I had heard of the Ellicott Stone, but assumed that it, like so many historic things had long since vanished. While driving north of Mobile, Alabama on U.S. Highway 43, I spotted a little rest area much like the picnic areas set up alongside other highways during the Depression Era. This rest area had a historical marker, so curiosity overcame me and I had to know what was so historic in the immediate area.

The Ellicott Stone was set in position in 1799 by Major Andrew Ellicott, as commissioned by George Washington. It denoted the border between the United States and the Spanish territory, following the Treaty of San Lorenzo el Real, also known as the Pinckney Treaty.

Major Andrew Ellicott was an experienced astronomer and surveyor. It was his duty to go into the wilderness, determine the exact point at which the US southern border, the Mississippi Territory’s eastern border and the Spanish possessions northern border met and place a stone marker denoting the exact spot.

Starting at the Pearl River, near Natchez, Ellicott had his survey team run a survey line east along the 31st parallel. This line established the northern most border of Spanish Florida (as it was at the time) and the southernmost border of the Mississippi Territory and the US. Working from a bluff, fifty feet over the Mobile River, Ellicott used astronomy and surveying techniques to determine the exact location of the eastern border of the Mississippi Territory and the western border of the US. The stone would be placed exactly at that point, at the southwestern corner of the US and the southeastern corner of the Mississippi Territory.

On the South side (Spanish side) of the stone, the inscription reads
"Dominio De S. M. Carlos IV, Lat.31., 1799" set by the joint U.S./ Spanish survey party on April 10, 1799.

On the North side of the stone, the inscription reads "U.S., Lat.31., 1799"- set by the joint U.S./Spanish survey party on April 10, 1799. N.B.

The old stone has recieved some damage over the years. One corner of it was accidently broken off, reportedly by a logger working in the area. There are various chips missing from it caused by gunshots.

How to get to the Ellicott Stone:

Traveling Interstate 65, take Exit 19 (US Highway 43) at Satsuma, Alabama. Drive north on US Highway 43 until reaching mile marker 18. Between mile markers 18 and 19 is the little rest area shown in the photo at the left.

The stone is approximately 900 feet east of the rest area, as indicated by the sign. Follow the trail, cross the railroad tracks and proceed for about another 200 feet. There, beneath a modern shelter, is the Ellicott Stone.

Note: It was a beautiful winter day in south Alabama. As I walked deeper into the woods, totally alone, I could no longer hear the traffic on the highway behind me and I became more and more convinced that few activities and fewer places provide you with greater tranquility than simply walking through the woods. - Wilson Jay