Area 2/MIT in Cambridge in Middlesex County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
The Smoot
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, June 25, 2021
1. 50th Anniversary of The Smoot Marker
In Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of The Smoot.
In October 1958 the span of this bridge was measured using the body of Oliver Reed Smoot MIT '62 and found to be 364.4 smoots +/-1 ear. This provided a very useful metric for generations of bridge travelers since, and the smoot has joined the angstrom, meter, and light-year as enduring standards of length. Ollie's contributions to measurement continued after his graduation from MIT. He went on to head both the American National Standards Institute and the International Organization for Standardization.
Dedicated to our Classmate
Oliver Reed Smoot '62
October 4, 2008 by the MIT Class of 1962
Erected 2008 by MIT Class of 1962 and Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Believe It or Not series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1958.
Location. 42° 21.418′ N, 71° 5.558′ W. Marker is in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in Middlesex County. It is in Area 2/MIT. Marker is at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Memorial Drive, on the right when traveling south on Massachusetts
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Harry Houdini (approx. 0.4 miles away); Davenport Car Manufactory (approx. 0.4 miles away); First Long-Distance Phone Call (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Charles River Esplanade (approx. half a mile away); "Past, Present, Future" (approx. half a mile away); Danny Lewin (approx. half a mile away); Lawrence W. Gorman Memorial (approx. half a mile away); The Looking Glass (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cambridge.
Also see . . . The Smoot at Wikipedia. "To implement his use as a unit of measure, Smoot repeatedly lay down on the bridge, let his companions mark his new position in chalk or paint, and then got up again. Eventually, he got tired from so much exercise and was carried thereafter by the fraternity brothers to each new position." (Submitted on July 30, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.)
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, June 25, 2021
2. The Smoot Marker
Note that on the nearby sidewalk is painted "364.4 Smoots +/- 1 ear", the distance in smoots across the river mentioned in the marker text!
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 30, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 188 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 30, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.
