Jones Point Lighthouse and District of Columbia South Cornerstone
Why it's listed
Jones Point, on the Potomac River in Alexandria, holds two linked historic resources: a small lighthouse and the south cornerstone of the District of Columbia. The lighthouse, built in 1855, is a 19-by-38-foot frame building of one and one-half stories on a brick foundation, with a cast-iron lantern rising from its gabled roof and Greek Revival details. A keeper lived inside until 1919, when an automatic light was installed; a new tower made the building obsolete in 1926. The cornerstone sits in a recess in the riverside retaining wall. A temporary stone was placed in 1791 to mark the start of Andrew Ellicott's survey of the ten-mile-square capital district, and a permanent stone replaced it in 1794. The stone was covered in 1861 and uncovered in 1912. The lighthouse reflects Federal efforts to improve river navigation, while the cornerstone is tied to the original planning of the national capital.
Significance in brief: The cornerstone marks the beginning point of the 1791 survey that created the District of Columbia and is one of the oldest artifacts related to the national capital. The lighthouse aided Potomac shipping for about 70 years and illustrates Federal concern for improving inland navigation in the 19th century.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80000352, listed May 19, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jones Point Park, Alexandria (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Alexandria |
| Listed | May 19, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000352 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1791-1926 |
| Architectural style | Simple Greek Revival character |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Commerce, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Lighthouse is unoccupied and altered: windows boarded, chimneys and interior fittings gone, no lamp or lens remains; park use under National Park Service. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Alexandria Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.79035, -77.04039 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80000352.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6275284
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.