Page 19 - NYS_ESS_11-2024

Benchmark Hunt

By Amber Carpenter, Managing Director

Every year, NYSAPLS holds a benchmark hunt social media campaign to promote the profession of
surveying, encourage outdoor exploration and deepen the public’s understanding of our nation’s mapping
system. The #BenchmarkHunt social media campaign kicked off in August. Submissions came in from all
over the US along with a couple international entries.
It was fun to see where our members’ curiosity and love of exploration took them this summer. From
our own state, we received a spotting in Orange County from Steve Green, and another from Bob Ihlenburg
of the Greene and Schoharie Line. Rodney Carey shared the four corners monument where the states of
Utah, Colorado, Arizona New Mexico touch while on a motorcycle ride across the county. Bill Whimple
and David Weiss trekked across the largest national forest and discovered a benchmark in Tongass
National Park, Alaska!

I, also, was excited to participate with my family’s benchmark sighting
during our vacation in Virginia during a tour 400 feet under the ground
in a cave in the Shenandoah Valley. It was interesting to hear the history
behind it and how it all started with a couple of curious kids.
The campaign also gave us a chance to share some facts about
benchmarks with the public; what they are, when the US began using
them for our mapping system, and who makes them. We even
found a cartoon character, “Marvin the Marker” the USC&GS
created in the 1960s to help preserve survey marks.

Thank you
to everyone
who shared
their benchmarks
with us!

Photo credit (right):
https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/web/
about_ngs/history/Survey_Mark_
Art.pdf

EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 60 • NO 6 2024 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 17