The Loop District in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Standard Time System in the United States
Adopted on this Site – October 11, 1883
The Convention was called by the nation’s railroads. Delegates were asked to develop a better and more uniform time system to govern railroad operations. Previously, time had been determined by the position of the sun, with high noon as the only existing standard of exact local time. More than 100 different local times resulted from this method.
The new plan, proposed by William F. Allen, Convention Secretary, established four equal time zones across the country, each one hour ahead of the zone to its west. All railroad clocks in each zone were to be synchronized to strike the hour simultaneously.
The Standard Time System was inaugurated on November 18, 1883. On that Sunday, known as the “Day of Two Noons,” the Allegheny Observatory at the University of Pittsburgh transmitted a telegraph signal when it was exactly noon on the 90th meridian. Railroad clocks throughout the United States were then reset on the hour according to time zone.
Although implemented by the railroads, the Federal Government, states, and cities began to use the system almost immediately. On March 19, 1918, Congress formally acknowledged the plan by passing the Standard Time Act.
Continental Bank
By
The Midwest Railway Historical Society, Inc.
November 18, 1971
Erected 1971 by The Midwest Railway Historical Society, Inc.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1906.
Location. 41° 52.704′ N, 87° 37.916′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in The Loop District. Marker is at the intersection of West Jackson Boulevard and South LaSalle Street, on the left when traveling east on West Jackson Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 140 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago IL 60604, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Chicago Board of Trade's Statues (within shouting distance of this marker); Rookery Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Continental and Commercial Bank Building (about 300 feet away); First Jewish House of Worship (about 400 feet away); Dearborn Street (approx. 0.2 miles away); Brooks Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fisher Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Colony Building (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.
Additional keywords. standard time
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,616 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 1, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3. submitted on March 19, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.