The story
On August 21, 1959, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey recalculated the center of the 50 states after Alaska and Hawaii became states; the new point, about 20 miles north of Belle Fourche, replaced one in Kansas. Because the true point sits on inaccessible private pastureland, the town built a public marker — replaced in 2007 with a 21-foot-diameter, ~54,000-pound granite compass rose beside the Tri-State Museum.
Everything that was here
- 2007–present · still open
Geographic Center of the Nation MonumentMonument
When Alaska and Hawaii joined the Union in 1959, the geographic center of the United States jumped 550 miles overnight and landed in a cow pasture outside a tiny South Dakota ranch town.
See the map in 2008 → - 1955–present · still open
Tri-State MuseumMuseum
A ranch widow's 1955 gift of Western artifacts and $1,000 seed money grew into the museum that now tells the frontier story of where South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana meet.
See the map in 1956 →
Did you know?
Nearby history
Black Hills Roundup
Matthews Opera House
Spearfish Historic Commercial District
Black Hills Passion Play
The Thoen Stone
D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery
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