Meades Ranch Triangulation Station

Meades Ranch Triangulation Station is a surveying landmark in Osborne County, Kansas that uses a bronze disk embedded in concrete to mark a specific geographic location. A tall concrete dome protects the marker at ground level to ensure the point remains visible and accessible to surveyors and researchers who need to reference this exact spot.

The station was established in 1891 along the 39th Parallel as part of a continental survey network. It became the primary reference point for North American mapping and remained central to surveying work across the continent until mapping methods changed in the mid-20th century.

The station earned recognition on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 as the Geodetic Center of the United States.

A replica of the marker and informational display are located at a rest area along U.S. Highway 281 at the north edge of Osborne. This accessible location makes it easy for travelers to stop and learn about the surveying point without leaving the main highway.

The coordinates of this point and its bearing to a neighboring station formed the foundation for the North American Datum of 1927. This standard was used to create maps and conduct surveys across the continent for decades until newer satellite-based methods took over.

Location: Osborne County

Inception: 1913

Address: County Road 691

GPS coordinates: 39.22417,-98.54194

Latest update: December 8, 2025 20:03