geographical center of the us monument

We were doing a central Nebraska road trip with our foreign exchange students when I pointed out how close would be to the center of the US. The decided immediately that this was a must stop location. We did go quite a bit out of our way to go here, considering the wife and I had never been there.... Love having the marker stone monument. Well maintained little area. If going through the area, I feel it is worth a little detour just to say you've been there, done that.

This is exactly what I expected. It's a cross roads of three dirt roads that are probably not used very much anymore and one nicely paved road. It's a monument. We drove a little out of my way to get there, just so I could put a check in a box of someplace I had been. The wind was quite strong but it is so peaceful. There were horses grazing in the pasture across the road. There are several covered picnic tables and it would have been the perfect spot to have lunch. I'm so glad we stopped.

Nothing fancy, but if you like visiting quirky, off beat places, you have to visit. I wouldn't visit on a Sunday tho. You can buy souvenirs in town but everything is closed on Sunday.

I wouldn't go out of my way to see it, but if it's on the way definitely stop. Like others have said at least you can say you've been there. It's extremely peaceful and totally empty. The sign stated that there were souvenirs in town, but we couldn't find any businesses other than a bank, post office and a gas station.

If you are traveling through central KS, it is worth a stop. We were coming east from Colorado and decided to take the scenic route instead of I70. I would HIGHLY recommend taking hwy 24 from the city of Colby to Downs. It is new blacktop, little traffic, and very pretty in early July when the wheat is harvested--the countryside is golden color for miles from the wheat stubble. Head north from Downs to the Geographic center. There is nothing around it. It is a small chapel, a flag, monument and picnic shelter. There is an abandoned hotel nearby also. It is not something I would go out of my way, but worth stopping by to have a story to tell and "say you've been there" to your friends and family. There is very little to Lebonon. The nearest town with much for services is Red Cloud in NE, or Downs in KS. If you are in the area, I'd also recommend the largest ball of twine in Cawker City south and east of the geographic center.

I visited here in 2003 on a cross-country trip, and I was saddened to see a large cross outside the chapel with a plaque suggesting that Christ belonged at the center of all nations. That is fine for some Americans, but not for Jewish or Hindu or Muslim or Buddhist (etc...) Americans, and I thought how much they must feel bullied and ambushed to pull into a park about the geographic center of the nation that they may have fought for in wars, or given a pledge to in order to escape such discrimination in other nations. Then to find the little chapel which is not set up just to pray to a cross, but to a red-white-and-blue jigsaw cut-out of the 48 states, turning the beautiful Christian religion into a jingoistic, bigoted, fusion of (one particular) God and Country. I was raised to understand that God that loves all people of all nations, and that one should not mix Caesar's world with that of the divine. I love my country, but I do not pray to it.

There wasn't much to see around there, but it is fun to say that I've been to the center of the United States. There isn't any designated parking, just pull off the side of the road to park.

No crowds here. Walk right up, take some pictures, and enjoy the scenery. Then you can prove you have been here and are "well-centered" at least for a time. The location was noted on our atlas, but the only sign we saw was the one 1 mile before you get there, the road where you turn off the highway.

It is a nice place to see once, just to say you've been there. There is a small church that is nice to see. It is just off the main road and is a very peaceful area. You can register your visit in the chapel.

This location has been on my list of things to do and places to visit for some time now and you have to know where it is in order to get there because it isn't very well publicized or signed even if you are close. This monument, located at the crossroads of the nation on US Hwy 281 and US Hwy 36 in Smith County Kansas about half way between Kansas City and Denver. In 1898 a government geodetic survey determined that the geographical center of the 48 continental states was located at 39 degrees latitude and 98 degrees longitude which was located one mile north of Lebanon, Kansas.We were on a motorcycle ride when we stopped by this location and the ride took us to four states in the southeastern part of the US which were the last of the 48 continental states I needed to have ridden in all 48 so I visited this site on that same ride which gave me reason to pause while standing on the spot.It's a well taken care of place and worthy of the stop if you are anywhere close...

My husband and I had so much fun finding the geographic center of the United States just outside of Belle Fourche, South Dakota we couldn’t pass up the chance to see the geographic center of the lower 48. It’s just a monument with a flag on top across the street from a corn field. It’s strictly for people, like us, with odd obsessions about landmarks.

Like the four corners monument, or the Grand Canyon, or any other significant landmark, this is just one of those place you must see. It is just a short distance off the highway... it is worth it.