Near Needles in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Von Schmidt State Boundary Monument

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, March 18, 2010

1. Von Schmidt State Boundary Monument Marker

Inscription. This marker commemorates the iron column erected in 1876 at the southernmost tip of the boundary survey line run by Allexey W. Von Schmidt, U. S. astronomer and surveyor. The line dividing Nevada and California was based on preliminary geodetic work by Lieutenant Joseph Christmas Ives. Ives determined the Colorado River end of the proposed oblique California-Nevada boundary. Von Schmidt calculated and ran the first complete survey of the boundary. His solar observations erred slightly - - the actual line now being ¾ mile to the north.

Erected 1974 by Needles Chapter San Bernadino County Museum Association and California, Arizona and Nevada Development Association "Can Do". (Marker Number 188.)

Topics. This historical marker and monument is listed in this topic list: Political Subdivisions. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.

Location. 35° 0.855′ N, 114° 39.709′ W. Marker is near Needles, California, in San Bernardino County. It is on Needles Highway 0.1 miles south of Aha Macav Parkway, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Needles CA 92363, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker and monument is in Greater Los Angeles,

in the Mojave Desert,

in the Peninsular Ranges,

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Von Schmidt State Boundary Monument

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(a few steps from this marker); History of the Fort Mojave Tribe (approx. 1.1 miles away in Nevada); Oatman (approx. 4.9 miles away in Arizona); Arizona Veterans Memorial (approx. 5.7 miles away in Arizona); In Memory of All Vietnam Veterans (approx. 5.7 miles away in Arizona); 9/11 Arizona Heroes Memorial (approx. 5.7 miles away in Arizona); Arizona Medal of Honor (approx. 5.7 miles away in Arizona); The Garcés Expedition (approx. 6.4 miles away in Nevada).

More about this marker. This Nevada Historical Landmark marker is actually located in California.

This site was also designated as California Registered Historical Landmark No.859 on April 26, 1973.

Also see . . .
1. "The Colorful History of the California/Nevada State Boundary", by John P. Wilusz, LS, PE (PDF). In June of 1872, Congress authorized another survey of the common boundary between California and Nevada. GLO Commissioner Willis Drummond hired astronomer and surveyor Alexey W. Von Schmidt to do the field work. A sum of more than $41,000 was appropriated for the survey. Mafiadoc entry (Submitted on April 5, 2010.)

2. Alexey W. Von Schmidt. Wikipedia biography. (Submitted on September 17, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, March 18, 2010

2. Von Schmidt State Boundary Monument Marker

The monument is beyond the marker to the right in photo.

Von Schmidt State Boundary Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, March 18, 2010

3. Von Schmidt State Boundary Monument

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, March 18, 2010

4. Von Schmidt State Boundary Monument

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, March 18, 2010

5. Von Schmidt State Boundary Monument

Nevada marker is on the left (or north) and the California marker is on the right (or south). The monument is just beyond the California marker.

Von Schmidt with a State Boundary Monument, east of Brockway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Unknown, unknown

6. Von Schmidt with a State Boundary Monument, east of Brockway

Photographed by Melissa H Spease, June 3, 2025

7. Von Schmidt State Boundary Monument

Marker has a new updated plaque.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 4, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 2,439 times since then and 79 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 4, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 6. submitted on September 17, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 7. submitted on June 5, 2025, by Melissa H Spease of Las Vegas, Nevada. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.