The international community recognizes a prime meridian that runs through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich in southeast London, England. It serves as a reference point for universal time and distance. However, that has not always been the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Latitude is easy. The equator divides the planet into northern and southern hemispheres quite logically. Longitude is arbitrary. Any spot can separate eastern and western hemispheres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, it\u2019s not quite that simple if one expects the meridian to have any meaning. It serves no purpose if people don\u2019t recognize the resulting meridian and actually use it. Historically many lines served this function and later fell by the wayside. This became particularly daunting in the nineteenth century when publishers needed to print almanacs full of stellar calculations each year to support shipboard navigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only the wealthiest and most influential nations could afford the luxury of maintaining a global meridian. Thus, countries like England and France established their own meridians. Nations seeking acknowledgment of their growing ascendancy such as the United States did the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The United States created no less than four meridians running through various points of significance within its capital city, Washington, DC. These included the Capitol Dome; the White House, the dome of the Old Naval Observatory and the clock room of the New Naval Observatory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n