West Goshen Township near West Chester in Chester County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Great Trail

Photographed by William Pfingsten, June 8, 2008

1. The Great Trail Monument

Inscription. The Great Trail of the Minquas or Susquehanna Indians from the Susquehanna to the Schuylkill crossed the present road about this point. It was the path prior to 1670 for their conquest of the Lenni-Lenape or Delaware Indians and for trade with the first Dutch and Swedish settlers on the Delaware River. Thousands of beaver skins yearly being carried down over this "Beaversrede" or Beaver Road to Fort Beaversrede on the site of Philadelphia and to other neighboring trading posts.

Erected 1925 by Pennsylvania Historical Commission and the Chester County Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Forts and Castles • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Notable Places • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1670.

Location. 39° 56.89′ N, 75° 35.627′ W. Marker is near West Chester, Pennsylvania, in Chester County. It is in West Goshen Township. It is at the intersection of Wilmington Pike and Church Ave., on the right when traveling south on Wilmington Pike. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 845 Church Ave, West Chester PA 19382, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and in Greater Philadelphia.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Great Minquas Path (a few steps from this marker); Frederick Douglass (approx. 0.3 miles away); Old Main Arch Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Waynefield (approx. 0.4 miles away); Barnard Street Public School - Denney Tag Company (approx. 0.8 miles away); Samuel Barber (approx. 0.9 miles away); Star of the West, Tent No. Six (approx. 0.9 miles away); Thomas S. Butler House (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Chester.

More about this marker. The Susquehanna and Schuylkill referred to on this marker are rivers.

The Great Trail Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Elijah B, April 23, 2020

2. The Great Trail Marker

Recent photo of The Great Trail Marker, cleaned after defacement in previous photo.

Full view of monument. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Pfingsten, June 8, 2008

3. Full view of monument.

Monument has been defaced. Great Minquas Path marker is in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 3,322 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 8, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 2. submitted on April 24, 2020, by Elijah B of West Bradford, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on June 8, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.