Greenville in Butler County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Bartram's Trail
Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 31, 2018
1. Bartram's Trail Marker (front)
William Bartram, America's first great naturalist, passed through northwest Butler County in July 1775. He described the "limestone rocks" and "banks of various kinds of sea shells" left by oceans that covered this area millions of years ago, and noted a "very remarkable grove of Dogwood trees which continued nine or ten miles unalterable except here and there a towering Magnolia grandiflora.
On his exploration trip to Mobile in 1775, William Bartram followed ancient Indian trading paths through Butler County for approximately 30 miles. His route through what was then British territory on the eve of the American Revolution became part of the "Federal Road" a few decades later, leading thousands of settlers into the newly created Butler County and state of Alabama.
Erected 2006 by Butler County Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Exploration • Horticulture & Forestry • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the William Bartram Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1775.
Location. 31° 53.476′ N, 86° 40.923′ W. Marker is in Greenville, Alabama, in Butler County. It is on Sherling Lake Road (County
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Regionally, this marker is in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, and in the Black Belt. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Sherling Lake (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Federal Road and The Palings / Fort Dale 1818 (approx. 1.6 miles away); Ogly-Stroud Massacre / Gary's Stockade (approx. 1.7 miles away); Coleman-Crenshaw House (approx. 4 miles away); a different marker also named Coleman-Crenshaw House (approx. 4.7 miles away); Searcy School House / Searcy Community (approx. 4.9 miles away); First Missionary Baptist Church of Greenville (approx. 5 miles away); West Commerce Street Historic District / Historic Greenville Depot (approx. 5.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greenville.
More about this marker. The marker was destroyed in Hurricane Ivan and later replaced by the City of Greenville.
Also see . . . Wikipedia article on William Bartram. (Submitted on July 31, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 31, 2018
2. Bartram's Trail Marker (reverse)
Public domain
3. William Bartram
Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 31, 2018
4. Bartram's Trail Marker looking west on Sherling Lake Road.
Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 31, 2018
5. Bartram's Trail Marker looking east towards Braggs Road.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 31, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,128 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 31, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
