Northwest No. 1 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia
Also known as: NW1,Jurisdiction Stone; DHR File No. 00-22
Why it's listed
Set on a wooded hillside behind a private home at 3607 Powhatan Street in Arlington, Virginia, this small Aquia sandstone block is the Northwest No. 1 mile marker of the original District of Columbia. It was placed in 1791-1792 to mark the first mile on the northwest side of the federal territory, measured from the West Cornerstone. The stone measures about 11 by 11 by 27.5 inches and is partly sheared off at an angle on its northeast side. A survey from 1894-97 had already noted that part of the top was broken. In 1916 the Richard Arnold Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution placed a wrought iron fence around it, painted dark green, with a bronze plaque identifying it as an original federal boundary stone. The area is fairly well maintained and barely visible from the road. It was listed for its connection with the creation and layout of the national capital, with significance spanning 1791 to 1916.
Significance in brief: The stone marked the first mile on the northwest side of the original District of Columbia, one mile from the West Cornerstone. It is nominated under Criterion A as part of the group of boundary markers, with significance in community planning and development and in politics and government. The group context is set out in a separate multiple property documentation form.
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 91000003, listed February 1, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3607 Powhatan St., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Arlington County |
| Listed | February 1, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000003 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Period of significance | 1791-1916 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Fairly well maintained; the stone is partly sheared off at an angle on the northeast side, and a wrought iron fence painted dark green surrounds it. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.90305, -77.15915 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 91000003.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.