This marker is located along SR 63 at the Maryland and Pennsylvania border at the end of Mason…read moreDixon Road. Mason Dixon Road is in Pennsylvania at this point. The marker reads, "Mason and Dixon Line. 105th Mile Stone. 500 feet beyond this point, on private property, this stone is located. It bears the coat of arms of Lord Baltimore and William Penn. The 104th mile stone and 103rd mile stone bear the letters M and P Maryland-Pennsylvania and are located along the Maryland edge of this road." Adjacent to this sign is a triangular rock that has seen better days and has an empty beer can. The line itself separates four US states, forming part of the borders of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia (part of Virginia until 1863). It was surveyed between 1763 and 1767 by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon in the resolution of a border dispute involving Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware in Colonial America. The dispute had its origins almost a century earlier in the somewhat confusing proprietary grants by King Charles I to Lord Baltimore (Maryland) and by King Charles II to William Penn (Pennsylvania and Delaware). The largest, east-west portion of the Mason-Dixon line along the southern Pennsylvania border later became known, informally, as the boundary between the Northern free states and Southern slave states. This usage especially came to prominence during the debate around the Missouri Compromise of 1820, when drawing boundaries between slave and free territory was an issue, and resurfaced during the American Civil War, with border states also coming into play. The Virginia portion of the line was initially the northern border of the Confederacy, until West Virginia separated from Virginia and joined the Union in 1863. It is still used today in the figurative sense of a line that separates the Northeast and South culturally, politically, and socially. Maryland's charter of 1632 granted Cecil Calvert land north of the entire length of the Potomac River up to the 40th parallel. This spot is at 39.72141 north and -77.7682 west. It's about 20 miles from here to the 40th parallel. So someone is wrong. [Review 15133 overall, 635 of 2021, number 608 in Maryland.]

Along US-11, which they call Winchester Avenue here, this marker points out the local town that was…read morenamed for a Revolutionary era hero. There is a small spot to stop. The marker reads, "Darkesville. Named for Gen. William Darke, veteran of the Revolution and the Indian wars. He saved the remnants of St. Clair's army from massacre in 1791 when badly defeated by the Miami Indians. His son, Capt. Joseph Darke, lost his life." Online, there is more information. Darkesville is an unincorporated community in Berkeley County, West Virginia, United States. Established in 1791, Darkesville has been nationally recognized as a historic district. Darkesville was recognized for its historic architecture, which includes approximately twenty-five buildings constructed as log cabins in 1810 or earlier. Darke served with British regulars commanded by Major General Edward Braddock in his 1755 expedition to the French-controlled Ohio Valley, as part of the French and Indian War. The British forces were defeated and Braddock died. Darke survived to be commissioned as a captain at the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. He was made prisoner at the Battle of Germantown. He was commanding colonel of the Hampshire and Berkeley regiments at the capture of General Cornwallis. Darke was often a member of the Virginia legislature and, during the convention of 1788, voted for the Federal Constitution and served as a major-general of the Virginia militia.. [Review 15117 overall, 619 of 2021, number 38 in West Virginia.]

This roadside marker on US-11 (Winchester Avenue) stands in front of the John Evans property and…read morecommemorates an event from the Colonial era when this part of West Virginia was still known as Virginia. The 400 acre property was purchased by Evans (a Welsh Baptist) from William Penn who had originally purchased the land from Lenni Lenapes in 1683. The marker reads, "Fort Evans, built here, 1755, was attacked by Indians, 1756. The men were absent but Polly Evans, whose husband, John, had built the fort, led the women in its defense. The Big Spring here was noted camping ground of both armies, 1861-1865." There is little information online about the attack though an extensive history of the property, its defense from a proposed mill and damage from arson are on https://friendsofpawccp-org.doodlekit.com/home/john-evans-house. [Review 15120 overall, 622 of 2021, number 39 in West Virginia.]

Tony and I spent the night in Harper's Ferry WV. We were going to tour the Historical Park but…read moredecided to comeback at a later date to devote our time and a full day here. There is so much to see. It cost $20 for 1-3 consecutive days per vehicle. We did stop at the Shenandoah Pulp Factory Ruins to explore and investigate. Be sure to spray down with your Buggie Spray or be prepared to be dinner for the insect wildlife!!! It has a small pullover parking area for about 2 cars to share. There is some signage about it's history. Highly recommend if you're in the area. I'm definitely going back!!!

A beautiful campus to visit for civil right history Storer…read moreCollege campus is located about 1/2 mile away from the lower town of Harpers Ferry. There is a lot of history here. It was founded in 1867 to educate freed slaves and later hosted the 1906 Niagara Movement meeting that helped lead to the NAACP. The college closed in 1955, but the old campus buildings remain and are now used by the National Park Service. The campus sits up on Camp Hill, above the lower town of Harpers Ferry. It's just a few minutes' drive from the shops and museums below, and there is parking by the buildings. It is much easier parking here than trying to squeeze into the lower town lots. I think the entire campus is one of those places that feels quiet but full of meaning. Walking around the grounds, we enjoyed the views as the buildings still look to be in good condition. If you're visiting Harpers Ferry, it's worth the short trip up the hill just to stand where so much of the struggle for education and civil rights once happened but be aware that if you want more information you may be better served to go to the museum in the lower town or research on your phone as there are not a lot of informational displays around the campus and the museum seems to have a lot more data on the site.

The Veterans War Memorial is made of mostly granite and stands in Widmeyer Park in Hancock. The…read moremonument is etched with the names of about 900 Hancock veterans who served in the military from the Civil War through the Persian Gulf War. It is an impressive marker, standing at the top of a short flight of stairs and with an eagle at the top. The names are grouped by conflict including one for the Civil War. The statue of mother and child pointing to a name on the wall is particularly poignant. [Review 15563 overall - 625 in Maryland - 1067 of 2021.]

I did not have an opportunity to visit the Fort but I did spot this historical marker in Clear…read moreSpring that points the way. The fort is about 6 miles from here, so this is less a historical marker and more of a billboard advertisement. The fort does look way cool https://www.yelp.com/biz/fort-frederick-state-park-big-pool and it's bookmarked for a future visit to this spot on the Potomac River. The marker reads, "Fort Frederick. Maryland State Park. Colonial stone fort built 1756 for Province of Maryland by Governor Horatio Sharpe to protect frontier against French and Indians after Braddock's defeat. Detention camp for British prisoners 1776-1783. Occupied 1861-18862 by Union troops. George Washington was here July 1756 and June 1758." [Review 15129 overall, 631 of 2021, number 605 in Maryland.]

On March 8, 2016 I went to the Wilson Bridge. I had to make the first Yelp review for this because…read moreit was not in their records. It's a pretty view and a cool stone bridge. It is called the Link between East and West. It was built in 1819 and was first stone bridge in Washington County. Erected by Silas Harry making a major improvement to the road system between Baltimore and Cumberland. It helped have a smooth surface from eastern seaboard to western wilderness. It carried traffic until seriously damaged by store flooding in 1972. Now you can just walk on it. It was placed on the National Historic Register 1982. I am giving it 5 stars because it had information there and it was a nice bridge to walk on to take in the view.