Southwest No. 6 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia
Also known as: SW6,Jurisdiction Stone; DHR File No. 00-22
Why it's listed
Set in a landscaped median on South Jefferson Street in Bailey's Crossroads, this sandstone marker is one of the stones that outlined the original District of Columbia. It stands at the sixth mile on the southwest side, measured from the South Cornerstone at Jones Point. Because the end of the mile fell in a stream, the stone was placed at 5 miles 304 poles, making it the second Virginia stone set at an uneven distance. Road and apartment construction threatened it, and Arlington County stored it for three years before it was moved to the nearest public land and rededicated in 1965 with a new iron fence. A car struck it in December 1989, and county crews repaired the stone and fence. The marker is valued for its link to the planning of the federal city and for the preservation work of the Daughters of the American Revolution, who dedicated it in 1916.
Significance in brief: The marker shows where the sixth mile of the original District of Columbia boundary fell, six miles from the South Cornerstone at Jones Point. It was the second Virginia stone set at an uneven distance, marked 5 miles 304 poles, because the end of the mile lay in a stream. It also reflects the long stewardship of the Daughters of the American Revolution. It is treated as an exception to the usual relocation rule because it belongs to a rare group of surviving resources.
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 91000011, listed February 1, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S. Jefferson St. S of jct. with Columbia Pike, in median strip, Bailey's Crossroads |
|---|---|
| County | Arlington County |
| Listed | February 1, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000011 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Period of significance | 1791-1940 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored to its median location after an automobile accident in December 1989; the white-painted iron fence has some rusting and flaking, and the stone is badly chipped and has been cemented back together more than once. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.85168, -77.11807 (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 91000011.
- 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.