45 x 90 Geographical Marker
Stand at one of only four spots on Earth where the 45th parallel (halfway between the Equator and the North Pole) meets the 90th meridian (a quarter of the way around the planet, midway between the Greenwich Meridian and the International Date Line).
Known since the 1970s as “The Center of the Northwestern World,” this site was renovated in 2017 with a bronze marker set on the exact intersection. A short gravel path through woods and farmland—just 1,000 feet from the road—leads visitors to this truly one-of-a-kind location.
Join the 45 x 90 Club
After visiting the marker (21 miles west of Wausau), stop by one of the official registration sites to sign the 45 x 90 Club book:
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La Quinta Inn, 1910 Stewart Ave, Wausau, WI 54401
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A&L Oil & Convenience Store, 425 Mueller St, Athens, WI 54411 (6 miles west of the marker)
Members receive a keepsake two-sided coin as a token of their visit.
Travel Tips
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When navigating, search for “45x90 Geographical Marker” rather than using the street address—Google and Apple Maps sometimes misdirect.
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Need help finding it? Call the Visitor Center at 715-355-8788.
Directions from Hwy 29
From the East (Wausau/I-39): Drive 17 miles west on Hwy 29. Turn right on Cty Hwy M, go 3.5 miles north, then right on Cty Rd U for 1 mile east. Turn left on Meridian Rd; the marker is 0.3 miles north on the right.
From the West (Abbotsford/Hwy 13): Drive 19.5 miles east on Hwy 29. Turn left on Cty Hwy M, go 3.5 miles north, then right on Cty Rd U for 1 mile east. Turn left on Meridian Rd; the marker is 0.3 miles north on the right.
Watch for highway signs marking the route from Hwy 29.
