Charleston True Meridian Monument - U.S. Historic Survey Stones and Monuments on Waymarking.com

The Charleston True Meridian Monument is located in Saint Lawrence Cemetery in Charleston, S.C.

Source Information

Descriptive information from NGS datasheet:

TO REACH THE STATION FROM THE JUNCTION OVERPASS OF U.S. HIGHWAYS 17, (EAST BAY STREET) AND MORRISON AVENUE, 2.1 MI (3.4 KM) NORTH-NORTHWEST OF CHARLESTON, GO NORTH-NORTHWEST ON HIGHWAY 52 FOR 0.6 MI (1.0 KM) TO THE JUNCTION OF BRIGADE STREET.

TURN RIGHT ON BRIGADE STREET FOR 0.15 MI (0.2 KM) TO THE JUNCTION OF HUGUENIN AVENUE. TURN LEFT ON HUGUENIN AVENUE FOR 0.25 MI (0.4 KM) TO THE GATED ENTRANCE TO SAINT LAWRENCE CEMETERY. TURN RIGHT ON THE ENTRANCE ROAD FOR 100 FT (30.5 M) TO A PAVED CROSSROAD. TURN LEFT ON THE PAVED ROAD FOR 100 FT (30.5 M) TO A PAVED ROAD LEADING EAST. TURN RIGHT ON THE PAVED ROAD FOR 0.25 MI (0.4 KM) TO THE STATION AHEAD NEAR THE MUSSELMAN HEADSTONE.

STATION IS A PARTIALLY BURIED MONUMENT IS A WHITE MARBLE OBELISK THAT IS 4.3 FT (1.3 M) ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, THE FOUR-SIDED PYRAMIDAL TOP MEASURES 0.9 FT (0.3 M) ON A SIDE AND IS 0.15 FT (0.0 M) HIGH, THE OBELISK EXTENDS FOR AN ADDITIONAL 1.0 FT (0.3 M) UNDER THE SURFACE BEFORE A FLUTED AND STEPPED BOTTOM, THE FLUTED BOTTOM IS 0.65 FT (0.2 M) HIGH, THE TOTAL HEIGHT OF THE OBELISK IS 5.95 FT (1.8 M), THE MARBLE OBELISK SITS ON A RED-BROWN SANDSTONE BASE THAT IS 0.5 FT (0.2 M) THICK AND 2.25 FT (0.7 M) ON A SIDE, THE ONLY INSCRIPTION ON THE MONUMENT IS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE OBELISK 'TRUE MERIDIAN OCT. 1849.' ON A VERTICAL 0.25-FT WIDE RAISED STRIP ON THE FACE, 3.0 FT (0.9 M) NORTH OF THE EXTENDED CENTER OF THE ROAD, 13.0 FT (4.0 M) SOUTH OF THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE GRANITE BASE FOR A HEADSTONE (MUSSELMAN), 13.3 FT (4.1 M) NORTH-NORTHWEST OF THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE GRANITE BASE FOR A HEADSTONE (TALBERT), 20.4 FT (6.2 M) WEST-SOUTHWEST OF THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE GRANITE BASE FOR A HEADSTONE (KEENAN), 52.5 FT (16.0 M) EAST OF A 5.0-FT LIVE OAK TREE, 10.4 FT (3.2 M) WEST-NORTHWEST OF A PVC WATER SPIGOT PROJECTING 1.0-FT.

TRUE MERIDIAN OCT. 1849.

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Monumentation Type: Dressed stone Monument Category: Meridian Line marker Accessible to general public: yes Historical significance: Used by surveyors to observe the magnetic declination. Monument Website: [Web Link] County: Charleston, SC USGS Quad: Charleston NGS PID: DM3242 Approximate date of monument: 10/01/1849 Monumentation Type (if other): Not listed Monument Category (if other): Not listed Explain Non-Public access: Not listed Other Coordinates: Not Listed Other Coordinates details: Not listed

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.

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