Point Udall, The Eastern Most Point of the United States.
Written: Aug 02 '06 (Updated Aug 02 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: beautiful views
Cons: not near anything
The Bottom Line: This is a must see landmark when on St Croix. Known as the Eastern most Point of the United States.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Point Udall |
Point Udall is the most eastern point of the United States. It happens to be on the eastern tip of the island of St Croix of the US Virgin Islands. My wife and I took a ride there in a rented car driving on what we Americans call the wrong side of the road.
We were staying in Christiansted, the largest town on St Croix. The Buccaneer Hotel where we stayed was just a few minutes away from town. We were also just a half hour or less from Udall Point and we felt we should check it out.
High and Dry
Up until that adventure our most "eastern experience" was to drive up to the top of Cadillac Mountain in Maine's Acadia National Park. From that point one would be the first to see the sun rise in continental US. Point Udall beats that because it is so much further east than Maine.
The east end of St Croix is the dry side. It gets little rain and cacti can be seen on the browned landscape. It happens to be quite a ride to the point. Though arid it quite beautiful and the road making its way up the hills make for some majestic and breath taking views. The waters below are a mix of light blues. turquoise and greens. You can see the reefs below the surface and islands beyond.
The point is over 200 feet above sea level giving grand vistas to all those who drive to this little visited point. We made a couple of fine photographs. If on the island it is a must stop and there are no fees. No facilities either.
The point was named for Stewart Udall, United States Secretary of the Interior under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. Just as a point of interest the western most point in the US that is in Orote Peninsula, Guam. It was named for Stewart Udall's brother Mo Udall.
Though I can't say I joined any of them, people do come in the early pre-dawn hours to be ready to meet the first rays of the sun. It's a rugged climb down and without light can be a bit dangerous. I would just stay at the large circular area that surrounds the huge sundial. I has room for cars on its circumference around the interior sculpture. A circular wall at the point gives a measure of safety and good points to view from.
The Millennium and a Huge Sundial
Up until 1999 the point was just a piece of land at the east end of the island. The folks of St Croix wanted to dedicate the new Millennium coming in, in a unique and artful way. They built a special monument on that piece of land.
A huge sundial in a shape of two large letter "M"s perpendicular to each other was placed at this high level. It is quite grand looking standing over 30' high on the 230' point. The picture above really doesn't show the scale of it. The Millennium Monument, as it is known, was built as a dedication to commemorate the 2,000 year mark and is dedicated as...
"a continuum between all who have come before and all who are yet to come."
These are some of the words that are on the plaque on the site. I give you the complete message. Ha, It's nothing I could have translated easily.
Millennium Monument
United States Virgin Islands
January 1, 2000
Since the dawn of consciousness, time has been measured by the movement of the sun. This marker in the year 2,000 is a continuum between all who have come before and all who are yet to come. The design concept starts with the Roman Numeral "M"=1000"MM"=2000. The stone piers represent the abstraction of two "M"s crossing at 90 degrees to each other. The alignment of the shadow pole and marker pin designates the Azimuth of the sun on January 1, 2000. The shadow of the pole on the true north line designates local noon daily.
PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE
Final Thoughts
This isn't a place to make flight reservations to get to but if on St Croix it is a must stop so as to see the beauty of the hills and the vistas below. The dedication and the monument is sure to be in many a photo of those who do make the trip.
This review is part of the Bryan Carey 2,000 Years, 2,000 Reviews (Write- Off) that can be found at
http://www.epinions.com/content_4804485252
Why not join Bryan as he holds his first ever W/O and makes his way to 2,000 reviews.
I shall now take the liberty to change a couple of words from the dedication at Point Udall...
I dedicate this review as "a continuum between all the reviews Bryan has posted before and all those yet to come."
St Croix A visit July '06
Buccaneer Resort/St. Croix, US VI
US Virgin Islands An overview
Recommended:
Yes
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