BM0627 - "AUSTIN LONGITUDE STA" triangulation station disk - Austin, TX
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Raven
N 30° 16.450 W 097° 44.344
14R E 621282 N 3349839
This benchmark is one of two easily identifiable stations located on the eastern part of the Texas State Capitol grounds in Austin, Texas.
Waymark Code: WMNPK1
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 04/14/2015
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Ernmark
Views: 4

As described by the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey in 1911:

"STATION IS IN EASTERN PART OF STATE CAPITOL GROUNDS. MARKED BY TRIANGULATION STATION DISK STAMPED WITH WORDS ASTRONOMICAL STATION IN TOP OF CONCRETE PIER 14 BY 26 INCHES PROJECTING 34 INCHES ABOVE GROUND, WITH BASE 18 INCHES BY 30 INCHES EXTENDING 2 FEET INTO GROUND. AUSTIN LONGITUDE STATION (1895) IS 11.716 METERS (38.44 FEET) E AND 0.122 METER (0.40 FOOT) N OF STATION. AUSTIN NORTH MERIDIAN IS 11.707 METERS (38.41 FEET) E AND 4.303 METERS (14.12 FEET), S OF STATION. AUSTIN, CAPITOL DOME, STAR IN HAND OF LIBERTY, IS 401.65 FEET W AND 184.35 FEET N OF STATION."

The 1911 description is still a great reference for locating this station, even after a century since its monumentation.

Please note that the "Austin North Meridian", "Capitol Dome" and "Star in Hand of Liberty" references are benchmarks as well: their associated waymarking.com entries are:
* "WMNPKF" (BM0582 - NORTH MERIDIAN),
* "WMMJ7H" (BM0900 - AUSTIN CAP DOME LIBERTY BASE) and
* "WMMJ7K" (BM0901 - AUSTIN CAP DOME LIBERTY STAR).
The only "odd" reference in the 1911 description is that of an old benchmark noted as "AUSTIN LONGITUDE STATION (1895)". It apparently shared the same designation as this triangulation station, but cannot be found anywhere on the NGS database (and therefore probably destroyed).

The station's associated NGS Data Sheet's posted coordinates are perfectly in line with my own observations: the NGS reports the station at "N 30 16 26.99628 W 097 44 20.63554" which was extremely close to my personal readings -- as measured within 10' accuracy and 20+ reading averages: "N 30° 16.450 W 97° 44.344".

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)

BM0627 ***********************************************************************
BM0627 DESIGNATION - AUSTIN LONGITUDE STA
BM0627 PID - BM0627
BM0627 STATE/COUNTY- TX/TRAVIS
BM0627 COUNTRY - US
BM0627 USGS QUAD - AUSTIN EAST (1988)
BM0627
BM0627 *CURRENT SURVEY CONTROL
BM0627 ______________________________________________________________________
BM0627* NAD 83(2011) POSITION- 30 16 26.99628(N) 097 44 20.63554(W) ADJUSTED
BM0627* NAD 83(2011) ELLIP HT- 140.227 (meters) (03/20/13) ADJUSTED
BM0627* NAD 83(2011) EPOCH - 2010.00
BM0627* NAVD 88 ORTHO HEIGHT - 166.12 (meters) 545.0 (feet) LEVELING
BM0627 ______________________________________________________________________
BM0627
BM0627_MARKER: DS = TRIANGULATION STATION DISK
BM0627_SETTING: 7 = SET IN TOP OF CONCRETE MONUMENT
BM0627_SP_SET: SET IN TOP OF CONCRETE MONUMENT
BM0627_STAMPING: ASTRONOMICAL STATION
BM0627_MARK LOGO: CGS
BM0627_PROJECTION: PROJECTING 61 CENTIMETERS
BM0627_MAGNETIC: N = NO MAGNETIC MATERIAL
BM0627_STABILITY: C = MAY HOLD, BUT OF TYPE COMMONLY SUBJECT TO
BM0627+STABILITY: SURFACE MOTION
BM0627_SATELLITE: THE SITE LOCATION WAS REPORTED AS SUITABLE FOR
BM0627+SATELLITE: SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS - March 20, 2011
BM0627
BM0627 HISTORY - Date Condition Report By
BM0627 HISTORY - 1911 MONUMENTED CGS
BM0627 HISTORY - 1933 GOOD CGS
BM0627 HISTORY - 1935 GOOD CGS
BM0627 HISTORY - 1944 GOOD CGS
BM0627 HISTORY - 1953 GOOD CGS
BM0627 HISTORY - 1980 GOOD NGS
BM0627 HISTORY - 1983 GOOD USPSQD
BM0627 HISTORY - 20010224 GOOD USPSQD
BM0627 HISTORY - 20020225 GOOD NGS
BM0627 HISTORY - 20021103 GOOD GEOCAC
BM0627 HISTORY - 20050226 GOOD USPSQD
BM0627 HISTORY - 20070301 GOOD USPSQD
BM0627 HISTORY - 20090331 GOOD GEOCAC
BM0627 HISTORY - 20110320 GOOD NGS
Condition: Mark found in good condition

Designation: AUSTIN LONGITUDE STA

Benchmark Agency: U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey

Monumentation type: TRIANGULATION STATION 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: BM0627

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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Recent Visits/Logs:
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8Nuts MotherGoose visited BM0627 - "AUSTIN LONGITUDE STA" triangulation station disk - Austin, TX 04/15/2018 8Nuts MotherGoose visited it
Raven visited BM0627 - "AUSTIN LONGITUDE STA" triangulation station disk - Austin, TX 08/17/2014 Raven visited it
Benchmark Blasterz visited BM0627 - "AUSTIN LONGITUDE STA" triangulation station disk - Austin, TX 03/31/2009 Benchmark Blasterz visited it

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