Curious about the spot halfway between the North Pole and the Equator? That’s the 45th Parallel Monument. Here we are standing at the 45th Parallel Monument in Minneapolis.
This rough boulder marks a spot of geographic significance. It is located near the intersection of Golden Valley Road and Wirth Parkway. The 45th Parallel enters Minneapolis near here. You’ll find the monument in a small triangle of grassy park land.
The monument marks the forty-fifth parallel of latitude. This line is midway between the Equator and the North Pole. The elevation here is 888 feet above mean sea level.
The Minneapolis Park Board placed this monument in the fall of 1916. This makes it the second-oldest 45th Parallel marker. Only the marker in Perry, Maine is older. It was placed 18 years earlier.
In 1916, the Minneapolis Tribune advocated for the monument. The newspaper stated that Minneapolis should honor the 45th parallel. The article declared that the line was as distinguished as the Equator. The paper thought it was a more desirable neighbor. The park board took steps to mark the line’s location. The paper noted it was late in rendering homage. But it said it wouldn’t hurt to let the world know. Minneapolis is a halfway station between the North Pole and the Equator.
A photo from the 1920s reveals some interesting details. The boulder stood higher above ground then. Its plaque was level with the ground. The text on the boulder appears identical to today. The plaque was added later. Graffiti marred the boulder not long after its placement.
The original plaque was weathered. It was replaced before 2009. The new bronze version has identical text and a similar layout.
Minneapolis proudly holds a unique distinction. It is the largest city in North America. It sits halfway between the equator and the North Pole.
The 45th parallel is an invisible line. It stretches around the globe. It passes through many cities and towns worldwide. In the United States, it crosses several states. Oregon, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota all lie on this line.
Standing here connects us to other places. The same latitude connects Yellowstone’s mountains and Maine’s piney woods. It also connects to the wine regions of Bordeaux. Consider the Crimean peninsula and Mongolia’s Gobi Desert. Even the snowy northern tip of Hokkaido, Japan shares this latitude. These regions share the same angle of sunlight every day.
The 45th Parallel Monument is more than just a marker. It’s a reminder of our place on the globe. It connects us to people and places far away. It highlights the unique geography of Minneapolis. Next time you are nearby, take a moment to appreciate this special spot.