Mason-Dixon Marker

“Nature creates curved lines while humans create straight lines.”
–Hideki Yukawa

Exhibit Details

The Mason-Dixon line, also called Mason’s and Dixon’s line, was surveyed between 1763 and 1767 by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon in the resolution of a border dispute involving Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware in Colonial America. It is still a demarcation line among four U.S. states, forming part of the borders of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia (originally part of Virginia).

Stone #19 lies in the Horseshoe Scout Reservation near Camp Horseshoe’s Archery Range.

Displays in this Exhibit:

Tour Stop

Pictures

Videos

Documents

Newspaper Articles

Reading Library

Pictures

Display Details

Here are some pictures of the Mason-Dixon marker, placed in 1766 by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon.

At Octoraro Lodge 22’s 60th anniversary Open House, the Mason-Dixon marker is visited by Andrew Rettew, his parents, and Bill Moffet of Troop 50.

National Vice Chief Taylor Bobrow (left) and Past Section Chief AJ Kelly (both from daughter lodge Blue Heron 349) make a stop down by the Mason-Dixon marker near the Archery range.

Price Stevenson III relates the tale of the Mason-Dixon line as it applies to Camp Horseshoe and the marker on its property.

Price Stevenson III relates the tale of the Mason-Dixon line as it applies to Camp Horseshoe and the marker on its property. 2015 is the 250th anniversary of the Mason-Dixon line coming through the property (1765), though the actual cement marker was placed a year later (1766).

Price Stevenson III relates the tale of the Mason-Dixon line as it applies to Camp Horseshoe and the marker on its property.

The Mason-Dixon marker is one of several HSRAA History Challenges that were unveiled for 2015.

Here is a closeup of the Mason-Dixon after a snowstorm: Maryland Side.

Here is a closeup of the Mason-Dixon after a snowstorm: Pennsylvania Side.

Nature Director Ray Plante takes a hike off the reservation to find nearby Mason-Dixon Line markers. This appears to be a Crownstone marker at mile 20, just West of Rt. 222.

The 6th HSRAA Historical Sign, this one dedicated to the Mason-Dixon Line Marker found at Camp Horseshoe.

The Mason-Dixon Line Marker Historical sign and its creator, Andrew Coe.

Steve Miller (left) and Sam Mantenga after installing the 6th HSRAA Historical sign.

The design for the HSRAA Historical sign for the Mason-Dixon Line Marker.

Videos

Display Details

Here are various videos with talks led by Price Stevenson III and Ernie Heegard regarding the history of the Mason-Dixon marker.

Mason-Dixon Talk
Price Stevenson III gives a rousing talk about the Mason-Dixon marker on the Horseshoe property as well as how the Mason-Dixon line project came to be.
2015 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Mason-Dixon History Talk
Price Stevenson III gives a rousing talk about the Mason-Dixon marker on the Horseshoe property as well as how the Mason-Dixon line project came to be.
2015 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Marker Look
A quick look at the Mason-Dixon Marker in 1943.
1943 – Contributed by Tom McCabe

Ernie Heegard gives a tour of the Mason-Dixon Marker at Camp Horseshoe. Part 1 of 2.
2023 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Ernie Heegard gives a tour of the Mason-Dixon Marker at Camp Horseshoe. Part 2 of 2.
2023 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Documents

Display Details

This display contains a few historical documents related to the Mason-Dixon marker on Camp Horseshoe’s property.

This 1984 account from an unknown author talks about his journey along the Mason-Dixon line one summer day to find markers adjacent to HSR.
1984 – Contributed by G. Ernest Heegard

This was a record sheet of the Camp Horseshoe marker recorded by Thomas Bechtol in January 1988 during his survey of the Mason-Dixon Line markers.
1988 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Newspaper Articles

Display Details

Here you will find a few newspaper articles discussing the Mason-Dixon line marker on Camp Horseshoe’s grounds.

July 23, 1982 – Lancaster New Era: 5 Boundary Markers

From the July 23, 1982 edition of the Lancaster New Era, this article talks about the efforts of amateur surveyor Charles Bitler to get visibility to the problem of decaying Mason-Dixon line markers, and cites Camp Horseshoe’s “caged” marker as a viable preservation measure.
1982 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

March 12, 2025 – The Midland Journal: Sisters to Give History Presentation

From the March 12, 2025 edition of the Solanco Advertiser: Though not explicitly mentioned, the Kilby sisters did visit Camp Horseshoe in 2023 to visit the Mason-Dixon marker there.
2025 – Evan Ellwanger

Reading Library

Display Details

This display contains a reading library of historical documents related to the Mason-Dixon survey in general.

Tour Stops

History Tour 3

Octoraro Loop Tour

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Last updated February 8, 2026