Jones Point Lighthouse (Alexandria, Virginia)

USA / Virginia / Huntington / Alexandria, Virginia
 lighthouse, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, interesting place, boundary marker
Historic lighthouse at the confluence of the Potomac River and Hunting Creek. It was built in 1856, deactivated in 1926, and recommissioned in 1995. The South cornerstone marking a boundary of the original District of Columbia is also located on this site.

The marker is one of 40 that were placed from 1791 to 1792 as part of a survey to delineate the boundaries of what would become the District of Columbia. Four of the original markers have been destroyed, and 12 of them are actually in the state of Virginia; part of D.C. originally extended into Virginia, but the Potomac River was designated the dividing line between Virginia and the District in 1846. All 36 of the surviving stones are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jones_Point_Light
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   38°47'25"N   77°2'26"W

Comments

  • I believe this was the location at which the first boundary marker for the District of Columbia was placed, dedicated after a Masonic procession originating in the heart of old Alexandria.
This article was last modified 5 years ago