Plymouth, Minnesota
On the east shore of Medicine Lake there is a small metal sign along the bike path just north of East Medicine Lake Park.
The sign is one of several placed to mark the 45th Parallel by the Three Rivers Park District which manages parklands in the western suburbs of Minneapolis. A similar sign stands by a bike path in Baker Park Reserve a few miles west of here. The signs were erected some time before 2012.
This particular sign was apparently tagged by the aptly-named graffiti writer "WANDR". The text invites 45th Parallel tourists to take an imaginary circumnavigation of the globe, either west across Medicine Lake towards Yellowstone, or east towards Door County, and beyond. Could this map with its straight red line and highlighted cities have been directly inspired by our elongated map of the 45th Parallel? We can only hope that this website inspires more park managers to commemorate the 45th Parallel and encourage geographic curiosity in joggers and cyclists on every path which crosses the Parallel. Happy trails!
45th PARALLEL This marker is located on the forty-fith parallel of latitude Happy trails! Sayonara, Arrivederci, Bon voyage! |
View 45th Parallel Markers in Google Maps