Southwest No. 7 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia
Also known as: SW7,Jurisdiction Stone; DHR File No. 00-22
Why it's listed
Tucked along a fence line between a condominium complex and Kenmore Intermediate School in Arlington, Virginia, this Aquia sandstone block is the Southwest No. 7 boundary marker of the original District of Columbia. It stands in a small wrought iron enclosure of about three feet by three feet, reached from the parking lot near the condominium tennis courts. The stone marked the seventh mile on the southwest side of the District, measured seven miles from the South Cornerstone at Jones Point. Today it leans toward the southwest and carries scars and cuts, some of which may come from Civil War bullets or grapeshot, since Fort Ramsay and Fort Buffalo were nearby and the markers apparently served as target practice. A survey in 1906 already noted such damage. The marker was listed for its association with the development of the federal city, as one of a larger set of boundary stones, with a period of significance running from 1791 to about 1916.
Significance in brief: The stone marked the seventh mile on the southwest side of the District of Columbia, measured seven miles from the South Cornerstone at Jones Point. It is tied to the development of the federal city and is part of a group of boundary markers. Scars on the stone may date from Civil War use as target practice near Fort Ramsay and Fort Buffalo.
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 91000012, listed February 1, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Behind 3101 S. Manchester St., Fairfax |
|---|---|
| County | Arlington County |
| Listed | February 1, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000012 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Period of significance | 1791-ca. 1916 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marker is askew, leaning southwest, defaced by cuts and markings; the wrought iron fence is rusted with flaking paint; there is no plaque. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.86236, -77.13303 (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 91000012.
- 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.