As described by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1935:
"THIS INTERSECTION STATION IS THE CENTER OF THE CUPOLA ON THE DOME OF THE MAIN BUILDING OF THE TEXAS STATE HOSPITAL FOR INSANE. THE BUILDING IS A WHITE, STONE BUILDING, WITH A COLLONADE OF SIX COLUMNS AT THE S CENTER. THE BUILDING HAS A LARGE OCTAGONAL CUPOLA, WITH LOUVERED SIDES, AT THE CENTER OF THE TOP. THE CUPOLA WITH OCTAGONAL-RIBBED DOME IS SURMOUNTED BY A SMALLER CUPOLA WITH OCTAGONAL DOME. SMALL CUPOLA HAS AN ORNAMENTAL STONE FINIAL, WITH A BALL AT THE TIP. THE TOP OF THE CUPOLA IS ABOUT 75 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND QUITE PROMINENT. THE BUILDING WAS ERECTED IN 1857."
"THERE IS A SIMILAR BUT SMALLER DOME AT THE E END OF THE BUILDING."
"THE HOSPITAL IS ABOUT 2-1/4 MILES N OF THE CAPITOL IN AUSTIN, JUST INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF AUSTIN, AND ON THE W SIDE OF GUADALUPE STREET, WHICH IS U.S. HIGHWAY 81. THE DOME IS ABOUT ON THE EXTENSION OF WEST 41ST STREET, AND ABOUT 300 FEET W OF GUADALUPE STREET. THIS IS PROBABLY THE SAME STATION CALLED COLORED ASYLUM DOME, S. END. IN 1903."
A few extra factoids about this particular waymark:
* The Austin State Hospital, headquartered in Austin TX, is the state's oldest hospital system for the care and treatment of the mentally ill. Its administrative building, built in 1857, is the third oldest standing public building in the state.
* The building has indeed two cupolas, only one of which is obviously the benchmark. The presence of two "double-cupolas" is not so apparent from the ground and it's easy to select the wrong one depending on one's viewpoint: the smaller one is unfortunately what people first notice when entering the building's grounds from the main entrance. It only has 4 vertical pillars per side on its supporting octagonal dome, while the benchmark has 5 pillars per side. Also, the larger (benchmark) cupola includes some stonework between its two domes. A picture is added to the for comparison.
Below are some additional facts, per the NGS database (with some editing for length): (
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BM0893 ***********************************************************************
BM0893 DESIGNATION - AUSTIN STATE HOSPITAL DOME
BM0893 PID - BM0893
BM0893 STATE/COUNTY- TX/TRAVIS
BM0893 COUNTRY - US
BM0893 USGS QUAD - AUSTIN EAST (1988)
BM0893
BM0893 *CURRENT SURVEY CONTROL
BM0893 ______________________________________________________________________
BM0893* NAD 83(1993) POSITION- 30 18 26.98543(N) 097 44 13.58998(W) ADJUSTED
BM0893_MARKER: 87 = DOME
BM0893_SATELLITE: THE SITE LOCATION WAS REPORTED AS SUITABLE FOR
BM0893+SATELLITE: SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS - March 31, 2009
BM0893
BM0893 HISTORY - Date Condition Report By
BM0893 HISTORY - 1935 FIRST OBSERVED CGS
BM0893 HISTORY - 1965 GOOD CGS
BM0893 HISTORY - 1983 GOOD USPSQD
BM0893 HISTORY - 19830626 GOOD USPSQD
BM0893 HISTORY - 1990 GOOD USPSQD
BM0893 HISTORY - 20010224 GOOD USPSQD
BM0893 HISTORY - 20030607 GOOD USPSQD
BM0893 HISTORY - 20050305 GOOD USPSQD
BM0893 HISTORY - 20090331 GOOD GEOCAC