Jessop's Clock

Jessop's Clock is a 22-foot outdoor pendulum timepiece in downtown San Diego at Horton Plaza that displays time across 21 different dials. The mechanism extends about 12 feet below street level and is automatically wound by an electric motor every eight hours to maintain accurate timekeeping.

Joseph Jessop commissioned the work in 1905, and Claude Ledger spent 15 months constructing it before winning a gold medal at the 1907 California State Fair. The landmark was designated as a historic monument in 1984 and was dismantled in 2019 for future restoration and display.

The clock's name honors its original patron, reflecting the pride in technical craftsmanship visible when strolling through the plaza. Visitors can observe the intricate dial designs and understand how precise timekeeping shaped urban life in the commercial district.

The clock is located on Horton Plaza in the heart of downtown and is easy to spot while exploring the commercial district. Visitors should note that the timepiece was dismantled in 2019 and is currently not at its original location, but will be displayed in a museum in the future.

The timepiece is notable for displaying information across multiple time zones simultaneously on separate dials, which was a remarkable technical achievement for its era. The 1907 gold medal recognized the innovative engineering prowess that went into its design.

Location: California

GPS coordinates: 32.71370,-117.16200

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:44