An experimental investigation has been made to depict the transient free surface shape in spin-up from rest of a liquid in a partially filled cylinder. The rotational Reynolds number is large and the cylinder aspect ratio is 0(1). The experiments have been designed to validate the analytical model due to G.F. Homics and N.Gerber, which is an extension of the model of Wedemeyer, Goller, and Ranov. An outlin of this analytical model is given. The experimental setup and techniques are briefly described. The main emphasis is placed on presenting the experimental data of the free surface shape when the steady-state free surface intersects one or both of the endwall disks.