Object Name: Cross-Staff

Object ID: 92.517

Date: 1964

Description: The cross-staff is an early navigational tool that measures the angle between the horizon and a celestial body like the sun or prominent stars. This cross-staff is a reproduction of a 17th-century cross-staff with four separate pieces that slide together in a cross formation with brass inserts to hold the pieces in place. A cross-staff such as this was used for navigation during Mayflower II's 1957 sail and is the predecessor for the 18th century sextant. Scroll through the photos on the left to see it in use.