The practice lives on today at the United States Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., where a time-ball descends from a flagpole at noon each day.

A time ball was installed at the Royal Observatory in ... soon became common at naval academies and observatories — and eventually made their way to the United States, according to the site.

The house that's served as the residence for every vice president from Walter Mondale to Kamala Harris and now JD Vance is located on the grounds of the United States Naval Observatory.