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The Minim-Sized Stone from Meades Ranch, Kansas: The Lone Star for the US Map

The Minim-Sized Stone from Meades Ranch, Kansas: The Lone Star for the US Map

#Science uncovered #Military and Cold War
Friendly Jane Friendly Jane

Way back in 1891, a tiny stone Found itself kickin' it in Meades Ranch, Kansas. It wasn't your average ol' rock, mind you. It secured its spot as the basis for the United States Geodetic Datum, a measurement revolution for North America. Fast forward to 1901, and this humble pebble was crowned the United States Standard Horizontal Datum: the starting point for all land measurements in the country.

Dusty and wind-swept, 1891 in the Wild West felt like a distant galaxy. And there in the midst of it all, a small stone set up camp in Meades Ranch, Kansas. This stone, however, wasn't your usual rock. It was hand-picked as the foundation for the United States Geodetic Datum, a spatial measurement game-changer that would cross over North America. By 1901, this little rocky fellow was given the prestigious title of the United States Standard Horizontal Datum, making it the threshold for all land measurements within the nation.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

Written by Friendly Jane

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