USGS
Bench Mark
"DW 5026"

ca. 1898

Jerry Penry
May 13, 2011

South of the town of Hill City, South Dakota, is an 1890's bronze disk set in the top of a white quartz rock. This marker was placed 75 feet east of the CB&Q Railroad which is now known as the Mickelson Trail. USGS seemed to favor placing bench marks in small white quartz outcrops throughout the Black Hills due to their conspicuous nature. Recovered by Kurt and Kim Luebke, Jenny Stukel and Jerry Penry.

The bench mark in a small area of white quartz rock in a larger masss of stone.

Top view of the bench mark.

Kurt Luebke posing with the recovered 1890's bench mark.

Top view. Pieces of the white quartz are visible around the disk.

A polished marker resembles how it would have appeared when originally placed.

The "TT" stamping was added later during a traverse survey.
Bench mark "DW 4976" in Hill City is visible from this marker.

Other Deadwood Datum Bench Marks

© Jerry Penry 2011