Point of Beginning of the Public Land Surveys of the Sixth Principal Meridian
Posted by: NevaP
N 39° 59.993 W 095° 19.905
15S E 300952 N 4430348
This monument marks the initial point of the 1855-56 survey of the border between the new territories of Kansas and Nebraska.
Waymark Code: WM2M02
Location: Kansas, United States
Date Posted: 11/18/2007
Views: 53
The 1854 The Kansas-Nebraska Act established the territories of Nebraska and Kansas necessitating a survey of the border between the two which was to run along the sixth principal meridian, 40 degrees north latitude. In November 1854 the U.S. Army Topographic Engineers determined the Fortieth Degree of North Latitude along the Missouri River. On May 8, 1855,Charles A. Manners erected a cast Iron monument on the bluff above the river flood plain to mark the beginning of the base line forming the Nebraska - Kansas boundary.
The monument can be reached by a short trail which begins at a small footbridge a short distance north of the parking area by a Nebraska Historical marker, Point of Beginning. This is located on the river front road that runs between Rulo, Nebraska and White Cloud, Kansas. Near the monument, enclosed in a wooden box, there's a loose leaf notebook guest book which can be signed by those who visit the monument site.
My GPS reading placed the monument just south of 40 degrees latitude, which was within its accuracy at the time.
The monument itself is a virtual geocache.
Monumentation Type: Metal post
Monument Category: Initial Point
Accessible to general public: yes
Monument Website: [Web Link]
County: Border: Richardson county Nebraska and Brown County Kansas
USGS Quad: White Cloud
Approximate date of monument: 05/08/1855
Monumentation Type (if other): Not listed
Monument Category (if other): Not listed
Explain Non-Public access: Not listed
Historical significance: Not listed
NGS PID: Not listed
Other Coordinates: Not Listed
Other Coordinates details: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
1. A closeup photo of the monument is required.
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2. A 'distant' photo including the monument in the view is highly recommended. Include the compass direction you faced when you took the picture.