Southwest No. 5 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia
Also known as: SW5,Jurisdiction Stone; DHR File No. 00-22
Why it's listed
This Aquia sandstone marker is the fifth mile stone on the southwest side of the original District of Columbia boundary, set five miles from the South Cornerstone at Jones Point. It sits among hardwood trees on the line between Arlington County and the city of Alexandria, Virginia, and both jurisdictions own it. Regrading of Route 7 forced its move of about 44.90 feet from its first position near a creek. Only a stub remains, broken about a foot above ground; surveys in 1894-97 and 1906 already recorded the top as missing. In 1921 the Keystone Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution placed a white-painted wrought iron fence around it, with a bronze plaque identifying the original federal boundary stone of 1791-1792. The marker was listed for its link to the planning and development of the federal city and as part of a rare group of surviving boundary stones. Its relocation was accepted as an exception.
Significance in brief: The marker shows the fifth mile on the southwest side of the District, five miles from the South Cornerstone at Jones Point. It belongs to a rare surviving group of boundary markers tied to the development of the federal city. Criteria Consideration B applies because it was moved about 44.90 feet from its original position.
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 91000010, listed February 1, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NE of jct. of King St. and Walter Reed Dr., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Arlington County |
| Listed | February 1, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000010 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Period of significance | 1791-1921 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The stone is broken off about one foot above ground, with the top missing since early surveys. It was moved about 44.90 feet because of regrading of Route 7. The 1921 iron fence is painted white with some rust spots. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.84213, -77.10575 (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 91000010.
- 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.