I've wanted to put a cache here for several years, but never felt comfortable about the choices of where to place a container. There really isn't anywhere I thought I could hide something that wouldn't need constant maintenance, and I wanted it to last. When I was gifted the opportunity by Geocaching HQ to own a Virtual cache, this was on the list of locations I considered. After looking at the pros and cons of the other spots, I decided that THIS would be the place. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
The posted coordinates take you to the front of a large stone sundial in the William Noordermeer Formal Gardens of Sioux Park, named after the Rapid City park superintendent who served from 1965 - 1985. Mr. Noordermeer was involved in the design and implementation of many of the beautiful gardens in town, including this one. The park hours are 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. Please do not visit this location outside of those hours.
This sundial was erected and placed October 1969 by the Rapid City Garden Club, and is dedicated to John M Atkinson, a long time local area horticulturist and past president of the SD Horticulture Society. Mr Atkinson received the John Robertson award for outstanding horticultural achievement June 14, 1955.
A sundial is a mechanical device that tells the time of day by the movement and position of the sun. It consists of two parts; a dial or flat plate, and a gnomon, which casts a shadow onto the dial as the sun moves across the sky. It is aligned with the true North and South poles. The style is the edge of the gnomon, which tells the time. The shadow caused by the gnomon and style align themselves with marks on the dial that correspond to the hours of the day. It does not correct for daylight saving time. The style must be parallel with the axis of the earth's rotation, in order for the device to be accurate. Here at this location or latitude, it is set at an angle of 44 degrees.
To log this Virtual cache you MUST:
1. Upload a photo of yourself standing in front of or somewhere next to the sundial (face not required) to your online Found log. The photo must clearly show you were physically at the location.
- AND -
2. Email or message me the phrase in quotes at the bottom of the plaque attached to the front of the sundial. Email and message center links are on my profile page.
Logs without the verification photo and required email information will be deleted.
Please do not post spoilers photos of the plaque, or the verification phrase in your online log, else they will be deleted as well.
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.