USGS
Bench Mark
"DW 4976"

ca. 1898

Jerry Penry
May 13, 2011

A very visible "DW 4976" bench mark is located in the grass yard near the South Dakota State Railroad Museum in Hill City, South Dakota. The original description stated that it was 120 feet south of the station in the center south end of the lawn. Hill City was once an important station for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad running north-south through the center of the Black Hills. A branch line ran east to the town of Keystone. Today the north-south railroad is gone and is now known as the Mickelson Trail. The branchline to Keystone continues to operate as a tourist railroad known as the Black Hills Central Railroad and is familiarly known as the "1880 Train". It began operation as a tourist railroad on August 18, 1957.

The bench mark in the lawn. Looking south toward the South Dakota State Railroad Museum.

The iron post shown at the left with a passenger car of the Black Hills Central Railroad.

Side view of the well-preserved monument.

Top view of the cap.
The "TT" stamping likely came years later when the marker was used during a Transit Traverse survey by USGS.

Other Deadwood Datum Bench Marks

© Jerry Penry 2011