Near Delmar in Wicomico County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Trans-Peninsular Line Midpoint Marker

Photographed By J. J. Prats, May 17, 2014

1. Trans-Peninsular Line Midpoint Marker

Inscription. In Pre-Revolutionary Colonial America, these monuments marked the South West corner of the Three Lower Counties of the Delaware—at the time a part of the Pennsylvania Colony.

Originally determined by local surveyors (two small stones) circa 1750.

Verified by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon (Large Marker) circa 1764.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Political Subdivisions • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1750.

Location. 38° 27.604′ N, 75° 41.62′ W. Marker is near Delmar, Maryland, in Wicomico County. Marker is on Delmar Road (Maryland Route 54) west of the state line with Delaware. Maryland Route 54 continues as Delaware Route 54 a few hundred feet east of this location. Marker is between Delmar, Delaware, and Mardela Springs, Maryland. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Delmar MD 21875, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. "Old Spring Hill" (approx. 2.3 miles away); The Four Immortal Chaplains (approx. 2.4 miles away); Mason-Dixon Stone (approx. 3.1 miles away); Barren Creek Springs Church (approx. 3.1 miles away); Native Americans

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(approx. 3.2 miles away); The Springs at Barren Creek… (approx. 3.2 miles away); Barren Creek Spring House (approx. 3.2 miles away); Site of Barren Creek Springs Hotel (approx. 3.2 miles away).

More about this marker. There is a nice little roadside pullout parking area for this marker.

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia Entry for Transpeninsular Line. “In 1751, a line was surveyed straight across the Delmarva Peninsula beginning at what at least some early Swedish settlers called Cape Hinlopen, which was to be the southern boundary of Delaware. This place is better known as Fenwick Island. Twenty-four miles north is another cape named Cape Henlopen near Lewes, Delaware. Various spellings of henlopen mean "entering in" or "approaching." The confusion of the names was the crux of a long standing dispute between the Penns (Delaware) and the Calverts (Maryland), the latter claiming that the Lewes' cape should have been the start of the boundary line. Ironically, it was a map commissioned by Charles Calvert in 1732, which showed Cape Hinlopen at Fenwick Island, that was used to decide the matter. Calvert had intended the Lewes' cape to be so named, but he only discovered the mistake

Photographed By J. J. Prats, May 17, 2014

2. Trans-Peninsular Line Midpoint Marker

This historical marker is on the left column of this caged gazebo. On the right column is a sign for the Delaware History Trail. This is stop S9858.

after he had submitted it to the English court deciding the case. He failed in his later attempts to have the court reject his own map. If the actual Cape Henlopen near Lewes had been used as the start of the line, Delaware would be about one thousand square miles smaller, over a third of its current area. The line was accepted by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon (of Mason–Dixon line fame) in 1763 when they were engaged to survey the borders between Maryland and the grants to William Penn (Pennsylvania and Delaware).” (Submitted on June 1, 2014.)

2. Wikipedia Entry for Mason-Dixon Line. “The disputants engaged an expert British team, astronomer Charles Mason and surveyor Jeremiah Dixon, to survey what became known as the Mason–Dixon line. It cost the Calverts of Maryland and the Penns of Pennsylvania £3,512/9 s to have 244 miles (393 km) surveyed with such accuracy. To them the money was well spent, for in a new country there was no other way of establishing ownership.” (Submitted on June 1, 2014.)

Trans-Peninsular Line Midpoint Marker Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Adam Margolis, September 15, 2019

3. Trans-Peninsular Line Midpoint Marker Marker

Looking north, directly along the Mason Dixon line. Note, the line does not officially begin until you are north of the Mason-Dixon marker that is inside this "building". Therefore, the line is directly behind this building from the photo's POV. Delaware territory is located on the right and includes the entire field on the right. Nearly everything else is Maryland territory, including where I am standing.

Photographed By Larry Slagle, July 14, 2023

4. Trans-Peninsular Line Midpoint Marker Marker

I stopped by on Friday, July 14, 2023.

Historic Boundary Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, May 17, 2014

5. Historic Boundary Markers

Original Middle Point Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, December 28, 2007

6. Original Middle Point Marker

The first team of surveyors set this stone 32 inches away from the middle point, after the sons of William Penn and Frederick Calvert, Lord Baltimore agreed that the middle point would be 69 miles, 289 perches west of the stone at Fenwick Island. This photo shows the remnants of the Penn coat of arms, the Calvert arms on the other side has disappeared.

Mason-Dixon Middle Point Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, December 28, 2007

7. Mason-Dixon Middle Point Marker

Mason and Dixon placed this double Crown Stone at the middle point in 1768 after completing the rest of their survey. It has the Calvert Arms on the south and west sides and the Penn arms on the north and east sides (Calvert arms shown). These markers are carved from oolitic limestone imported from England.

Transpeninsular Line Marker # 25 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, December 28, 2007

8. Transpeninsular Line Marker # 25

Transpeninsular Line marker #25 was moved here because of road construction.

Unrelated Stone image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, December 28, 2007

9. Unrelated Stone

"There is one unmarked stone in the pavilion. Its presence was a mystery until the day of the restoration of the Middle point monument (in 1985). A boundary explorer informed me that his grandfather had found the stone, thought it resembled the stone north of the Middle point monument, so he placed the dark grey stone there. It has no official significance!" -- East of the Mason-Dixon Line by Roger E. Nathan, 2000.

Photographed By Adam Margolis, September 15, 2019

10. Trans-Peninsular Line Midpoint Marker Marker

Looking almost straight down on the Mason Dixon marker. A more modern benchmark was set in 1932 by the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,731 times since then and 79 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 1, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3. submitted on January 15, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 4. submitted on July 16, 2023, by Larry Slagle of Chestertown, Maryland. 5. submitted on June 1, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on June 2, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 10. submitted on January 15, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California.