Colgate Clock, Jersey City, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Colgate Clock is a giant outdoor clock on the Hudson River waterfront in Jersey City, New Jersey, left over from the old Colgate factory that once stood here. Its dial is around 50 feet across, which made it one of the largest clocks in the world when it was installed in the 1920s. Today it is a favourite landmark and photo stop, set against the skyline of Lower Manhattan.

The story behind it

Colgate, the soap and toothpaste maker, ran a large factory on the Jersey City waterfront for generations, and a big clock on the plant served workers and passing ferry and river traffic alike. The current dial dates from 1924, when it replaced an earlier, smaller clock. For years it was a daily marker for people crossing the Hudson.

When the company moved away from the site in the 1980s, the clock was kept rather than scrapped, and it was set up again on the waterfront, where it now stands as a reminder of Jersey City's industrial past. The riverside around it has since changed from factories and warehouses into offices, apartments and a public walkway.

What to look for

• The sheer size of the dial is the first thing to take in, so walk up close, then step back to see how it dwarfs the people standing nearby.
• The long minute hand and bold numerals are built for reading from across the river, which is why they look so oversized up close.
• The view across the Hudson to Lower Manhattan frames the clock well, especially for photographs with the skyline behind it.
• The waterfront walkway beside it shows how a former industrial edge has become public space, with modern towers rising where the factory buildings once stood.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 15 to 30 minutes if you are only here for the clock and the view, or longer if you stroll along the waterfront walkway.
• It stands outdoors in public space, so you can see it from the street and walkway without going inside anything.
• Late afternoon and dusk are good for photographs, when the light falls on the Manhattan skyline across the water.
• The Exchange Place area is close by, with PATH train and ferry connections, cafes and more waterfront to walk, so it fits easily into a longer day in Jersey City.

Explore it on a quest

The best way to get to know this stretch of the Hudson is on foot, with a bit of a challenge along the way. Questo's self-guided quests lead you from place to place, tell you about each stop as you arrive and set a puzzle in what is in front of you. Start any time, with no guide and no group to join. Browse the quests in Jersey City to find a route through the area.