The end of day, June 21, the summer solstice, at Medicine Wheel Park in south Valley City, was in stark contrast to what had preceeded sunset: Heavy rains Thurs evening, street flooding, no travel, water restrictions, sewer lift at capacity, state of emergency, streets littered with mud & gravel. . .

     

Dr. Joe Stickler (pictured) explained the operation of the medicine wheel on summer solstice, the longest day, to a dozen individuals who stopped at the park on the chance there would be slivers of sun after a day of gloom.  Photos for CSiNewsNow.com by Matt Sheppard,  Sunset June 21, 2013  Medicine Wheel Park, Valley City, North Dakota.  Photo album at FACEBOOK to share images with your friends.

from VCSU web:  In 1992 at Valley City State University, Professor Joe Stickler and his students began work on Medicine Wheel Park.  The project soon expanded beyond the walls of the classroom to involve the community.   The Park features two solar calendars: A horizon calendar (the medicine wheel) and a meridian or noontime calendar.  Other aspects of this unique 30-acre Park include Native American burial mounds, solar system model, the North Country National Scenic Trail and other woodland nature trials, several scenic overlooks of the Sheyenne River valley and Valley City,  and a 3000 square foot perennial flower garden.