Been to the Four Corners? I doubt it...

The only place in the United States where four state boundaries come together was first surveyed by the U.S. government in 1868 during the initial survey of Colorado's southern boundary line.

The intended location was 109 degrees west longitude and 37 degrees north latitude. But, because of surveying errors, the popular tourist spot is actually just a bit off.

"That's a long ways to be off," said David Bronson, surveyor of San Juan County, Utah. Still, he said the monument's present location is the accepted one.

Bronson said that given the crude equipment of the era, it's amazing surveyors were as accurate as they were around the time the marker was established.
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Nope. "Doubt it?" That would be me. I stood on one foot on that little brass marker in 1983.

Here it is, warts and all. Thanks for the post.

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rifon2 said:
I've been there; not much else to say about it (as you can see from the picture)
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Nah, you were at the tourist trap that's 2-1/2 miles from the real Four Corners. :D

I've been to the phony Four Corners a couple of times. Last time I rode by they had a booth and were charging money, so I didn't stop. I'm especially glad I didn't stop now, since it wasn't the real deal. :)
 
What's all that about "crude equipment of the era"????

Back in 1869 surveyors could get the two ends of the transcontinental railroad to line up. I don't think the marker was placed till well after that.

I think it was a mistake (and that's OK but don't blame the tools).
 
Check it on Google Maps. They show the monument being less than 50' from the map line intersection.
 
Drove through the area several times, never could get by fast enough. Just seemed like a big tourist trap even 20 years ago.
 
When I stopped last, there were no vendors and no admission fees.

Maybe the Navajo Nation should return all of the money they charged for people to look at a block of concrete that wasn't even at the correct location. :D
 
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Bob W said:
The tourist marker for the Four Corners, the only place in the USA where four states meet, is off by 2-1/2 miles.
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You just ruined my whole day. Thanks a lot.

Of course, the last time I had fry bread it ruined my whole day too.

:D
 
Funny story about 4 corners. Went with my family growing up. I have 2 brothers and a sister. When it came time to take a picture of the 4 of us standing in 4 different states, I stood in Colorado, my older brother stood in Utah, and my sister and brother fought about who had to stand in New Mexico.
 
Steve Hayden said:
If we could just persuade all the Texans and Californicators to just stay home....
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As you probably know, New Mexico is spending millions on highway improvement projects so that rich Texans can get to Colorado a little bit faster. My alternative suggestion was much cheaper, simply take out the first bridge past the state line. :D

Heck, even the outrageous Hospitality Taxes (aka "Operation Rob the Texans") doesn't have the desired effect. If anything it seems to attract them even more, like moths to a candle. :D

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Just kidding. Texas is all right by me, and looking better. Recently I had to travel to Oklahoma City, a couple of days for work-related training and a couple of days of leisure. I can honestly say that the drive across the Texas Panhandle was the best part of the entire trip. Seriously.
 
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The last time I drove across the Panhandle there was an FM station in Amarillo that played blues 24 hours a day. That would be almost enough to live there-if it weren't so flat.

Texans are fine in Texas, I have liked most of them I've met. Something happens when they get out of state, though. By the time they get to Colorado they have turned into the stereotypes we love so well....
 
We just really ham it up for the "locals." It brings such a smile to their faces. Or looks of horror if they are Californians.
 
Doug C said:
Oops. Sorry. :foot:
I thought you were referring to Rob the Texan aka Goofy Doofus. :D
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Nope, it's definitely robbery, the sky-high prices and taxes targeted at visitors. But they don't seem to mind, and keep coming back each year in even larger numbers. Beats me why. :confused:
 
And now, the rest of the story. It seems that things aren't as bad as originally reported. The marker is actually only 1807.14 feet east of the actual 4 corners location. It doesn't make any difference though since the 4 states have legally accepted the location.

When the error was reported, the National Geodetic Survey took an interest and found the true error. In an article in the Arizona Republic an explanation for the error was made. The original survey was in 1875. The tools they had back then were not that accurate. Also, the survey crew was most likely drunk.

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