Southwest No. 8 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia
Also known as: SW8,Jurisdiction Stone; DHR File No. 00-22
Why it's listed
Behind an apartment complex at John Marshall Drive and Wilson Boulevard in Arlington, an Aquia sandstone block stands inside a small iron fence. It is the Southwest No. 8 boundary marker of the original District of Columbia, set in 1791-1792 to mark the eighth mile southwest of the South Cornerstone at Jones Point. The stone has had a troubled history. A 1894-97 survey found it missing, and a local resident said it had fallen from a caving bank on Throckmorton or Upton Hill and disappeared in the 1880s. By 1906 it had been found and reset, though rotated and not in its proper place. Today it is worn, gouged and broken, about 25 to 30 inches high, with a bronze plaque added by a Daughters of the American Revolution chapter in 1950. It was listed for its link to the planning of the federal city and as part of a rare surviving group of markers.
Significance in brief: The stone marked the eighth mile on the southwest side of the District, measured from the South Cornerstone at Jones Point. It is part of a rare surviving group of boundary markers tied to the development of the federal city. Because it has been moved, it was listed with a relocation exception, justified by its role in that group.
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 91000013, listed February 1, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of Wilson Blvd. and John Marshall Dr., behind apt. bldg., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Arlington County |
| Listed | February 1, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000013 |
| 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) | Described as in poor condition, badly worn, gouged and broken, no longer in its proper position; the surrounding iron fence is bent and its concrete base is eroding, though the area is well maintained. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.87073, -77.14573 (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 91000013.
- 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.