Benjamin Banneker: SW-9 Intermediate Boundary Stone

Why is this humble stone, the Benjamin Banneker: SW-9 Intermediate Boundary Stone, encased in iron? It sits here quietly in Benjamin Banneker Park, straddling the line between Arlington County, Virginia, and the City of Falls Church. It’s a simple sandstone block, roughly a foot square and barely peeking 15 inches above the ground. This unassuming marker represents much more than its physical presence suggests. It’s a tangible link to the very creation of Washington, D.C. The Benjamin Banneker: SW-9 Intermediate Boundary Stone is one of the original markers placed in 1791 to define the boundaries of the nation’s capital. Imagine, in 1789, President George Washington himself designated this ten-mile square area. He then commissioned the placement of 40 stones, including this one, to delineate its perimeter. The Benjamin Banneker: SW-9 Intermediate Boundary Stone, originally known simply as an Intermediate Stone of the District of Columbia, earned its current name in 1976. The Afro-American Bicentennial Corporation championed this change to honor Benjamin Banneker. Banneker, a free African American astronomer and mathematician, played a key role in the initial survey of the District of Columbia. He worked alongside Andrew Ellicott during the first few months of the 1792-1793 survey, laying the groundwork for the capital city we know today. Ironically, Banneker had departed the survey team before this specific stone, and indeed most of the others, were actually placed. The inscriptions on the Benjamin Banneker: SW-9 Intermediate Boundary Stone are partially worn away by time and the elements. The northeast face, originally oriented towards the federal territory, bears the inscription “Jurisdiction of the United States.” On the opposite side, facing the City of Falls Church, you can still make out the faded word “Virginia.” The remaining sides reveal the year “1791” and the remnants of an inscription indicating the compass variation (“Var.”). A brass marker placed by the Daughters of the American Revolution in the early 1900s once adorned the stone’s top. It has since been removed, but its presence adds another layer to the stone’s history. This stone, the Benjamin Banneker: SW-9 Intermediate Boundary Stone, was the first of its kind to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It stands as a quiet testament to the ingenuity and contributions of Benjamin Banneker. It also serves as a lasting reminder of the foundational steps taken in establishing the nation’s capital. Look closely at the weathered surface, imagine the surveyors at work centuries ago, and feel the weight of history embedded within this seemingly simple stone.