This cache is part of the 25 cache Pennsylvania State Parks America250PA GeoTrail. Have fun exploring and discovering Pennsylvania's history!
Mason – Dixon Line – the bringing of two states together
In the mid to late 1700s, a 233 mile boundary line was surveyed by order of the King of England to put end to a long-disputed boundary line between the land of William Penn and Cecilius Calvert. Penn claimed that the southern border of Pennsylvania was further south into what is now Maryland land and Calvert claimed that the northern Maryland border was further north into what is now Pennsylvania land. The two families argued for years over the boundaries of their land. In 1750, British Lord Chancellor Hardwicke ruled that there should be a survey completed to show the true boundaries of the two states.
Two Englishmen, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon were hired to survey this new boundary line along the 39°43’N parallel. Their survey began in 1763 where they resurveyed the Delaware tangent line and the Newcastle 
arc. In 1765 they began marking the east-west line beginning at the tangent point, also known today as the tri-state marker which is found here in White Clay Creek Preserve. As they continued the survey east to west, Mason and Dixon placed milestones, brought over from England, known today as Mason-Dixon line mile markers. Every five miles, a special “crown stone” was places bearing the arms of Penn on one side and Baltimore on the other. The Mason-Dixon line was completed in 1768 and cost a total of $75,000.
When visiting White Clay Creek Preserve today, you can visit the tri-state marker that represents the beginning of this invisible border. The stone that currently stands is not the orginal stone that would have existed in the late 1700s. Instead Mason and Dixon would have placed a wooden post there in 1765. Today, it marks the border of 3 states (Maryland, Delware, and Pennsylvania); however in 1765 only two states were represented (Maryland and Pennsylvania). This can still be seen on the stone marker as it shows only Ms and Ps.
For more information about this state park and its amenities please visit the website: White Clay Creek Preserve | Department of Conservation and Natural Resources| Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
