The Witness Tree Surveyors Monument, Vancouver, Washington
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Rose Red
N 45° 37.278 W 122° 40.311
10T E 525582 N 5052025
The Witness Tree Surveyors Monument is described in my historical geocache--The Witness Tree (GCPT01).
Waymark Code: WM8JW
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 03/08/2006
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Rose Red
Views: 47
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The Surveyors Monument is located in the middle of Joe's Crab Shack parking lot (middle row; nine spaces walking east or five spaces walking west). The monument cover looks like a water meter cover with a Vancouver symbol and a large "W." Lift the cover to see a bronze post about 2 1/2 inches in diameter. This 1989 post replaced the old marker that was put in after the Witness Tree fell into the Columbia River.

Amos and Esther Short established the cottonwood at the foot of present Main Street as Vancouver's Witness Tree when they recorded their land claim in which the description read, "Begin at the Balm of the Gilead tree..."

The Witness Tree's trunk grew to be five feet in diameter and the crown spread 50 feet at a height of 75 feet. On June 29, 1911, the tree tore loose from the encroaching bank and disappeared downstream. You are standing on the former river bank at this location.

Condition: Mark found in good condition

Designation: Centennial Corner CL 51 VTS USMR T2N R1E 1989

Benchmark Agency: other (not included below)

Benchmark Agency (if other): Land Surveyors Association of Washington

Monumentation type: Survey Mark

County: Vancouver, Washington

Special category (optional): Not listed

Find type: Found by luck/skill/knowledge

Monumentation type (if other): Not listed

USGS 7.5' Topographic Quadrangle Name (optional): Not listed

Special Category (if other): Not listed

Web address of this benchmark's datasheet (optional): Not listed

NGS PID: 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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dkestrel visited The Witness Tree Surveyors Monument, Vancouver, Washington 02/17/2014 dkestrel visited it
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