Door County, Wisconsin
There are two markers to the 45th Parallel on the Door County peninsula, both placed by the Door County Historical Society in 2000.
On the west side of Door County, look for a county wayside picnic area along Highway 42 south of Egg Harbor, where this boulder marks the a point along the 45th Parallel. In a nod to the old 45th Parallel markers placed by Frank Noyes in the 1930s near Marinette, Wisconsin, the marker notes that this does not mark the point exactly halfway between the Equator and the North Pole as is commonly assumed. The plaque reads:
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Halfway To The North Pole The 45th Parallel (45 degrees north latitude) runs through this wayside. This is the midpoint between the Equator and the North Pole. But, because the earth is slightly flattened at the poles, the distance from the 45th Parallel to the North Pole is approximately 3117 miles and to the Equator approximately 3105 miles. Polaris (North Star) is directly above the North Pole. Therefore the angle between this point and Polaris is 45 degrees. Door County Historical Society - 2000 |
On the east side of the peninsula, there is a similar marker attached to a similar boulder, in the aptly named Meridian Park in Jacksonport just north of the 45th Parallel.
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Halfway To The North Pole The 45th Parallel (45 degrees north latitude) runs through a point one half mile south of this wayside (intersection of Hwy. 57 and Logerquist Road). This is the geographical midpoint between the Equator and the North Pole. But, because the earth is slightly flattened at the poles, the distance from the 45th Parallel to the North Pole is approximately 3117 miles and to the Equator approximately 3105 miles. Polaris (North Star) is directly above the North Pole. Therefore the angle between this point and Polaris is 45 degrees. Door County Historical Society - 2000 |
Thanks to Mimi Meacham for sending these photos of Meridian Park.
View 45th Parallel Markers in Google Maps
