Filed Under Salt Lake City

UPTLA #12

Great Salt Lake Base and Meridian

Dublin Core

Title

UPTLA #12

Description

Great Salt Lake Base and Meridian

Creator

Mutual Improvement Associations of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
and Utah Pioneer Trails and Landmarks Association

Date

1932

Identifier

UPTLA-012

Curatescape Story Item Type Metadata

Subtitle

Great Salt Lake Base and Meridian

Story

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. 

Factoid

Was covered and protected during Salt Lake Temple construction, Now visible.
Google Maps 360

Related Resources

Location

Additional Info

Mutual Improvement Associations of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
and Utah Pioneer Trails and Landmarks Association, “UPTLA #12,” UPTLA, accessed November 4, 2026, https://uptla.tylerthorsted.com/items/show/12.