Willamette Meridian Initial Point, Oregon

The Willamette Meridian was established in 1851, and extends from the Canadian border to the northern state line of California. A early regional surveying baseline runs east/west through northern Oregon from the Pacific Ocean to the Idaho state line, and was established so as not to pass through the Columbia River. The intersection of these two lines is at this point, located in a tiny state park in the hills a few miles west of downtown Portland. All of Oregon and Washington were surveyed starting from here. This is one of 37 federal survey points of origin covering the USA (outside of the 13 original colonies), known as Initial Points, selected over a span of 150 years, to anchor newly acquired federal land to the legal and cartographic grid.The original stake at the Initial Point was replaced by a quarried stone post in 1885, known as the Willamette Stone. This eight inch square, four foot long stone, was set in the ground and protruded upwards 24 inches, with legible engravings on its sides. It survived until 1951, when it was broken off by vandals, but the missing part was recovered. In 1956, a nine foot square slab was poured and the stone was set in it, along with brass strips indicating the Meridian and Baseline, and a bronze text plaque. In 1967, the stone was broken off again, and the missing part was not recovered. Instead, the top of the remaining stub of the stone was planed, and a brass plaque installed on its top (though the plaque was soon destroyed by a hatchet or axe). The large brass text plaque in front of the stone was pried out and stolen sometime in 1979 or 1980. In 1984 it was recast and reset, and the monument was re-dedicated in an event attended by the governor. In 1987, the remaining seven inches of the Willamette Stone’s protrusion was broken off flush with the concrete pad, and the big brass text plaque was stolen again. Repairs were made, and another re-dedication was held in 1988. Three benches surround the slab, each engraved with a name of someone important to the Initial Point. One of the names is C. Albert White, the historian of America’s Initial Points, who lived in Portland for much of his life, and visited this site often. The Initial Point is located in Willamette Stone State Park, established in 1945 near the ridge along Skyline Drive in Portland.

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