May 24, 2026
My New Book Is Here
I am pleased to report that The Peregrine Falcon from Schiffer Books -- the folks who did such a beautiful…
What is this, and where in Allendale did I photograph it?
Answer: It's a benchmark from the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, and it's next to the Allendale firehouse.
More about these markers here:
https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-can-i-find-survey-benchmark-and-triangulation-station-information
There used to be one on top of High Mountain but it and its replacements reportedly kept getting stolen. Still fun to try to find where it was.
My favorite fake: A U.S. Geological Survey benchmark, sold as a keychain fob at the Grand Canyon. (So sorry to hear about the wildfires there.)