The North American Sundial Society is an association of people from a wide variety of disciplines who are interested in the study, development, history, and preservation of sundials and the art of dialing throughout the continent.

The Society is an association (convened in 1994) for those who view the sundial as something more than a simple garden decoration. There was a time, not that long ago, when an appreciation of dials in all their various forms was an integral part of the scientific and mathematical training of any well-educated person.

NASS hearkens back to such a time and offers sundial enthusiasts at all levels of expertise an opportunity to learn, to interact, and to exchange ideas and information.

As essayist Hilaire Belloc once noted:

"Civilisation loses its treasures by an unconscious process. It has lost them before it has appreciated that they were in the way of being lost: and when I say 'its treasures' I mean the special discoveries and crafts of mankind."

Dialing is fast becoming a lost art and a forgotten science. By participating in NASS you can slow this unconscious process and even help to regain and advance the forgotten science.

Recognizing that many of its members are already associated with one or more of its European counterparts, the Society has adopted a role which complements the work already being done by other organizations.

The Society produces a quarterly journal in both print and digital formats. The content is essentially the same, but the digital edition may include programs and other features of interest to computer users.

The digital version is produced in PDF format. A sample copy can be viewed here.  Adobe Reader®  is required.

Annual Conferences

• 1995: The Society held its first National Conference at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC.
• 1996: Victoria College at the University of Toronto.
• 1997: Chicago Illinois, including the Adler Planetarium and the Time Museum in Rockford Illinois. [PDF]
• 1998: Seattle Washington [PDF]
• 1999: Our 5th Annual Conference was held in Hartford, Connecticut
• The 2000 Conference was in San Francisco California, August 17-20, 2000
• The 7th annual NASS Conference was held in Montreal, Canada - September 14-16, 2001
• In September 2002, we convened in Tucson Arizona with a visit to the Kitt Peak National Observatory.
• In August 2003 our 9th Annual Conference was held in Banff, Alberta, Canada.
• Tenafly New Jersey was the site of our 10th Annual Conference - August 2004
• In 2005, NASS convened in Chicago, Illinois
• Our 12th Annual was held in Vancouver, British Columbia. Aug. 17-20, 2006
• The 2007 Conference Was held in McLean, VA. September 13-16, 2007
• In August 2008 our 14th international Confrence will be held in St. Louis, Missouri

Participate! Discover new concepts; share your favorite ideas, techniques and sources. Whether you design, construct, study, collect, or simply enjoy dials, it all comes together in the North American Sundial Society!

Read the NASS By-Laws