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Boundary Stones (District of Columbia)
Encyclopedia
The Boundary Markers of the Original District of Columbia
are the 40 milestone
s that mark the four lines forming the boundaries between the states of Maryland
and Virginia
and the square of 100 square miles (259 km²) of federal
territory that became the District of Columbia in 1801. A survey
team led by Major Andrew Ellicott
placed these markers in 1791 and 1792; among Ellicott's assistants was astronomer
and surveyor
Benjamin Banneker
. Today, 36 of the original marker stones survive as the oldest federally placed monument
s in the United States
. Due to the return of the portion of the District south and west of the Potomac River
to Virginia in 1846, some of these markers are now within Virginia.
between the corners of the square running north-south and east-west, and having its southern corner at the southern tip of Jones Point
in Alexandria
, Virginia
, at the confluence of the Potomac River
and Hunting Creek
(later the site of the Jones Point Lighthouse). The sides of the square are each 10 miles (16.1 km) long. The specified orientation results in a diamond shape for the District's original boundaries on most maps
.
The north-south axis of the District's current boundaries extends between present 17th and 18th Streets, N.W., continuing south across the National Mall
to the far shore of the Potomac River
; the east-west axis is between present Constitution Avenue
and C Street, N.E. and N.W. Note that these axes are not the lines used to define the four geographical quadrants of the District (N.E., N.W., S.E., and S.W.), commonly appended to Washington street addresses, which are delimited generally by North Capitol Street
, East Capitol Street
, South Capitol Street
, and the National Mall. The center of the square is west of the Ellipse and north of the Mall, within the grounds of the headquarters of the Organization of American States
.
in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1791. The team then cleared a corridor along the boundary route to facilitate surveying
, starting at the south corner and continuing clockwise, placing sandstone
boundary markers at the four corners and at intervals of approximately one mile. These markers were quarried
near Aquia Creek
in Virginia. Most weighed about a half-ton at their emplacement; the four cornerstones were slightly larger. The Virginia stones were set in 1791, and the Maryland ones in 1792. The location of the four cornerstones and the other markers is identified on the map in "Boundary Stones of the District of Columbia".
The side of a boundary marker that faced the federal territory was inscribed "Jurisdiction of the United States". The opposite side was marked with the name of the border state: Virginia
or Maryland
. The remaining sides were marked with the year that the team placed the stones and with the marker's compass reading.
(DAR) placed fences around the markers.
in 1976, and another in 1980. In 1991 (for Virginia markers) and 1996 (for markers on the D.C./Maryland boundary), most of the markers not previously so designated were entered on this Register as parts of Multiple Property Submissions (or MPS) for Boundary Markers of the Original District of Columbia.
was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and further was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark
, in 1976 at the instigation of the Black Bicentennial Corporation, which gave the stone its name: Benjamin Banneker: SW-9 Intermediate Boundary Stone
.
South Corner. This boundary marker in Virginia was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, together with Alexandria's Jones Point Lighthouse
.
Southwest 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8; West Corner; Northwest 1, 2, and 3. These boundary markers in Virginia were added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 1, 1991.
, were added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 1, 1996.
and does not resemble an original boundary marker.
. A bronze plaque in the sidewalk in front of a shop at the site marks the stone's former location.
, placed the marker in his garage in 1991.
pipe
embedded in a mound of gravel marks the replacement stone's site. The top of the replacement stone could be seen through the interior of the pipe in 2006.
is also included for each stone.
Four additional stones, erected later along major roads, mark the boundary lines that separate the District of Columbia and Maryland. They are known as the Garden Club of America Entrance Markers
.
One such marker exists near the northernmost point of Westmoreland Circle
at the junction of Western Avenue NW and Massachusetts Avenue NW
. This marker is between the Northwest No. 5 and Northwest No. 6 boundary markers of the original District of Columbia.
A similar marker is in Friendship Heights
, near the curb of the north corner of Western Avenue NW and Wisconsin Avenue
, adjacent to the Friendship Heights Station of the Washington Metro system
. This marker is between the Northwest No. 6 and Northwest No. 7 boundary markers of the original District of Columbia.
The third similar marker stands in a traffic circle
near Silver Spring at the junction of Eastern Avenue NW, 16th Street NW
and Colesville Road. This marker is between the North Corner boundary marker and the former site of the Northeast No. 1 boundary marker of the original District of Columbia.
The fourth marker is located in Chevy Chase Circle
. The primary intersection is Western and Connecticut Avenues, NW. This marker is between the Northwest No. 7 and Northwest No. 8 boundary markers of the original District of Columbia.
History of Washington, D.C.
The history of Washington, D.C. is tied to its role as the capital of the United States. Originally inhabited by an Algonquian-speaking people known as the Nacotchtank, the site of the District of Columbia along the Potomac River was originally selected by President George Washington. The city came...
are the 40 milestone
Milestone
A milestone is one of a series of numbered markers placed along a road or boundary at intervals of one mile or occasionally, parts of a mile. They are typically located at the side of the road or in a median. They are alternatively known as mile markers, mileposts or mile posts...
s that mark the four lines forming the boundaries between the states of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and the square of 100 square miles (259 km²) of federal
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
territory that became the District of Columbia in 1801. A survey
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
team led by Major Andrew Ellicott
Andrew Ellicott
Andrew Ellicott was a U.S. surveyor who helped map many of the territories west of the Appalachians, surveyed the boundaries of the District of Columbia, continued and completed Pierre Charles L'Enfant's work on the plan for Washington, D.C., and served as a teacher in survey methods for...
placed these markers in 1791 and 1792; among Ellicott's assistants was astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
and surveyor
Surveyor
Surveyor may refer to:Professions and their activities* Surveying, the process of determining accurate positions on, or near the Earth's surface** Cadastral surveying, the process of establishing boundary locations and land parcel corners...
Benjamin Banneker
Benjamin Banneker
Benjamin Banneker was a free African American astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, almanac author and farmer.-Family history and early life:It is difficult to verify much of Benjamin Banneker's family history...
. Today, 36 of the original marker stones survive as the oldest federally placed monument
Monument
A monument is a type of structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, or simply as an example of historic architecture...
s in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Due to the return of the portion of the District south and west of the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
to Virginia in 1846, some of these markers are now within Virginia.
Geography
The District of Columbia was originally specified to be a square 100 square miles (259 km²) in area, with the axesCartesian coordinate system
A Cartesian coordinate system specifies each point uniquely in a plane by a pair of numerical coordinates, which are the signed distances from the point to two fixed perpendicular directed lines, measured in the same unit of length...
between the corners of the square running north-south and east-west, and having its southern corner at the southern tip of Jones Point
Jones Point
Jones Point is a geographic point on the Potomac River which is part of the city of Alexandria, Virginia, United States. The Jones Point lighthouse and a small park are located at the point, which is immediately north of the confluence of Hunting Creek and the Potomac River...
in Alexandria
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, at the confluence of the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
and Hunting Creek
Hunting Creek
Hunting Creek is a cove and tributary stream of the Potomac River between the City of Alexandria and Fairfax County in Virginia. It is formed by the confluence of Cameron Run and Hooff Run. The community of Huntington takes its name from the creek. Jones Point forms the north side. Dyke Marsh is...
(later the site of the Jones Point Lighthouse). The sides of the square are each 10 miles (16.1 km) long. The specified orientation results in a diamond shape for the District's original boundaries on most maps
MAPS
Maps is the plural of map, a visual representation of an area.As an acronym, MAPS may refer to:* Mail Abuse Prevention System, an organisation that provides anti-spam support...
.
The north-south axis of the District's current boundaries extends between present 17th and 18th Streets, N.W., continuing south across the National Mall
National Mall
The National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The National Mall is a unit of the National Park Service , and is administered by the National Mall and Memorial Parks unit...
to the far shore of the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
; the east-west axis is between present Constitution Avenue
Constitution Avenue
In Washington, D.C., Constitution Avenue is a major east-west street running just north of the United States Capitol in the city's Northwest and Northeast quadrants...
and C Street, N.E. and N.W. Note that these axes are not the lines used to define the four geographical quadrants of the District (N.E., N.W., S.E., and S.W.), commonly appended to Washington street addresses, which are delimited generally by North Capitol Street
North Capitol Street
North Capitol Street is a street in Washington, D.C. that separates the Northwest and Northeast quadrants of the city. The street begins at D Street due north of the United States Capitol and continues northward 4½ miles to Nicholson Street where it is interrupted by Fort Slocum Park and the...
, East Capitol Street
East Capitol Street
East Capitol Street is a major street that divides the northeast and southeast quadrants of Washington, D.C. It runs due east from the United States Capitol to the DC-Maryland border. The street is uninterrupted until Lincoln Park then continues eastward to Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium...
, South Capitol Street
South Capitol Street
South Capitol Street is a major street dividing the southeast and southwest quadrants of Washington, D.C. It runs south from the United States Capitol to the Washington-Maryland line...
, and the National Mall. The center of the square is west of the Ellipse and north of the Mall, within the grounds of the headquarters of the Organization of American States
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
.
Placement of Boundary Stones
The survey team began at the square's south corner on the shoreline of Jones PointJones Point
Jones Point is a geographic point on the Potomac River which is part of the city of Alexandria, Virginia, United States. The Jones Point lighthouse and a small park are located at the point, which is immediately north of the confluence of Hunting Creek and the Potomac River...
in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1791. The team then cleared a corridor along the boundary route to facilitate surveying
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
, starting at the south corner and continuing clockwise, placing sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
boundary markers at the four corners and at intervals of approximately one mile. These markers were quarried
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
near Aquia Creek
Aquia Creek
Aquia Creek is a tributary of the tidal segment of the Potomac River and is located in northern Virginia. The creek's headwaters lie in southeastern Fauquier County, and it empties into the Potomac at Brent Point in Stafford County, south of Washington, D.C....
in Virginia. Most weighed about a half-ton at their emplacement; the four cornerstones were slightly larger. The Virginia stones were set in 1791, and the Maryland ones in 1792. The location of the four cornerstones and the other markers is identified on the map in "Boundary Stones of the District of Columbia".
The side of a boundary marker that faced the federal territory was inscribed "Jurisdiction of the United States". The opposite side was marked with the name of the border state: Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
or Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. The remaining sides were marked with the year that the team placed the stones and with the marker's compass reading.
Fencing by the DAR
In the early 1900s, the Daughters of the American RevolutionDaughters of the American Revolution
The Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based membership organization for women who are descended from a person involved in United States' independence....
(DAR) placed fences around the markers.
Historical Designations
One Virginia boundary marker was added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1976, and another in 1980. In 1991 (for Virginia markers) and 1996 (for markers on the D.C./Maryland boundary), most of the markers not previously so designated were entered on this Register as parts of Multiple Property Submissions (or MPS) for Boundary Markers of the Original District of Columbia.
Virginia
Southwest 9. This boundary marker in VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and further was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
, in 1976 at the instigation of the Black Bicentennial Corporation, which gave the stone its name: Benjamin Banneker: SW-9 Intermediate Boundary Stone
Benjamin Banneker: SW-9 Intermediate Boundary Stone
Benjamin Banneker: SW 9 Intermediate Boundary Stone, also known as Intermediate Stone of the District of Columbia, is a surveyors' boundary marker stone...
.
South Corner. This boundary marker in Virginia was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, together with Alexandria's Jones Point Lighthouse
Jones Point Light
The Jones Point Light is a small river lighthouse located on the Potomac River in Alexandria, Virginia. It was built in 1855. It is a small, one-story house with a lantern on top. The lighthouse was discontinued in 1926, replaced by a small steel skeletal tower located nearby; this smaller tower...
.
Southwest 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8; West Corner; Northwest 1, 2, and 3. These boundary markers in Virginia were added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 1, 1991.
District of Columbia & Maryland
Northwest 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9; North Corner; Northeast 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9; East Corner; Southeast 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 9. These boundary markers, located along the border between the District of Columbia and MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, were added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 1, 1996.
Missing boundary markers
Four of the forty original boundary markers were not in or near their original locations in 2006. Three of these had been replaced with substitute markers.Southwest No. 2 Boundary Marker
The original marker disappeared before 1900. A marker stone now within a DAR fence near the street curb at 7 Russell Road north of King Street in Alexandria is a replacement. DAR records show that the replacement marker was placed at that location in 1920. The replacement marker lacks an inscriptionEpigraphy
Epigraphy Epigraphy Epigraphy (from the , literally "on-writing", is the study of inscriptions or epigraphs as writing; that is, the science of identifying the graphemes and of classifying their use as to cultural context and date, elucidating their meaning and assessing what conclusions can be...
and does not resemble an original boundary marker.
Northeast No. 1 Boundary Marker
A photograph taken in the early 1900s shows a ceremony that members of the DAR conducted when they placed a fence around this marker stone, which was then in a field. The stone was bulldozed and removed in September 1952 during the construction of a storefront at 7847 Eastern Avenue, northwest of the avenue's intersection with Georgia AvenueGeorgia Avenue
Georgia Avenue is a major north-south artery in Northwest Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland. Within the District of Columbia and a short distance in Silver Spring, Maryland, Georgia Avenue is also U.S. Route 29...
. A bronze plaque in the sidewalk in front of a shop at the site marks the stone's former location.
Southeast No. 4 Boundary Marker
This marker was located in 1976 along Southern Avenue a few feet southeast of the avenue's intersection with Naylor Road. The stone subsequently disappeared but was recovered by volunteers from the Maryland Society of Surveyors while working on a resurvey of the D.C. line. David R. Doyle of Silver Spring, MarylandSilver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...
, placed the marker in his garage in 1991.
Southeast No. 8 Boundary Marker
This marker disappeared during construction in 1958. A replacement marker stone that lacks an inscription is located in the southeast corner of the Blue Plains Impoundment Lot on the Maryland side of the impoundment lot's fence. The replacement stone is nearly eight feet below ground level. A concreteConcrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
pipe
Pipe (material)
A pipe is a tubular section or hollow cylinder, usually but not necessarily of circular cross-section, used mainly to convey substances which can flow — liquids and gases , slurries, powders, masses of small solids...
embedded in a mound of gravel marks the replacement stone's site. The top of the replacement stone could be seen through the interior of the pipe in 2006.
List of Boundary Stones
The 36 extant and four missing boundary stones are tabulated in sequence below, beginning at the southern corner and proceeding clockwise, in the same order as the stones were placed. The year of designation on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
is also included for each stone.
Southern Corner
| Name | Also known as | Address | City/County | Status | Designation |
| District of Columbia South Cornerstone | South Cornerstone of the Original District of Columbia | Seawall Seawall A seawall is a form of coastal defence constructed where the sea, and associated coastal processes, impact directly upon the landforms of the coast. The purpose of a seawall is to protect areas of human habitation, conservation and leisure activities from the action of tides and waves... south of lighthouse, Jones Point Park, 1 Jones Point Drive, Alexandria |
City of Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as... ; Prince George's County, Maryland Prince George's County, Maryland Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation.... |
Extant | 1980 |
Southwestern Side
| Name | Also known as | Address | City/County | Status | Designation |
| Southwest No. 1 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 1220 Wilkes Street | City of Alexandria, Virginia | Extant | 1991 | |
| Southwest No. 2 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | East side of Russell Road, north of junction with King Street | City of Alexandria, Virginia | Missing | 1991 | |
| Southwest No. 3 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 2952 King Street | City of Alexandria, Virginia | Extant | 1991 | |
| Southwest No. 4 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | King Street north of junction with Wakefield Street | City of Alexandria and Arlington County Arlington County, Virginia Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of... , Virginia |
Extant | 1991 | |
| Southwest No. 5 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | Northeast of junction of King Street and Walter Reed Drive | Arlington County, Virginia | Extant | 1991 | |
| Southwest No. 6 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | South Jefferson Street south of junction with Columbia Pike, in median strip | Arlington and Fairfax Fairfax County, Virginia Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population... counties, Virginia |
Extant | 1991 | |
| Southwest No. 7 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | Behind 3101 South Manchester Street, in fence southwest of Carlin Springs Elementary School (5995 5th Road South) parking lot | Arlington and Fairfax counties, Virginia | Extant | 1991 | |
| Southwest No. 8 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | South of junction of Wilson Boulevard and John Marshall Drive, behind apartment building | Arlington County and the City of Falls Church Falls Church, Virginia The City of Falls Church is an independent city in Virginia, United States, in the Washington Metropolitan Area. The city population was 12,332 in 2010, up from 10,377 in 2000. Taking its name from The Falls Church, an 18th-century Anglican parish, Falls Church gained township status within... , Virginia |
Extant | 1991 | |
| Southwest No. 9 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | Benjamin Banneker: SW-9 Intermediate Boundary Stone | West side of Benjamin Banneker Park, 1701 North Van Buren Street, between 18th Street North and Four Mile Run Four Mile Run Four Mile Run is a stream in northern Virginia that starts near Interstate 66, at Gordon Avenue in Fairfax County and proceeds southeast through Falls Church to Arlington County in the U.S. state of Virginia... |
Arlington County and the City of Falls Church, Virginia | Extant | 1976 |
Western Corner
| Name | Also known as | Address | City/County | Status | Designation |
| West Cornerstone | West Jurisdiction Stone | In Andrew Ellicott Park at the West Cornerstone, 2824 North Arizona Street, Arlington, Virginia | Arlington County, City of Falls Church, and Fairfax County, Virginia | Extant | 1991 |
Northwestern Side
| Name | Also known as | Address | City/County | Status | Designation |
| Northwest No. 1 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 3607 Powhatan Street | Arlington and Fairfax counties, Virginia | Extant | 1991 | |
| Northwest No. 2 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 5145 North 38th Street | Arlington and Fairfax counties, Virginia | Extant | 1991 | |
| Northwest No. 3 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 4013 North Tazewell Street | Arlington and Fairfax counties, Virginia | Extant | 1991 | |
| Northwest No. 4 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 5906 Dalecarlia Place, Northwest | Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution.... and Montgomery County, Maryland Montgomery County, Maryland Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate... |
Extant | 1996 | |
| Northwest No. 5 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | Dalecarlia Reservoir, 600 feet (182.9 m) west of Dalecarlia Parkway and 300 feet (91.4 m) southeast of concrete culvert | Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
| Northwest No. 6 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 150 feet (45.7 m) northeast of junction of Park and Western Avenues, Northwest | Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
| Northwest No. 7 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 5600 Western Avenue | Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
| Northwest No. 8 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 6422 Western Avenue | Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
| Northwest No. 9 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | Rock Creek Park, approximately 165 feet (50.3 m) Northwest of the centerline of Daniel Road and 5 feet (1.5 m) southeast from edge of 2701 Daniel Road | Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
Northern Corner
| Name | Also known as | Address | City/County | Status | Designation |
| North Corner Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 1880 block of East-West Highway (south side) | Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
Northeastern Side
| Name | Also known as | Address | City/County | Status | Designation |
| Northeast No. 1 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County, Maryland | Missing | |||
| Northeast No. 2 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 6980 Maple Street, Northwest | Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
| Northeast No. 3 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 144 feet (43.9 m) northwest of junction of Eastern Avenue and Chillum Road | Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland Prince George's County, Maryland Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation.... |
Extant | 1996 | |
| Northeast No. 4 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 5400 Sargent Road | Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
| Northeast No. 5 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 4609 Eastern Avenue | Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
| Northeast No. 6 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 3601 Eastern Avenue | Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
| Northeast No. 7 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | Fort Lincoln Cemetery | Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
| Northeast No. 8 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens is a National Park Service site located in the north eastern corner of Washington, D.C., and the Maryland state border. Nestled near the banks of the Anacostia River and directly south of the Baltimore Washington Parkway, Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens preserves... , northwest of junction of Eastern and Kenilworth Avenues |
Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
| Northeast No. 9 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 919 Eastern Avenue | Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
Eastern Corner
| Name | Also known as | Address | City/County | Status | Designation |
| East Corner Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 100 feet (30.5 m) east of junction of Eastern and Southern Avenues | Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
Southeastern Side
| Name | Also known as | Address | City/County | Status | Designation |
| Southeast No. 1 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 30 feet (9.1 m) south of junction of Southern Avenue and D Street | Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
| Southeast No. 2 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 4245 Southern Avenue | Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
| Southeast No. 3 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 3908 Southern Avenue | Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
| Southeast No. 4 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland | Missing | |||
| Southeast No. 5 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 280 feet (85.3 m) northeast of junction of Southern Avenue and Valley Terrace | Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
| Southeast No. 6 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 901 Southern Avenue | Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
| Southeast No. 7 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 25 feet (7.6 m) northeast of junction of Southern Avenue and Indian Head Road | Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
| Southeast No. 8 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland | Missing | |||
| Southeast No. 9 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia | 0.225 mile (0.3621015 km) southwest of the southern end of Oxon Cove Bridge and about 120 feet (36.6 m) east of the Potomac River, at the base of a hill | Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland | Extant | 1996 | |
Additional Boundary Markers
Garden Club of America Entrance Markers in Washington, D.C.
The Garden Club of America Entrance Markers in Washington, D.C. is a Multiple Property Submission, or MPS, on the National Register of Historic Places. The seven structures that make up the MPS are ceremonial entrance markers at important entrance points to the District of Columbia from the state...
.
One such marker exists near the northernmost point of Westmoreland Circle
Westmoreland Circle
Westmoreland Circle is a traffic circle straddling the border between the U.S. state of Maryland and Washington, D.C. The circle lies at the intersection of Western Avenue, Butterworth Place, Massachusetts Avenue, Dalecarlia Parkway, Wetherill Road, and Dalecarlia Drive.There are only two buildings...
at the junction of Western Avenue NW and Massachusetts Avenue NW
Massachusetts Avenue (Washington, D.C.)
Massachusetts Avenue is a major diagonal transverse road in Washington, D.C., and the Massachusetts Avenue Historic District is a historic district that includes part of it....
. This marker is between the Northwest No. 5 and Northwest No. 6 boundary markers of the original District of Columbia.
A similar marker is in Friendship Heights
Friendship Heights
Friendship Heights is a residential neighborhood in northwest Washington, D.C. and southern Montgomery County, Maryland. Though its borders are not clearly defined, Friendship Heights consists roughly of the neighborhoods and commercial areas around Wisconsin Avenue north of Fessenden Street NW and...
, near the curb of the north corner of Western Avenue NW and Wisconsin Avenue
Wisconsin Avenue (Washington, D.C.)
Wisconsin Avenue is a major thoroughfare in Washington, D.C., and its Maryland suburbs. It starts in Georgetown just north of the Potomac River, at an intersection with K Street under the Whitehurst Freeway...
, adjacent to the Friendship Heights Station of the Washington Metro system
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail, is the rapid transit system in Washington, D.C., United States, and its surrounding suburbs. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , which also operates Metrobus service under the Metro name...
. This marker is between the Northwest No. 6 and Northwest No. 7 boundary markers of the original District of Columbia.
The third similar marker stands in a traffic circle
Traffic circle
A traffic circle or rotary is a type of circular intersection in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island. In some countries, traffic entering the circle has the right-of-way and drivers in the circle must yield. In many other countries, traffic entering the circle must...
near Silver Spring at the junction of Eastern Avenue NW, 16th Street NW
16th Street Northwest (Washington, D.C.)
16th Street Northwest is a prominent north-south thoroughfare in the northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C.Part of Pierre L'Enfant's design for the city, 16th Street begins just north of the White House across Lafayette Park at H Street and continues due north in a straight line passing K Street,...
and Colesville Road. This marker is between the North Corner boundary marker and the former site of the Northeast No. 1 boundary marker of the original District of Columbia.
The fourth marker is located in Chevy Chase Circle
Chevy Chase Circle
Chevy Chase Circle is a traffic circle straddling the border of Chevy Chase, Washington, D.C. and Chevy Chase, Maryland. The circle sits upon the convergence of Western Avenue, Grafton Street, Magnolia Parkway, Chevy Chase Parkway, and Connecticut Avenue. In the center of the circle is a fountain...
. The primary intersection is Western and Connecticut Avenues, NW. This marker is between the Northwest No. 7 and Northwest No. 8 boundary markers of the original District of Columbia.
See also
- List of Registered Historic Places in the District of Columbia
- List of Registered Historic Places in Virginia
External links
- Boundary Stones Committee, DC Daughters of the American RevolutionDaughters of the American RevolutionThe Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based membership organization for women who are descended from a person involved in United States' independence....
- Boundary Stone, Southeast 4 at Fairlington Historic District
- Northern Virginia Regional Commission
- Maps, photos and satellite images
- Locations and individual photographs of 40 boundary marker sites from boundary stones.org
- Locations and individual photographs of 27 boundary markers from zhurnaly.com
- Coordinates of south cornerstone of original District of Columbia: 38.790346°N 77.040604°W
- District of Columbia Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution: "Location of Boundary Stones (Mile Markers)" from dcdar.org