Collection

United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Triangulation Station Marker

• 1935 (Création/Production)

1.00 Item

This U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey marker dated 1935 marking the point at which a triangulation station was established for the purposes of conducting multiple geodetic surveys in the area. The marker is a bronze disk with a diameter of 3.5 inches and a circumference of 10.99 inches. This marker was placed on the Texas A&M campus in 1935 by the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey to identify the position of a horizontal control triangulation station. The station was constructed for the purposes of making observations for at least two survey runs (Austin to Navasota in 1935, and Cameron to Madisonville in 1943). Removed in 2013 because of new campus construction, the marker was originally located some 80 feet east of the northeast corner of what was then the A&M Creamery and 150 feet south-southwest of what was then the railroad depot.

A triangulation station is a type of horizontal control, a mark at a precisely established latitude and longitude. The position of a triangulation station is determined by measuring distances and angles from other stations and is typically associated with nearby reference mark disks and an azimuth mark disk. The marker was originally located on the Texas A&M campus near the former site of the Creamery and was removed due to the Welborn Road construction project.

The marker has a small triangle in the center and the words “Triangulation Station” on the rim. There was a $250 fine or imprisonment for disturbing the mark.

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