The Boundary Stones Project

The Ellicott and the Banneker Boundary Stones

History

Chapter members tending the Banneker Stone.
October 2015

The Residence Act of 1790 authorized President George Washington to select a 100-square-mile site for the national capital on the Potomac River between Alexandria, Virginia, and Williamsport, Maryland. He chose the southernmost location within these limits, to include all of present-day Old Town Alexandria, then one of the four busiest ports in the country. Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson requested Andrew Ellicott to survey the ten-mile-square. 

Andrew Ellicott, a prominent professional surveyor, hired Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806), a free African American, an astronomer, and mathematician from Maryland, to make the astronomical observations and calculations needed to establish the south corner of the square at Jones Point in Alexandria, Virginia. According to legend, "Banneker fixed the position of the first stone by lying on his back to find the exact starting point for the survey ... and plotting six stars as they crossed his spot at a particular time of night." ( From Boundary Stones of the District of Columbia.) From there, Andrew Ellicott, aided by his brother, surveyed 10-mile lines first to the northwest, then the northeast, next southeast, and finally southwest back to the starting point, clearing 20 feet of land on each side of the boundary. 

Although several boundary stones have been moved or severely damaged, 36 stones from the 1790s and two substitute stones are in or near their original locations. Andrew Ellicott placed 40 Aquia Creek sandstones at one-mile intervals along the boundaries. On each stone, the side facing the District of Columbia was inscribed with "Jurisdiction of the United States" and a mile number. The opposite side displayed either "Virginia" or "Maryland," as appropriate. The third and fourth sides stated the year in which the stone was placed (1791 for the 14 Virginia stones and 1792 for the 26 Maryland stones) and the magnetic compass variance (the angle between magnetic north and true north) at that place. Stones placed at intervals of more than a mile included that extra distance measured in poles. 

The Ellicott Stone (West Boundary)

The West Cornerstone or "Ellicott Stone" marks the western tip of the original District of Columbia (the original "Federal District").  It is located in Andrew Ellicott Park at the West Cornerstone: 2824 N. Arizona Street (sometimes listed as 2824 Meridian Street), south of West Street in Falls Church, Virginia. It sits on the boundary line of Falls Church City, Fairfax County, and Arlington County. Originally under the care of the Virginia DAR, the obligation was switched to the Falls Church Chapter NSDAR and dedication took place in 1952. 

In 2012 a violent storm known as a "derecho" caused a large oak tree limb weighing several hundred pounds to fall on the Ellicott Stone. Fortunately, the iron fence surrounding the stone took the full force of the fall, so the stone was undamaged. The Falls Church Chapter NSDAR enlisted the help of the Boy Scouts of America in sponsoring an Eagle Scout project to repair the damage. Gian Palomino, Jr., of Troop 1117, led a team of more than 30 volunteers in cleaning, repairing, and upgrading Andrew Ellicott Park at the West Cornerstone, and the fencing around the stone. 

The Banneker Stone (SW #9)

This stone is located in Benjamin Banneker Park, 6620 North 18th Street, Arlington, Virginia. It commemorates the accomplishments of Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806), farmer, mathematician, inventor, astronomer, writer, surveyor, scientist, and humanitarian. 

The inscriptions on the four sides of the stone are as follows: 

On the west side, facing Van Buren Drive, "Jurisdiction of the" is all that can be read since the stone is sinking in the ground.

On the north side, facing a set of trees and 18th Street, the date "1791" is seen.

On the east side, facing the interior of the park meadow area is the state name "Virginia." 

On the south side, the "variance" cannot be read due to the closeness of a tree shadowing the stone facing the park area stream and the continuation of the park. 

The SW-9 Intermediate Boundary Stone lies directly on the line separating Arlington County from the City of Falls Church. See Nomination form for National Record of Historic Places SW#9 Stone.

Image Credit: Photos from chapter collection.