The hidden sundial in a Central Park sculpture

Central Park has an astounding 9,000 or so benches arranged throughout the park.

But there’s one unique marble bench on the East Side of the park that has something no other bench can lay claim to.

It’s a sundial—and it’s hidden behind a tiny sculpture of a female figure on Waldo Hutchins Bench, just inside Inventor’s Gate at East 72nd Street.

The sculpture is the work of Paul Manship, who created the Prometheus sculpture at Rockefeller Center along with several whose whimsical bronze animals also found in Central Park.

Who was Waldo? He was a founder of the park in the 19th century and also sat on the Parks Department board. The bench was built in 1932, according to a 1997 New York Times piece and was paid for by Hutchins’ son.

The sundial isn’t the only celestial feature of this bench. (It’s also not the only sundial in Central Park; there’s one in the Shakespeare Garden closer to the West Side.)

“Three arcs inscribed in the semicircular area in front of the bench coincide with its shadow lines at 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. at the vernal and autumnal equinoxes,” the Times states.

The bench also has some words of wisdom inscribed in it in Latin. ”Alteri Vivas Oportet si Vis Tibi Vivere” translates into ”One must live for another if he wishes to live for himself,” according to the Times.

The sundial itself also offers advice. ”Ne Diruatur Fuga Temporum,” or ”Let it not be destroyed by the passage of time.” Words to ponder on your next stroll through the park.

Tags: Central Park Marble Bench, Central Park Sundial Bench, Paul Mansfield Central Park, Shakespeare Garden Sundial, Sundials in New York City, Waldo Hutchins Bench Central Park