Matt Clark accepted the Chair position for the Historical Committee, and we are excited to have him bring his passion for the history of surveying to this committee. Please contact Matt if you are interested in helping with this committee.
The Historical Committee is currently working on two projects to help preserve the history of surveying while promoting awareness of our profession:
The first is a holdover from the Surveyors Historical Society Rendezvous in 2019. However, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted and delayed our ability to get things planned and executed. But we believe our patience will pay off.
This is the Place Heritage Park (TITPHP) has a replica theodolite (which Monsen Engineering agreed to determine if it is salvageable) we would like to put into use in a manned exhibit at the “Orson Pratt” observatory in the Park. The staff will explain how the observatory was used to calculate latitude and longitude and other solar observations when it was in use on the grounds of Temple Square.
After going through those explanations, the staff would set up the theodolite over the “known” point and, using a replica chain and turning angles, would establish latitude and longitude coordinates on the Base and Meridian Stone (a replica of the SLB&M). After which, they would explain how the initial layout of Salt Lake City was done and, hopefully, explain the PLSS using the same initial point.
The second is a plaque commemorating the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871. This plaque would hopefully be placed near the starting point of the survey and explain the importance of one of the Great Surveys of the American West that originated in Ogden. The 1871 Hayden survey party left Ogden on June 8, 1871, and completed their famous Yellowstone mapping expedition at Fort Bridger on Oct. 2, 1871. The improved Yellowstone mapping and great public interest sparked from their survey – and several other expeditions a few years earlier – contributed immensely to the U.S. Congress declaring Yellowstone a national park in 1872.
A third project is in the works, and more details will be available shortly, so stay tuned.
For more information on the surveys or the information listed in this article, please go to the Smithsonian Institution archives (https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_arc_397106) or the USGS (https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/7000078/report.pdf).
Also, please reach out to Matt Clark or Andy Hubbard if you are interested in helping with this committee, either of these projects, or if you have something you would like to share.
