated remnants of the old gas plant. This included the iconic towers.
The Gas Works Memorial Sundial is a perfect example of this innovative approach. Created by artists Chuck Greening and Kim Lazare in 1978 it’s made of concrete bronze and countless other materials. Shells glass bits of pottery even a bronze bear claw are embedded within the sundial’s design.
It’s interactive. You become the gnomon. Your shadow tells the time. It’s a truly clever design and perfectly fits the Gas Works Park’s unique atmosphere.
The sundial isn’t just about time either. Its design also incorporates the zodiac. Bronze bands around a wavy center line mark the months. Equinoxes are indicated by Aries and Libra while the summer solstice is the Tropic of Cancer and the winter solstice is the Tropic of Capricorn.
So as you stand on Kite Hill gazing across Lake Union remember the Gas Works Memorial Sundial. It’s a reminder that history and art can coexist beautifully. It’s a testament to the innovative spirit of Seattle a symbol of transformation and a truly unique experience.