Interestingly, our oldest federal monuments are not protected by designation as a national park or reserve. The 40 stone monuments that mark the border of Washington, D.C. are protected only by metal fences placed around the markers in 1915 by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Despite that, several stones have been repositioned, removed, lost, or buried over the years.

After the Revolutionary War in 1789, the constitution established a 10 square mile district as the site of the new capitol for the United States.  Subsequently, after much haggling in Congress, the “Residence Act” was passed and set the site of the new city on the northern and southern shores of the Potomac River at a location to be determined by President Washington.