Forgotten Boundary Stones

Citizen Ship

Posted: June 27, 2018

The original West Boundary Stone of Washington, D.C., sits in the western tip of Arlington County, Virginia. (AP)
An old map shows the original markers of the boundaries laid out by George Washington.
George Washington is depicted with his family, sitting in front of a map. Washington spent years working as a surveyor.
The first Boundary Stone, South, sits under Jones Point Lighthouse. (AP)
Washington D.C's 40 boundary stones were set in place according to President George Washington’s plan in 1791. (AP)

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Watch your step! You’re about to trip over history!

In Washington, D.C., you can’t ignore the Washington Monument. It’s huge! But you may totally miss the 40 monuments called the Boundary Stones. Or you may stumble right over them.

Some of the stones are easy to spot. They are labeled with plaques and protected by fences. But others go unnoticed. Cars, weather, traffic, and construction equipment have damaged them. You’ll find one of the stones at the edge of a McDonald’s parking lot surrounded by trash!

The stones have a story. After the Revolutionary War, people in the new United States squabbled. They couldn’t agree about where to put the capital city. But the U.S. Constitution gave the first president power to decide. George Washington chose Washington, D.C. He donated 100 square miles of land. People cleared trees from the boundary line. The first stone was laid April 15, 1791, in Alexandria, Virginia. The stones mark out the city in a 10-mile by 10-mile square.

You can still visit these historic markers . . . if you know to look for them.

The markers are supposed to make us remember the beginning of the United States, a country ruled by the people. But most people don’t even remember that the stones exist—much less remember to take care of them. Which people should have the job of maintaining the forgotten stones? It’s complicated. Some stones stand on private property. Others are on public land. One idea is to let public school students who live in Washington, D.C., help care for them. Schools could “adopt” stones. Kids could learn about American history as they tended the markers. That might be a good solution. But it’s not yet set in stone.