North Fork, Calif. – The North Fork History Group has won a grant from Visit Yosemite/Madera County (VYMC) to perform maintenance and make improvements to the “Exact Center of California,” also known as the Cal Center monument. The goal of this work is to provide a more enjoyable experience for both residents and tourists visiting the site. The grant is provided through Community Tourism Improvement funds.
The $5,800 grant will supplement $2,000 donated to the project by the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway Association and $3,000 from the North Fork History Group. The monument is located on the Bass Lake Ranger District of the Sierra National Forest, which has provided significant support and materials for the project.
A contractor will install additional steps in the stairway, extending to the monument and replacing the rotten ones. They will also cement loose rocks around the base of the compass rose, install a low barrier to direct visitors to the stairway, and improve the parking at the site. The work is expected to be completed over one or two weekends and must be completed by the end of 2025.
The exact center of California has long been a contentious topic. In the early days of the state, before modern technology such as GPS, it was thought that the center lay somewhere on the floor of the San Joaquin Valley. Over the years, it shifted into the foothills, and later moved to the middle of the town of North Fork. However, in the mid-1990s, the North Fork History Group was interested in fixing its precise location. Working with the USGS, Forest Service, and Fresno State University, the exact latitude and longitude were finally determined, and the accurate location of the monument was finally set in stone. The monument was installed at its current location and was dedicated in November 1998.
To get to the Exact Center of California, travel east on Road 225 to the Italian Bar Road, going toward Redinger Lake. It is about 4.7 miles east of downtown North Fork and 2.7 miles from Mammoth Pool Mobile Home Park.
Thanks go out to all the participating partners in this effort to improve the experience for visitors and residents of our community.
