Attached (and at the URL's linked below) are three views of a cast-iron boundary
monument that was part of an 1877 resurvey of the boundary between the State of
Arkansas and the Choctaw Nation. It is located a few hundred feet north of
where Arkansas 88 meets Oklahoma 1 along the crest of Rich Mountain in the
Ouachita Mountains. It is almost one mile south of and about a thousand feet
higher than the divided tavern that I posted a week or two ago. The tavern is
on a parallel highway through the valley that parallels the mountain ridge.

The first photo (also at www.mexlist.com/bp/arkchoc/arok.jpg ) shows the
cast-iron
post about five feet tall and an approximation of the boundary.

The second photo (also at www.mexlist.com/bp/arkchoc/sw.jpg ) is a view from the
southwest, showing "CHOC." on the west side of the monument and "1877." on the
south.

The third photo (also at www.mexlist.com/bp/arkchoc/ne.jpg ) is a view from the
northeast, showing "ARK." on the east side and "48, M." on the north. This
refers to 48 miles from the initial point on the Arkansas River at Fort Smith.

Note the hole through the monument near the top to facilitate handling and the
integral mushroom-shaped top to protect the embossed lettering during any
dragging. Note also the piece broken out of the north side of the mushroom,
perhaps from collision with a rock while being dragged up the mountain by mules.

Lowell G. McManus
Leesville, Louisiana, USA