Historical MarkerLos Ebanos Ferry Crossing
Los Ebanos · Hidalgo County · Dedicated 1974 · THC Atlas #5215003127
The roadside stories worth pulling over for.
Marker Inscription
Apparently this is an ancient ford. First recorded usage was by Spanish explorers and colonists under Jose de Escandon in 1740s on the Rio Grande. A salt trail led from here to El Sal del Rey (40 miles northeast). The ford was used by Mexican war troops, 1846; by Texas Rangers chasing cattle rustlers, 1874; by smugglers in many eras, especially during the American prohibition years, 1920s and '30s. The ferry and inspection station were established in 1950. Named for the ebony trees here, this is known as the only government-licensed, hand-pulled ferry on any boundary of the United States. (1974)
About this site
Los Ebanos Ferry Crossing is a historical marker in Los Ebanos, Hidalgo County, dedicated in 1974. It is one of 138 historical markers documented in Hidalgo County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 236 historic sites cataloged across the county.
The site sits at 26.2416, -98.5632 near Los Ebanos. The nearest cataloged historic site is Los Ebanos (cemetery), about 0.1 miles away. Others within a short drive include Cuevitas, Benavides Ranch, and Hidalgo County's First Oil Well.
This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5215003127. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.
