{"nrhp_refnum":"85000931","name":"Sidewalk Clock at 161-11 Jamaica Avenue, New York, NY","other_names":[],"category":"object","location":{"address":"161-11 Jamaica Ave.","address_restricted":false,"city":"New York","county":"Queens","state":"NY","lat":40.70418162100003,"lon":-73.79858012899996,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1985-04-18","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Commerce","Art"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A cast-iron sidewalk clock about fifteen feet tall on the south sidewalk of Jamaica Avenue, mid-block between 161st and 162nd Streets in Queens, New York City. It was built between 1880 and 1930 by an unknown manufacturer.","why_significant":"The nomination calls it a rare and distinctive example of late nineteenth and early twentieth century American sidewalk clocks, noted for its crowning Greek anthemion. Although electric clock units and neon signs replaced the original dials, its shape and outline are unaltered. It is the only relatively intact sidewalk clock left in New York City outside Manhattan.","narrative":"A cast-iron sidewalk clock about fifteen feet high stands on Jamaica Avenue in Queens, mid-block between 161st and 162nd Streets and roughly 48 inches from the curb. It was made between 1880 and 1930 by an unknown manufacturer and originally served both as a timekeeper and as advertising. The clock has a rectangular pedestal, a fluted column with a bell-cast base, a round casing with twin faces, and an anthemion finial. The original dials were later replaced by smaller electric clock units surrounded by neon signs, yet the overall outline remains unchanged. It was recognized as a rare and distinctive survivor of the sidewalk clocks once common in American cities, valued for its unusual Greek anthemion crown. It is the only relatively intact example remaining in New York City outside Manhattan. The surrounding street is lined with large commercial buildings with shops at ground level. The clock is listed as inactive and in fair condition.","period_of_significance":"1880-1930","architect_builder":"Architect: NA; builder: manufacturer unknown","architectural_style":null,"criteria":[],"status_note":"Condition listed as fair; present use inactive. Original dials were replaced with smaller electric clock units and neon signage at an unknown date.","vacant_flag":null,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:50:43.529764-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_NY/85000931.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/85000931/e05b72bc0b-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/85000931/e05b72bc0b-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"jim.henderson","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sidewalk_Clock_at_161-11_Jamaica_Avenue,_Queens,_NY_2012-08-02_11-08-23_jeh.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">jim.henderson</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sidewalk_Clock_at_161-11_Jamaica_Avenue,_Queens,_NY_2012-08-02_11-08-23_jeh.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75313863","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidewalk_clock_on_Jamaica_Avenue","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7508523"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/new-york/queens/sidewalk-clock-at-161-11-jamaica-avenue-new-york-ny-85000931/"}