7/20/11- Question: What do you do when you are surrounded by an abundance of clocks? Do you: a) Start to get paranoid about the time on your watch and so decide to set it to the hour, minute and second of those around you? b) look for the Mad Hatter because by some fluke of synchronicity you believe you were brought to this place to have tea, then fight an evil queen and slay her dragon? or c) expect that a party is about to take place complete with the swagger of Mick Jagger, and drink until the po-po shut it down?
At the National Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia, PA, I had the time of my life (dot dot dot)... *Silence* (Insert applause and a chorus of laughter now) *Crickets chirping*. Tough crowd. Tough crowd.
What can I say about the National Watch and Clock Museum? Well there's a bunch of clocks. Over 12,000 of them to be exact. Big, small, old, etc. Did you know that in previous times, sundials were used to tell time? Oh, you did? Well, how about hour glasses? Uh-huh, I see. Well, I bet you've never heard of a clepsydra, have you? Not to be confused with Cleopatra. A clepsydra is a bowl in which water drips. When the water reaches a line, it marks the passing of time. By 1088 A.D., Su Song had his own clock in China - a water-driven astronomical clock tower. Quite fascinating, but not very accurate at telling time.
Further into my adventure, I got to see the inside workings of a clock along with many fine grandfather clocks, watches and other time-keepers. All joking aside, the museum is quite stunning, and well worth the $8 admission for adults. I even had the opportunity to make my own clock from a blank cd, and a few clock supplies. Yes I can say horology is a very interesting study. Besides the clocks, I watched a short movie on the progression of time-keeping through the ages; I learned how our own time today is actually about 11 seconds off. So, if I'm ever late, don't blame me. It's not my fault.
Check out the website to learn more. http://www.nawcc.org/index.php/museumlibrary.
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