Imagine a time when the boundaries of Washington D.C. were being meticulously carved out of the wilderness. That is the story of the Southeast Number 5 Boundary Marker. Here we stand before a silent witness to history. This stone marks a critical point along the original border between Washington D.C. and Maryland.
The Residence Act of 1790 set the stage. President George Washington got the task to choose the site for the nation’s capital. It had to be a 100-square-mile area on the Potomac River. This area was to be between Alexandria and Williamsport. Washington selected the southernmost spot.
Thomas Jefferson then told Major Andrew Ellicott to define the city limits. Ellicott began this task on February 11, 1791. He hired Benjamin Banneker. Banneker was a Maryland astronomer and surveyor. Banneker provided crucial astronomical observations. These observations helped fix the south corner of the new capital.
Banneker found the position of the first stone. He did so by lying on his back. He plotted six stars as they crossed his spot at a particular time of night.
The initial survey concluded in April. The Masonic Lodge in Alexandria celebrated the event on April 15. They put a small ceremonial stone at Jones Point. This marked the south corner. Later, a larger stone replaced it. The new stone read “The beginning of the Territory of Columbia.”
These boundary stones are made of Aquia Creek sandstone. They weigh about half a ton. Stones were placed about one mile apart. If stones were further apart, they had extra markings. These markings showed the additional distance. Each stone had inscriptions facing D.C. territory. The mile number and “Jurisdiction of the United States” were carved on the stone. The opposite side showed the name of the bordering state. Other faces noted the magnetic variance and the year the stone was placed.
Today, 36 of these markers still stand. The Southeast Number 5 Boundary Marker sits along Southern Avenue. It is on the border of D.C. and Prince George’s County, Maryland. You can find it next to the sidewalk near the Southern Avenue metro station.
This marker gained recognition on November 1, 1996. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The inscription reads “JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES MILES 5”.
In 2011, a validation occurred. The District of Columbia used modern technology to check Ellicott’s team’s work. Global Positioning and contemporary survey methods were used. They found that the original survey was highly accurate.
So, the next time you pass by. Take a moment to appreciate this simple stone. Southeast Number 5 Boundary Marker. It is a testament to the birth of a nation’s capital. It shows the blend of science, history and human endeavor.