Floral Clock, Detroit

Floral Clock, Detroit

The Floral Clock in Detroit was a unique and fascinating attraction introduced at the city’s Water Works Park in 1893. Designed by Elbridge A. Scribner, the park's superintendent, the clock combined engineering ingenuity with horticultural artistry. It stood seven-and-a-half feet high, spanned 10 feet across, and featured a six-foot-wide dial. Its numerals were crafted from alternantheras shrubs, while its face was filled with sempervivum tectorum (common houseleek) and bordered by tulips or begonias. The clock was powered by water pressure, utilizing paddlewheels to drive its mechanism.

The Floral Clock was part of Water Works Park, a public recreational space developed alongside Detroit's water treatment plant. The park, which eventually spanned 110 acres, featured lagoons, swimming areas, picnic spots, a library, and an observation tower. The clock quickly became a centerpiece, captivating visitors with its innovative water-powered operation and floral beauty.

By the 1930s, the Floral Clock began to lose its appeal and accuracy. In 1934, automaker Henry Ford, known for his interest in historical artifacts, acquired the clock for display at Greenfield Village. Ford replaced its water-powered mechanism with a pendulum-and-weight system, ensuring the clock kept precise time. The restored clock was dedicated on July 4, 1935, and delighted visitors at Greenfield Village for nearly four decades.

In 1974, due to mechanical issues, the clock was retired. It was returned to the City of Detroit’s Water and Sewerage Department in 1989. The following year, it was installed near the MacArthur Bridge entrance to Belle Isle, where it remains a symbol of the city's historical ingenuity and artistic heritage.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Detroit. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Floral Clock on Map

1
30 m
100 ft
Leaflet © OpenStreetMap contributors
Sight Name: Floral Clock
Sight Location: Detroit, USA (See walking tours in Detroit)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Detroit, Michigan

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
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