Our Survey Says...

I like maps and I like standards. Maybe I should have been a land surveyor. Well, it is a little late for a career change, so I will just bask in the glory of other surveyors and imagine what it would be like to be the first surveyors of the Pacific Northwest. In the 19th century a stone marker, the Willamette Stone was placed in the West Hills of Portland. Now it wasn't just placed anywhere (uh this looks like a good spot). No, it was placed at the intersection of a pre-determined meridian (the Willamette Meridian) and a baseline (not to cross the Columbia River).

In 1851 the location was marked with a cedar stake, but now an official metal marker and state park denote the location.

The Willamette Stone is an significant surveying marker for the Pacific Northwest. In fact, all sections and townships in Washington and Oregon are based off of this one point. And since we are a) nerds, b) have a car, c) live in Portland, and d) had time to kill waiting for a restaurant to open, we decided to check out this historic marker.



It may not have as grandiose a monument to its existence as four corners, but at least the Willamette Stone is in the correct location.