First Footing
From the 1730’s until the American Revolution, more than 20,000 Scottish Highlanders arrived at Brunswick Town. Almost all of these were due to the Highland Clearances in Scotland. They traveled up the Cape Fear River and settled in the “Sand Hills" region comprised of Moore, Cumberland, and Scotland Counties, and beyond into the mountains. It is fitting that this first step in the “Trek” be built where these immigrants first set foot on the North American Continent.
The Plan - Completed!
A traditional Scottish marker used to commemorate an event is a cairn. The cairn at Brunswick Town is surrounded by ballast stones we believe came from the ships that transported the immigrants from
Scotland. The cairn will be surrounded with signage explaining the meaning of this spot and pointing to other important locations in the state. The path leading to the Cairn contains commemorative stones purchased by our donors.
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The cairn is less than 600 yards from the location of the colonial wharfs where the immigrants landed. Immediately adjacent to the Cairn is a gazebo that is used for events.
