Aurora in Hamilton County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Magnetic Station

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2022

1. Magnetic Station Marker

Inscription.
The early county surveyors would set their compasses over this point to determine the magnetic declination, which is the difference between True North and Magnetic North.

Established June 19, 1911 by the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey, re-monumented by the Professional Surveyors Association of Nebraska

June 25, 2011

Erected 2011 by Professional Surveyors Association of Nebraska.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Landmarks. A significant historical date for this entry is June 19, 1911.

Location. 40° 52.092′ N, 98° 0.155′ W. Marker is in Aurora, Nebraska, in Hamilton County. Marker can be reached from 12th Street just south of M Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located near the northwest corner of the Hamilton County Court House grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1111 13th Street, Aurora NE 68818, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Hamilton County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Civil War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Civil War Monument (within

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Civil War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Deep Well Irrigation (approx. 0.3 miles away); Site of Camp Hamilton (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Aurora.

Also see . . . U. S. Coast & Geodetic Survey Nebraska Magnetic Station.

In July of 1911, the superintendent of the U. S. Coast & Geodetic Survey submitted to County Clerk D. H. Saylor in Aurora, Nebraska, the report detailing the establishment of the magnetic station by H. E. McComb on June 19, 1911. The observations were made in the northwest corner of the courthouse grounds which was marked with a Bedford limestone post 7" square and projecting 3" above the ground. In the center of the post was placed a brass station marker. This marker is what is now known by most surveyors as a brass disk. These brass magnetic station markers are the earliest metallic disks placed in Nebraska by USC&GS.
When a surveyor placed his instrument upon the magnetic station marker at Aurora, he was provided with three different reference marks in which he could check the declination of the compass
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2022

2. United States Coast & Geodetic Survey Marker
(located beside the historical marker)
Magnetic Station
June 19, 1911
Reset 2011
needle. These reference marks consisted of the northeast corner of the GAR monument, the northwest corner of the chimney base of the power plant, and the southwest corner of the Schrandt & Miller building.

(Submitted on September 26, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2022

3. Magnetic Station Marker

(Hamilton County Courthouse in right background)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 238 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 26, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.