Capitol Hill in Salt Lake City in Salt Lake County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Great Salt Lake Base and Meridian

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, June 18, 2007

1. Great Salt Lake Base and Meridian Marker

Inscription. Latitude 40°46'04" - Longitude 111°54'00"
Altitude (sidewalk) 4327.27 Ft.Fixed by Orson Pratt assisted by Henry G. Sherwood, August 3, 1847, when beginning the original survey of “Great Salt Lake City,” around the “Mormon” Temple site designated by Brigham Young July 23, 1847. The city streets were named and numbered from this point. David H. Burr, first U.S. Surveyor-General of Utah, located here in August 1855, the initial point of public land surveys in Utah, and set the stone monument, still preserved in position. An astronomical station, its stone base still standing 100 ft. N. and 50 ft. W. of this corner was established by George W. Dean, U.S.C.&G. survey, September 30, 1869, to determine the true latitude and longitude; it was used to obtain correct time at this point until December 30, 1897.

Erected 1932 by Mutual Improvement Associations of the LDS Church & Utah Pioneer Trails and Landmarks Association. (Marker Number 12.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Political Subdivisions. In addition, it is included in the Utah Pioneer Trails and Landmarks Association series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 23, 1847.

Location. 40° 46.17′ N, 111° 53.484′ W. Marker is in

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Salt Lake City, Utah, in Salt Lake County. It is in Capitol Hill. It is at the intersection of South Temple Street and Main Street, on the right when traveling west on South Temple Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Salt Lake City UT 84116, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Wasatch Front

and in Greater Salt Lake.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in Colorado Plateau.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and 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 walking distance of this marker: Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother (a few steps from this marker); In Honor of Brigham Young and the Pioneers (within shouting distance of this marker); Council House (within shouting distance of this marker); Deseret News Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Zions First National Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Hotel Utah (within shouting distance of this marker); Joseph Smith Memorial Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Salt Lake Temple (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Salt Lake City.

More about this marker. There is a noticeable discrepancy between the coordinates given on the marker and those given by GPS. If you go to the location given on the marker using a GPS, you end up at about 70 S. 300 West. This is probably due to GPS systems using a different Datum than that used for the Marker.

Also see . . . Pratt Family Reunion and Placement of the Marker. This is an interesting detailed account

Exact Center of Salt Lake City image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bryan R. Bauer, August 27, 2010

2. Exact Center of Salt Lake City

This is the intersection that is the base point for the address numbering system for Salt Lake City and the surrounding area. Four historical markers are visible in the photo. At the far left is the bust of Charles Savage on top of the Honor Thy Father and Mother marker. Immediately to the right of that is the Great Salt Lake Base and Meridian. At the center is the Brigham Young Monument and at the far right the marker for the Hotel Utah is just barely visible about three feet off the ground next to the corner of the building.

regarding all the activities of the Pratt family at the time this marker was placed. (Submitted on September 1, 2010, by Bryan R. Bauer of Kearns, Ut 84118.)

Additional commentary.
1. Different Coordinates for the Marker
The Meridian Project (http://www.pmproject.org/) used Google/Earth and GPS units to determine additional coordinates for many of the principal meridian markers. Their findings match very closely the coordinates given by GPS receivers at the site which differ by about 1/2 mile in west longitude from the marker itself.

— Submitted September 1, 2010, by Bryan R. Bauer of Kearns, Ut 84118.

2. Actual location of marker verses Orson Pratt's calulations
Orson used an 1847 sextant and a little dish of mercury to take sun shots. It's remarkable that his measurements are as close as they are. Using my GPS readings (Back Country Navigator) his coordinates are actually 700 feet North and 1,981 feet West of where the meridian marker is placed. Using his instruments today, you would have to an exceptional navigator to get as close as he did. On land, most readings with a sextant and mercury are at least half a mile off. On the ocean, you'd

Great Salt Lake Base & Meridian Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, June 18, 2007

3. Great Salt Lake Base & Meridian Monument

be lucky to get within ten miles of your exact location. Way to go Orson!

— Submitted April 18, 2021, by Steven Allison of South Jordan, Utah.

Meridian Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Robert L Weber, June 14, 2010

4. Meridian Marker

Photographed by Robert L Weber, June 14, 2010

5. Meridian Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 8,700 times since then and 459 times this year. Last updated on August 28, 2010, by Bryan R. Bauer of Kearns, Ut 84118. Photos: 1. submitted on June 25, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on September 1, 2010, by Bryan R. Bauer of Kearns, Ut 84118. 3. submitted on June 25, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. 4, 5. submitted on December 29, 2010, by Bob (peach) Weber of Dewey, Arizona. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.