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All the United States Virginia Alexandria South Boundary Stone of Washington, DC

South Boundary Stone of Washington, DC

America's first federal monument.

Alexandria, Virginia

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Brian Clark
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  Edward Denny / Atlas Obscura User
  Edward Denny / Atlas Obscura User
  tmcc784 / Atlas Obscura User
DC border marker   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Virginia border marker   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Maryland border marker   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Under here is the marker   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Sign   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Jones Point Park sign   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
The southern boundary stone   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
South Boundary Stone   RoadUnraveled / Atlas Obscura User
  tmcc784 / Atlas Obscura User
View facing the sea wall at the Jones Point Lighhouse   bmdclark / Atlas Obscura User
One of the nearby new boundary stones   sdittman / Atlas Obscura User
Boundary stone under the cover on the ground   sdittman / Atlas Obscura User
  sdittman / Atlas Obscura User
Peering through the viewing cylinder above   bmdclark / Atlas Obscura User
Foggy morning at Jones Point, December 6, 2015   cmahon / Atlas Obscura User
  Edward Denny / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The South Boundary Stone is America's first federal monument, laid in 1791 by Benjamin Banneker as part of a surveying project to outline the newly created District of Columbia.

The stone now resides in the sea wall separating Jones Point Park from the Potomac River. To find the stone, simply follow the trails marked to the Jones Point Lighthouse. The stone sits between the lighthouse steps and the fence by the Potomac Ruverin, buried under a square bronze-and-glass covering.

Other newer boundary stones and a USGS marker extend in both directions behind the lighthouse, with the boundary line noted on top of each and the words District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia engraved on the sides. In all, 40 boundary stones were planted in the planning of Washington, DC, in a big square around the city.  

While many of the border stones have been lost, the north, east, and west  corner stones are still intact.  

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Monuments

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Go to the Park and head South across the paved walking area to the trail running next to the river.Nearby is another interesting marker honoring Margaret Brent, an extraordinary woman who owned the park property in the 17th century and who campaigned for women's rights long before the major political movements of the 19th and 20th centuries.

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bmdclark

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sdittman, dustinko, alcilc22, Edward Denny...

  • sdittman
  • dustinko
  • alcilc22
  • Edward Denny
  • rps5883
  • cmahon
  • tmcc784
  • ArthurGartner
  • RoadUnraveled
  • Jason Michael Walker

Published

July 16, 2012

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South Boundary Stone of Washington, DC
Jones Point Park
Alexandria, Virginia, 22314
United States
38.790361, -77.040617
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Nearby Places

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Alexandria

Alexandria

Virginia

Places 34

Nearby Places

World War I-Era Rudder

Alexandria, Virginia

miles away

Woodrow Wilson Bridge

Fort Washington, Maryland

miles away

Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery

Alexandria, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Alexandria

Alexandria

Virginia

Places 34

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The Boundary Stones: In Search of the Gravestones of Old DC

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