About This Virtual Cache
- This is a virtual cache. There is no physical container to find and no log to sign. In order to receive credit for finding this cache, you must complete the requirements stated below. Logs submitted without meeting the requirements will be deleted.
- Allow 45 minutes to 2 hours to complete this virtual cache, depending on whether you hike to the top of Brown's Hill, search for other caches in the area, or hike straight to the posted coordinates and back. The Green Trail to the posted coordinates is relatively flat, unpaved with gravel, and follows Dunkard Creek for roughly 0.5 miles.
- OPTIONAL: If you plan to climb Brown's Hill, it is recommended that you complete that first, then continue your hike to the posted coordinates. The Red Trail is a 1.3 mile trail. Approaching from the south is the shorter route, but it begins with a steep uphill climb that may be slippery when wet or when covered with leaves or snow. Approaching from the Green Trail to the east is a longer route that is less steep, but it is a steady incline most of the way. On previous visits, I've climbed the hill from the south and descended along the gentler slope leading to the Green Trail. It is a good idea to take water to stay hydrated. There is a bench part way up the trail from the south (a good place to rest) and a picnic table at the top of Brown's Hill (great for a picnic or snack).
Logging Requirements
Send your answers to questions #1-5 in a message or email. Do not post answers in your log. Upload the required photo (#6) in your log.
- REQUIRED* - How many bricks form the the display at the posted coordinates? Count partial bricks as 1 each.
- REQUIRED* - How many stones are in the border around the bricks?
- REQUIRED - What is significant about the large stone in the center of the bricks?
- REQUIRED - As a whole, what do the arrangement of bricks and stones represent?
- REQUIRED - Take an elevation reading at the posted coordinates. Calculate the difference in elevation compared to A) Brown's Hill B) Spruce Knob (West Virginia's highest point) and C) West Virginia' lowest point (Potomac River near Harpers Ferry)
- REQUIRED - Take a photo of yourself with one of the wooden benches and upload it in your log. If you do not wish to show your face in the photo, you may substitute a sign showing your caching name and the date.
- OPTIONAL - Include additional photos in your log from your hike, especially if you climb Brown's Hill to see the stone marker. Or, take a selfie on the Almost Heaven swing and include that in your log.
- OPTIONAL - If you have visited other markers along the Mason-Dixon Line, share a little about that in your log.
* If you happen to visit when there is snow covering the ground, you can substitute the following questions for #1 and #2. Questions #3-5 remain the same, as does the photo requirement.
- ALTERNATE QUESTION - How many 1' x 1' x 1.5' stones are in the vicinity? Be sure to check both sides of the trail.
- ALTERNATE QUESTION - What is the distance between the 2 brown signs? How did you measure the distance? The signs show the longitude in degrees, minutes, and seconds.
Who Were Mason & Dixon?
Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon were English surveyors who were hired to conduct an official survey of the border between land granted to William Penn (now known as Pennsylvania) and land granted to Cecil Calvert (now known as Maryland).
Mason's career began as an assistant astronomer at the Royal Greenwich Observatory. Mason devoted much time and effort into perfecting Lunar Tables in order to make nautical navigation more accurate. Jeremiah Dixon was the son of a coal mine owner and was also an astronomer.
Dixon and Mason first teamed up in 1761 to travel to Sumatra, in order to observe the transit of Venus in front of the Sun. The were unable to reach Sumatra in time, so they landed at the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) to make their observations. Two years later, in 1763, Mason and Dixon were hired by Thomas Penn and Frederick Calvert to settle a dispute regarding the boundary between their provinces. The men set sail for Philadelphia, arriving in November of 1863. They immediately commenced the task of surveying what would become know as "the Mason-Dixon Line".
What is the Mason-Dixon Line?
In simple terms, the Mason-Dixon Line is the southern border of Pennsylvania, separating it from Maryland and West Virginia. The Mason-Dixon Line officially includes a north-south segment that marks the current boundary between Maryland and Delaware. In the 1760s, the three counties of modern day Deleware were part of Pennsylvania.
Cecil Calvart was granted land via charter in 1632. In 1681, Charles II granted land to William Penn (Pennsylvania) that intended to define the southern border in the same terms as Maryland's northern border. However, Charles used an inaccurate map and that resulted in decades of disputes between the Penns and the Calvarts. In the 1830s, divided loyalties among settlers in the disputed territory resulted in a conflict known as Cresap's War. A peace agreement signed in London in 1837 defined the border between states as being "the line of latitude 15 miles south of the southernmost house in Philadelphia."
The Mason-Dixon Line is not a true "straight line" but rather a series of adjoining line segments following a path between 39°42'15" N and 39°42'23" N. The Line extends 40 miles beyond Maryland's western border, defining the boundary between Pennsylvania and West Virginia (which, at the time of the survey was part of Virginia).
Stones were placed every mile along the Mason-Dixon Line as it was surveyed, with a "crownstone" placed every 5 miles. Many original stones are still visible, but some have been stolen or buried. Additional surveys have been done since the 1860s but the results were not significantly different from those marked by Mason and Dixon.
The term "Mason and Dixon's Line" came into popular use during the 1820 Congressional debates about the Missouri Compromise. It was later used to represent a cultural boundary between states where slavery was abolished (to the north) and those where slavery was legal (to the south).
The Terminal Point and Last Marker
Mason and Dixon were supposed to measure the Pennsylvania border for a distance of 5 degrees of longitude west from the Delaware River. They were unable to reach the western end of the border due to hostilities between Iroquois and Lenape tribes. Between October 11-18, 1767, Mason and Dixon made astronomic observations to establish the last point of measurement west. They determined that their location was 223.08 ft south of the true line. They also extended their final point 250.8 feet west to a point on top of Brown's Hill. The location is marked with a stone marker that was placed in 1883. It is 23 miles east of the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania. The final section of the line was surveyed by David Rittenhouse and Andrew Ellicott in 1784.
Maxon-Dixon Historical Park
Established in the 1970s, Mason-Dixon Historical Park is a 295-acre park that preserves the history and heritage of Mason and Dixon's final stop. The park sprawls across Pennsylvania and West Virginia, with several marked trails. A TRAIL MAP is available on the park website. There are several playgrounds, picnic tables, a fairy house trail, a seasonal waterfall, and portable toilets.
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.