Missouri River Commission WINNEBAGO
At an unknown date in history, someone removed the visible iron pipe with cap, but the lower stone remained. In 1934, USC&GS surveyors established their own mark upon the same hill and named the brass disk in concrete "BAGO". A third monument exists in the same area which is a 2" diameter iron pipe in concrete. This monument is consistent with the type used by the Corps of Engineers during the 1940's. On April 20, 2010, surveyors Gene Thomsen and Ryan Lorenzen recovered all three monuments for a preliminary remonumentation project. On March 23, 2015, Gene Thomsen, Ryan Lorenzen, Kurt Luebke and Jerry Penry returned to the site to monument the original Missouri River Commission triangulation station. The 1890 stone was re-excavated and a new pipe was centered over the drill hole. A modern aluminum cap was placed in the pipe which was partially filled with concrete and a box placed around the pipe.
Triangulation Station
1890
April 20, 2010 & March 23, 2015.
The triangulation station "WINNEBAGO" was established by the Missouri River Commission near the northeast corner of Thurston County, Nebraska, in the spring of 1890. The name originates from the nearby Indian tribe and small town with the same name. The monument was originally marked with the standard 4-inch inside diameter iron pipe with the Missouri River Commission cast iron cap bolted to the top. Below the iron pipe was placed a flat stone measuring 18 inches square and 4" thick. The center of the stone was marked with a drill hole and a triangle below the hole.
Aerial view of station "Winnebago" northeast of the town with the same name.
The three monuments on the same hill are as follows:
1). USC&GS brass disk in concrete.
2). 2-inch iron pipe by Corps of Engineers.
3). Missouri River Commission lower monument stone from 1890.
View looking north.
Another view of the three triangulation stations as described above.
View looking south.
The bottom of the hill where the historic channel of the Missouri River once flowed next to the bluff.
Face of the bluff southeast of where the monuments are located.
Close-up of the bluff wall passed on the way to the monuments.
The 2-inch iron pipe in concrete that was believed to have been placed by the Corps of Engineers in the 1940's
USC&GS brass disk in concrete "BAGO" placed in 1934.
Reference Mark No. 1.
Reference Mark No. 2.
Reference Mark No. 3.
The lower Missouri River Commission stone monument being uncovered for the first time in 120 years.
The cleaned Missouri River Commission stone. Note the rust ring from the iron pipe was slightly off center from the hole.
Pilings along the foot of the bluff were placed by the Corps of Engineers when taming the Missouri River.
Close-up view of the pilings.
RETURN TRIP - MARCH 23, 2015
Preparing for the remonumentation. Looking south over one of the USC&GS reference marks.
Ryan obtains a GPS position while Gene takes notes and Kurt works on cutting the new pipe.
Continue the work.
Kurt and Gene with the new pipe after taking multiple turns at cutting through it.
Kurt and Gene center the pipe over the lower stone.
The new pipe over the drill hole in the 1890 stone.
Gene and Kurt measure from nearby reference tie nails.
Setting the new cap.
The finished monument.
Another view of the finished monument.
The new cap in the iron pipe.
The three triangulation stations. MORC (left), USC&GS (center), and CoE (right).
© Jerry Penry 2015
