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Astounding Timepieces

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Grafton, Massachusetts

Willard House & Clock Museum

The world's most comprehensive collection of Willard timepieces is a celebration of early American clockmaking.
Cape Town, South Africa

Time Ball Tower

A 19th-century relic of timekeeping.
Noon Gun firing
Cape Town, South Africa

The Noon Gun

From atop a hill at the center of Cape Town, a cannon has been signalling the time since 1806.
Front view of El Papamoscas
Burgos, Spain

El Papamoscas

For more than half a millennia, this automaton has rung an hourly bell.
Rotterdam, Netherlands

Sweepers Clock

The hands on this clock appear to be created by two workers sweeping debris into careful positions.
Riis Park Memorial Clock
Queens, New York

Wise Clock (Riis Park Memorial Clock)

This 19th-century clock has been restored to help withstand the harsh environment of its seaside home.
Fortnum & Mason emerging
London, England

The Fortnum & Mason Clock

At the top of the hour, figures of the London department store's two co-founders emerge and bow to each other.
Semaphore, Australia

Semaphore Time Ball Tower

This stone tower was built in the late 19th century to signal the time to ships in the water.
Giants of St. Dunstan-in-the-West
London, England

Giants of St. Dunstan-in-the-West

A pair of club-wielding guardians stand watch over London's first public clock to feature a minute hand.
Borugak Jagyeongnu at Deoksugung
Seoul, South Korea

Borugak Jagyeongnu

Only a few pieces remain of a grand 16th-century water clock that once announced the changing hours with the sound of bells, gongs, and drums.
Zaragoza, Spain

Reloj Solar Multicaja-Zaragoza

The world's largest sundial can cast a shadow more than 1,600 feet long.
Indiana Steam Clock
Indianapolis, Indiana

Indiana Steam Clock

At the top of the hour, this steam-powered clock's eight brass whistles play "Back Home Again in Indiana."
mechanical instruments

Podcast: Elephant Clock

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
The Podcast Team March 9, 2022
Binn's Clock
Edinburgh, Scotland

Binns Clock

This historic timepiece was a popular meeting place for romantic rendezvous in the 1960s.
De Harak Clock during the day
New York, New York

Rudolph de Harak Digital Clock

The façade of this building looks like a bingo board, but it's really a giant clock by a famed graphic designer.
Bethune belfry
Béthune, France

Béthune Belfry

Built in 1347, this belfry is one of the oldest in the world and survived intense bombing during World War I.
This is the third giant Spitz Clock since 1881.
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Spitz Clock

This giant pocket watch is the third iteration of a local landmark that has been standing just off the Santa Fe Plaza for over 100 years.
Petrovaradin, Serbia

Pijani Sat (Drunk Clock)

Backwards hour and minute hands and a timing mechanism that fluctuates with the temperature led to this clock tower's local nickname.