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All the United States Kansas Lebanon Geographic Center of the Contiguous United States

Geographic Center of the Contiguous United States

Small plaque marks the spot, but the true center is located about half a mile away on a private pig farm.

Lebanon, Kansas

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A close-up of the plaque on the historical marker with a plush duck. (Wikimedia Commons)   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_ce...
A tourist enjoys his trip to the marker located near Lebanon, Kansas. (Wikimedia Commons)   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_ce...
A small chapel and picnic ground are located adjacent the marker. (Wikimedia Commons)   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_ce...
  ianlefk / Atlas Obscura User
  ianlefk / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the chapel   1just4looks / Atlas Obscura User
  1just4looks / Atlas Obscura User
Highway leading to and from The Center   ronnigirl / Atlas Obscura User
History  
Center of The USA-Britt Todd   Britt Todd / Atlas Obscura User
Center of The USA-Britt Todd   Britt Todd / Atlas Obscura User
Center of The USA-Britt Todd   Britt Todd / Atlas Obscura User
Center of The USA-Britt Todd   Britt Todd / Atlas Obscura User
Center of The USA-Britt Todd   Britt Todd / Atlas Obscura User
  ianlefk / Atlas Obscura User
  ianlefk / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The Geographic Center of the Contiguous United States is located about two miles northwest of Lebanon, Kansas. A small stone pyramid marks the point measured by a survey performed in 1918. A picnic table and cozy chapel (seats about six) are nearby. Couples can be married at the chapel and a bible and guest book allow visitors to reflect and mark their attendance to the middle of America. The actual center is located on a private farm less than a mile away.

The chapel was destroyed when hit by a speeding vehicle which missed the turn at the T intersection at the end of Highway on June 1, 2008. It has since been replaced by a new tiny chapel and flag pole.

Perhaps "center" is a stretch, though, as the method of measuring the location of this point turned out to be a bit inaccurate. In 1918, the Coast and Geodetic Survey found this spot by balancing a cardboard cutout shaped like the U.S. on a point. Measured in this way, the actual center could be located twenty or more miles away.

The center is mentioned in Neil Gaiman's book American Gods and the 1969 film The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes. Visitors can stop by the monument and chapel any time of day all through the year, free of charge. Souvenirs can be purchased back in the town of Lebanon.

Related Tags

Plaques Geographic Markers Natural Wonders Geological Oddities Location Markers Geology Nature

Know Before You Go

Take US Highway 281 north 1 mile, and turn west one mile on K-191 to the marker that has been erected at the end of the paved road. The actual center is about a half mile away in the center of a former hog farm.

Community Contributors

Added By

Delireus

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Britt Todd, tigerfan430, Phillip Nimeskern, nbj914...

  • Britt Todd
  • tigerfan430
  • Phillip Nimeskern
  • nbj914
  • 1just4looks
  • ronnigirl
  • pamelawiltfong
  • ianlefk

Published

March 14, 2011

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Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_center_of_the_United_States#Contiguous_United_States
  • Wikipedia: Lebanon, Kansas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanon,_Kansas
  • Welcome to Lebanon, Kansas: http://www.skyways.org/towns/Lebanon/index.html
  • Geographical Center of the United States of America: http://www.kansastravel.org/geographicalcenter.htm
  • Wikipedia: Geographic Center of the Contiguous United States: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_center_of_the_contiguous_United_States
Geographic Center of the Contiguous United States
Hwy 191
Lebanon, Kansas, 66952
United States
39.828161, -98.569561
Get Directions

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