Northwest No. 2 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia
Also known as: NW2,Jurisdiction Stone; DHR File No. 00-22
Why it's listed
Set in the rear yard of a private property in Arlington, Virginia, this Aquia sandstone marker is the second mile stone along the northwest leg of the original District of Columbia boundary. It sits about 165 feet northwest of the house, near the crest of a hill overlooking Old Dominion Drive, and is only slightly visible from the road. The stone is chipped and worn, its top is gone, and pieces were once carried off for use as whetstones, as noted in an 1894-97 survey. Only part of the original inscription remains on the southeast face. A wrought iron fence about three feet square surrounds it, along with a bronze plaque placed in 1969 by patriotic societies. The marker is significant because it fixed the second mile on the northwest side, two miles from the West Cornerstone, tying it to the layout of the federal city. It is also the first stone where the words "of the" appear in italics.
Significance in brief: The marker is significant because it marked the second mile on the northwest side of the District of Columbia, two miles from the West Cornerstone. It is part of the group of boundary markers tied to the development of the federal city. The nomination also notes that the words "of the" appear in italics here for the first time and continue in italics on later stones.
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 91000004, listed February 1, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5145 N. 38th St., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Arlington County |
| Listed | February 1, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000004 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Period of significance | 1791-1940 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The stone is chipped and in poor condition with its top worn away, and the original inscription is only partly visible on the southeast side. The wrought iron fence is painted blue, with some flaking paint and rust at the base of the rails. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.91380, -77.14587 (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 91000004.
- 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.