Creation of a Creation of a National CapitalNational CapitalBeth Roland Beth Roland

88thth Grade Science Grade ScienceJacobs Fork MiddleJacobs Fork Middle

Residence Act of July 16, Residence Act of July 16, 17901790

• Act passed by Congress that gave Act passed by Congress that gave authorization to President George authorization to President George Washington to select a site to Washington to select a site to place the National Capital:place the National Capital:– Must be a 100 square mile tract, in a Must be a 100 square mile tract, in a

square, with each side measuring 10 square, with each side measuring 10 milesmiles

– Must be located on the Potomac River Must be located on the Potomac River between Alexandria, Virginia and between Alexandria, Virginia and Williamsport, Maryland Williamsport, Maryland

The Survey of 1791-1792

• Then secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson directed Major Andrew Ellicott to begin a survey on February 12, 1791– Ellicott hired Benjamin Banneker, an astronomer

and mathematician • He placed the Southern most point directly at the

Lighthouse of Jones Point Alexandria– Laid on his back to find the point at which 6 stars would pass

directly over that spot in a given night

Lay of the Land

The National Capital Created!

Using Geometry, District of Columbia is Outlined!

• Once the first point was plot, Ellicott’s team embarked on a 40 mile journey, surveying 10-mile lines:– Starting at the southernmost point,• heading Northwest• Then Northeast• Then Southeast• Finally, southwest back to the starting position

Dem Stones, Dem Stones!

• The Alexandria Masonic Lodge placed a commemorative stone at the southern most corner on April 15th , 1791 in a ceremony honoring Ellicott and federal district commissioners– Other stones, each made of Aquia Creek

Sandstone, were placed at 1-mile intervals along the boundaries for a total of 40 stones laid• Side facing DC was inscribed with Jurisdiction of the

United States• Opposite side mentioned either Virginia or Maryland

depending on its original state location

Boundary Stones, past, present, and future

• The boundary stones as the OLDEST federal monuments. Surviving over 220 years! – Of the original 40 stones, 36 have survived in or

near their original locations• 2 replacement stones (SW 2 and SE 8) • 2 have been lost/destroyed

*Marcus Baker visited each stone during the summer of 1894.* Fred Woodward photographed all 39 surviving boundary stones (all but SW2) in 1906

Present and Future

• In 1915, The Washington DC chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution voluntarily assumed the responsibility of caring for the stones– Tall, iron fences were erected around each

surviving stone– Several have been damaged/lost – Resurvey took place in 1990 to celebrate the DC

bicentennial which located two of the then-missing stones, SE8 and SE4

Interesting Stones!

• Southernmost stone at Jones Point Lighthouse• SW2• SW4• NW7• NW8• NE6• NE7• SE3

Interesting Stones

• SE4• SE6