The Boundary Hill Pass Project

Preserving History ~ Protecting Habitat

Just two miles west of Brookville, Indiana, there is a hill named Boundary Hill. Though small in size—only 35 acres—the hill is remarkably rich in history, especially transportation history.

In the late 1700s and early 1800s, travelers heading to destinations west of Brookville had only three choices: by canoe along the river, or by foot or horseback along the trails. Boundary Hill, with Native American camps at its base, rose sharply from the river bottoms to the upland oak forests, blocking easy passage to the west.

Over time, however, human ingenuity carved multiple routes through this natural barrier:

• 1825 – Harrison Pike: The first State road, steep and winding, was cut over the top of the hill. Travel was difficult and slow.
• Late 1830s – Whitewater Canal: A large, hand-cut pass was made through the hill’s south side to carry the canal westward.
• 1850s – Railroad & Telegraph: Another cut was made through the center for trains, with telegraph lines strung along the tracks.
• Early 1900s – U.S. 52: A third cut, on the north side, was created for the new state highway, eliminating the need for Harrison Pike.

 Today, Boundary Hill stands as a living reminder and timeline of America’s evolving transportation—from footpaths and waterways to rails and highways—all of which have passed through or over this remarkable hill in Southeast Indiana.

 In 2023, the Wilz family purchased Boundary Hill from the Alig family. This website has been designed to introduce interested parties to the family’s Boundary Hill Pass Project, which seeks to preserve this valuable piece of transportation history and protect the rich natural river bottoms that provide essential habitat for birds and wildlife, including migrating species that follow the Mississippi Flyway north each spring and south each winter.

 We hope you enjoy this website and continue to follow and support us in preserving this part of Indiana’s history and protecting the habitat of all the critters that call Southeast Indiana home—and those just passing through.

Mick & Jenny Wilz