If you’re walking down the stairs from the second floor of the Detroit Historical Museum, you might pass by one of the most interesting displays in the museum.
Most people stop to view the beautiful stained glass in the full size window on the landing.
But pause on the landing, turn 90 degrees to the left, and you’ll see the magnificent Meier Clock.
At 15 feet tall, the Meier Clock is an impressive sight to see.
The main dial of the clock shows the current time, with additional smaller dials surrounding the main dial, showing the times for
- Paris
- Berlin
- London
- Rome
- Peking
- St. Petersburg
- New York
- St. Louis
- Philadelphia
- San Francisco
- Washington D.C.
- Manila
One of the amazing features of the clock: it’s driven by a single pendulum!
History of the Meier Clock
Jewelry store owner Louis Meier began work on the clock in 1892. It took him 12 years to finish the clock, carving it out of solid mahogany.
The clock was first displayed at the Louis Meier Jewelry store at the corner of Gratiot and East Grand Boulevard.
In 1906, the clock was displayed at the 1906 Michigan State Fair and 1934 Chicago World’s Fair.
In 1982, the Meier family donated the clock to the Detroit Historical Society.
Below the big dial, you’ll see a perpetual calendar, with the day of the week, month, and date.
The colored globe, representing the earth, revolves on its axis once every 24 hours.
I was impressed with the intricate details in the carving as well as the amazing workmanship of the figures and profiles carved into the block.