BM0629 - "N 201" bench mark disk - Austin, TX
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Raven
N 30° 16.127 W 097° 44.694
14R E 620728 N 3349235
This benchmark is located by on the south entrance of the old Post Office building on 6th St. ("Old Pecan St.") in downtown Austin, Texas.
Waymark Code: WMNPJJ
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 04/14/2015
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Ernmark
Views: 3

As described by the NGS in 1980 (although originally monumented by the CGS in 1933):

"IN AUSTIN, 1.1 KM (0.65 MI) WEST ALONG WEST SIXTH STREET FROM THE JUNCTION OF INTERSTATE 35, IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT OF THE INTERSECTION OF SIXTH STREET AND LAVACA STREET, IN TOP OF THE WEST GRANITE HEADWALL OF A PORCH AT THE SOUTH ENTRANCE OF THE OLD POST OFFICE BUILDING OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. THE MARK IS 1.3 M ABOVE WEST SIXTH STREET."

The 1980 description is still a great reference for locating this station, especially since decent handheld GPS readings are difficult to come by due to interference from nearby buildings. Please note that 6th Street is sometimes referred to by its new name: "Old Pecan Street", so the station is basically by the west granite headwall of the porch at the South entrance of the old Post Office building on Old Pecan Street (located in between Colorado and Lavaca Streets).

Its associated NGS Data Sheet's currently posted coordinates are, however, still a little off (as is to be expected, it happens all the time with older benchmarks). As of the time of this waymark posting, the NGS reports the station at "N 30 16 07.06 W 097 44 42.00" which points to the other side of 6th St ("Old Pecan St") approximately 65 ft South of the benchmark in question. The actual coords -- as measured within 15' accuracy and 20+ reading averages -- are "N 30° 16.127 W 97° 44.694".

The station was recovered in good condition; see posted waymark's gallery images for BM close-up and setting details. Some additional pictures are also available on the NGS website itself.

---

Below are some additional facts, per the NGS database (with some editing for length): (visit link)

BM0629 ***********************************************************************
BM0629 DESIGNATION - N 201
BM0629 PID - BM0629
BM0629 STATE/COUNTY- TX/TRAVIS
BM0629 COUNTRY - US
BM0629 USGS QUAD - AUSTIN EAST (1988)
BM0629
BM0629 *CURRENT SURVEY CONTROL
BM0629 ______________________________________________________________________
BM0629* NAD 83(1986) POSITION- 30 16 07.06 (N) 097 44 42.00 (W) HD_HELD1
BM0629* NAVD 88 ORTHO HEIGHT - 152.810 (meters) 501.34 (feet) ADJUSTED
BM0629 ______________________________________________________________________
BM0629
BM0629_MARKER: DB = BENCH MARK DISK
BM0629_SETTING: 30 = SET IN A LIGHT STRUCTURE
BM0629_SP_SET: PORCH
BM0629_STAMPING: N-201 1933
BM0629_MARK LOGO: CGS
BM0629_STABILITY: D = MARK OF QUESTIONABLE OR UNKNOWN STABILITY
BM0629_SATELLITE: THE SITE LOCATION WAS REPORTED AS NOT SUITABLE FOR
BM0629+SATELLITE: SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS - March 20, 2011
BM0629
BM0629 HISTORY - Date Condition Report By
BM0629 HISTORY - 1933 MONUMENTED CGS
BM0629 HISTORY - 1953 GOOD CGS
BM0629 HISTORY - 1980 GOOD NGS
BM0629 HISTORY - 1990 GOOD USPSQD
BM0629 HISTORY - 19910208 GOOD USPSQD
BM0629 HISTORY - 19950624 GOOD USPSQD
BM0629 HISTORY - 20010224 GOOD USPSQD
BM0629 HISTORY - 20030308 GOOD USPSQD
BM0629 HISTORY - 20050226 GOOD USPSQD
BM0629 HISTORY - 20070210 GOOD USPSQD
BM0629 HISTORY - 20110320 GOOD NGS
Condition: Mark found in good condition

Designation: N 201

Benchmark Agency: U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey

Monumentation type: BENCH MARK (or B.M.) Disk

County: Austin, Travis County

USGS 7.5' Topographic Quadrangle Name (optional): Austin East

Find type: Coordinates and/or to-reach information from the NGS database (or Geocaching's copy of it) were used

Web address of this benchmark's datasheet (optional): [Web Link]

NGS PID: BM0629

Benchmark Agency (if other): Not listed

Monumentation type (if other): Not listed

Special category (optional): Not listed

Special Category (if other): Not listed

Local database's URL (optional): Not listed

Visit Instructions:
  1. A closeup photo of the mark taken by you is required.
  2. A 'distant' photo including the mark in the view is highly recommended. Include the compass direction you faced when you took the picture.
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Benchmark Blasterz visited BM0629 - "N 201" bench mark disk - Austin, TX 12/19/2015 Benchmark Blasterz visited it
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