Historical Significance

"The boundary stones are the oldest federal monuments. The Residence Act of July 16, 1790, as amended March 3, 1791, authorized President George Washington to select a 100-square-mile site for the national capital on the Potomac River between Alexandria, Virginia, and Williamsport, Maryland. President Washington selected the southernmost location within these limits, so that the capital would include all of present-day Old Town Alexandria, then one of the four busiest ports in the country. Acting on instructions from Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Major Andrew Ellicott began surveying the ten-mile square on February 12, 1791. In 1915 the District of Columbia Chapters adopted the Boundary Stones, acquired deeds from the property owners to install a footing for the iron protective fences." They had identical fences designed and installed and finally in 1916/1917 dedication ceremonies took place to mark each stone with a plaque with the name of the Chapter who agreed to be its steward. (Wording from www.boundarystones.org) 

 

Ownership and Care

Ownership of SW6 lies with Arlington County Government, Arlington, VA. The Fairfax County Chapter NSDAR has stewardship responsibility for it. Per the Chapter minutes of January 8, 1916, permission was secured from the owners for the SW6 boundary stone. A fence was erected and dedicated June 15, 1916. 

The Chapter does not hold an ownership deed for the property. A member of the Chapter visits the site on an annual basis to inspect the fence and stone and perform cleanup around the location. It should be noted that the stone is not located in its original location. It was relocated becuase the original site is now occupied by an apartment building. The Chapter does not provide funding for this site.

 

Marker Details

Marker Date: June 5, 1965

Dedicated By: Fairfax County Chapter NSDAR

Marker Wording: 

Original Boundary Stone - D.C. - SW6

Dedicated June 15, 1916

Rededicated June 5, 1965

Fairfax County Chpater

DAR