Two Huge Sundials
Two unusual — and huge — sundials are at the east end of the Santa Fe depot, 201 E. Wyatt Earp. One tells Central Time and one Mountain Time. These decorative stone sundials, each more than 40 feet across, were designed in 1897 when the depot was built. Some years earlier, in 1883, railroads had set the four standard time zones nationwide. The Santa Fe railway in Dodge City drew a figurative line through its depot — trains heading east from that line recognized Central Time; trains heading west recognized Mountain Time. A sundial was placed on either side of the line to recognize the distinction and provide a visual aid to passengers. The sundials were restored in 1927 and again in 2004.