Great Salt Lake Base Meridian - Salt Lake City, UT
N 40° 46.171 W 111° 53.480
12T E 424775 N 4513554
GREAT SALT LAKE BASE AND MERIDIAN Plaque
Waymark Code: WM1BQX
Location: Utah, United States
Date Posted: 03/27/2007
Views: 55
Latitude 40o26'04" -
Longitude 111o 54'00"
Altitude (sidewalk) 4327.27 Ft.
Fixed by Orson Pratt assisted by Henry G. Sherwood, August 3, 1847, when beginning the original survey of "Great Salt Lake City," around the "Mormon" Temple site designated by Brigham Young July 23, 1847. The city streets were named and numbered from this point. David H. Burr, first U.S. Surveyor-General of Utah, located here in August 1855, the initial point of public land surveys in Utah, and set the stone monument, still preserved in position. An astronomical station, its stone base still standing 100 ft. N. and 50 ft. W. of this corner was established by George W. Dean, U.S.C.&G. survey, September 30, 1869, to determine the true latitude and longitude; it was used to obtain correct time at this point until December 30, 1897.
Marker Name: Great Salt Lake Base Meridian
Marker Type: City
Addtional Information: There is a noticeable discrepancy between the coordinates given on the marker and those given by GPS. If you go to the location given on the marker using a GPS, you end up at about 70 S. 300 West. This is probably due to GPS systems using a different Datu
County: Salt Lake
City: salt lake
Group Responsible for Placement: Utah Pioneer Trails and Landmarks association
Date Dedicated: June 12, 1932
Marker Number: 12
Web link(s) for additional information: http://jared.pratt-family.org/general_histories/1933_reunion.html
An interesting account of all of the Pratt family activities when the historic marker was placed.
|
Visit Instructions:
In your log, please say if you learned something new, and if you took any extra time to explore the area once you stopped at the historic marker waymark.
If possible please post a photo of you OR your GPS at the marker location.
Also if you know of any additional links not already mentioned about this bit of Utah history please include that in your log.