Manheim Township near Parkville in York County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Passenger Pigeon
Photographed By Henry T. McLin, January 1, 2009
1. Passenger Pigeon Marker
In the interest of the preservation of wildlife we here dedicate this memorial to the ill-fated passenger pigeon which from earliest pioneer days until the 1880s flocked to these Pigeon Hills. This migratory bird, now extinct, was once so plentiful its numbers darkened the skies.
This monument replaces the original Boy Scout Memorial erected in the Pigeon Hills in 1947 which was destroyed in 1981. Across Lake Marburg on the Northern horizon lie the Pigeon Hills once inhabited by thousands of passenger pigeons. This memorial was rededicated Sept. 12, 1982
Erected 1982.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Animals. A significant historical date for this entry is September 12, 1788.
Location. 39° 47.333′ N, 76° 54.067′ W. Marker is near Parkville, Pennsylvania, in York County. It is in Manheim Township. Marker can be reached from Marina Drive, 0.6 miles Blooming Grove Road (Pennsylvania Route 216). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Marina Dr, Hanover PA 17331, 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. A different marker also named Passenger Pigeon (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mary Ann Forge and Furnace (approx. 2 miles away); Gettysburg Campaign
this page online
Additional commentary.
1. The naming of the Pigeon Hills
Curiously, the Pigeon Hills were not named after the passenger pigeon. George Prowell’s History of York County, Volume I, Page 93 states,
“The early surveyors and speculators owned many tracts in York County. Among them were Thomas Cookson, surveyor of Lancaster; Edward Shippen of Philadelphia, and Joseph Pidgeon, a surveyor of Philadelphia County, after whom the ‘Pigeon Hills’ were doubtless named.”
Note the spelling of the surveyor is different from the bird’s name. Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor
— Submitted May 7, 2011, by Henry T. McLin of Hanover, Pennsylvania.
Additional keywords.
Photographed By Henry T. McLin, January 1, 2009
2. Passenger Pigeon Marker upper plaque
Photographed By Henry T. McLin, January 1, 2009
3. Passenger Pigeon Marker
Photographed By Henry T. McLin, January 1, 2009
4. Passenger Pigeon Marker
Lake Marburg and Pigeon Hills in background.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2009, by Henry T. McLin of Hanover, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,780 times since then and 22 times this year. Last updated on May 7, 2011, by Henry T. McLin of Hanover, Pennsylvania. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 1, 2009, by Henry T. McLin of Hanover, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
