Near Millington in Kent County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Mason-Dixon Line Crownstone

By Bob Marshall, June 4, 2009

1. Mason-Dixon Line Crownstone Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The North-South line between the colonies of Maryland and Pennsylvania, now Delaware, was surveyed between June and September 1764 by Charles Mason, an astronomer, and Jeremiah Dixon, a mathematician and surveyor.

Leading a party of thirty-nine, Mason and Dixon measured off the line, planting waist high limestone markers at one mile intervals, returning later to place these crownstone markers every five miles.

Erected 1992 by Maryland Historical Trust, Delaware State Boundary Commission, Maryland Geological Survey.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Colonial Era.

Location. 39° 15.475′ N, 75° 45.425′ W. Marker is near Millington, Maryland, in Kent County. Marker is on Cypress Road (Maryland Route 291), on the right when traveling east. Marker is on right-hand side of Maryland Route 291 just before crossing the Maryland-Delaware state line. Marker is easy to miss as it is facing the road, as opposed to perpendicular to, like most markers. If you crossover into Delaware,

By Allen C. Browne, October 19, 2005

2. Mason-Dixon Line Crownstone Marker

you've gone too far. Turn around and the marker will be on your left-hand side immediately after seeing the sign that welcomes you to Maryland. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Millington MD 21651, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Site of Blackiston Methodist Church (approx. 1.1 miles away in Delaware); Cheney Clow's Rebellion (approx. 4 miles away in Delaware); Veterans Memorial (approx. 4.6 miles away); Town of Kenton (approx. 5.4 miles away in Delaware); Town of Clayton (approx. 7 miles away in Delaware); Sudlersville Train Station (approx. 7.2 miles away); James Emory Foxx (approx. 7.3 miles away); Sudlersville Memorial Library (approx. 7.4 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. Mason-Dixon Line. (Submitted on June 9, 2009, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)
2. Mason Dixon Survey 55-Mile Crownstone. Margaret Q. Fallaw, Maryland Historical Trust State Historic Sites Inventory Form (PDF). (Submitted on November 30, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)

Mason-Dixon Tangent-Line Crownstone 55<br>Delaware Side showing Penn Arms image. Click for full size.

By Allen C. Browne, October 19, 2005

3. Mason-Dixon Tangent-Line Crownstone 55
Delaware Side showing Penn Arms

The crownstone marking 55 miles along the tangent line from the middle point of the Transpeninsular line to a tangent point on the 12-mile circle around New Castle was placed by Mason and Dixon in 1766.

Mason-Dixon Tangent-Line Crownstone 55 image. Click for full size.

By Allen C. Browne, October 19, 2005

4. Mason-Dixon Tangent-Line Crownstone 55

Calvert Arms image. Click for full size.

By Allen C. Browne, October 19, 2005

5. Calvert Arms

The crown for which these stones are named surmounts the worn down Calvert Arms on the west (Maryland) side of the stone.

Mason and Dixon's 1768 Strip Map image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress

6. Mason and Dixon's 1768 Strip Map

Detail showing the location of Crownstone 55 (marked here in red).

Credits. This page was last revised on November 9, 2019. It was originally submitted on June 5, 2009, by Bob Marshall of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,810 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 5, 2009, by Bob Marshall of Baltimore, Maryland. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 30, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.