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Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings

	BOUNDARY STONES District of Columbia
Various points in Washington, D.C., and Virginia. Daughters of the American Revolution

These sandstone markers, erected in 1791-92, indicate the original boundary lines of the District of Columbia. The first stone, the cornerstone, was laid in April 1791 just south of Alexandria, Va., at Jones Point, the southern tip of the 10-mile-square District. Forty stones were erected at 1-mile intervals along the four sides of the square—northwest from Jones Point to present West Falls Church, Va.; then due northeast to a point near Woodside; southeast to Chesapeake Junction, now Capitol Heights; and southwest to Jones Point. Each stone was about 1 foot square, having a beveled top, and protruded from 2 to 3 feet above the ground. Carved on the District side was "Jurisdiction of the United States" and the number of the stone; on the opposite side of the stone was carved "Maryland" or "Virginia." For those facing Virginia, "1791," the year of erection, was carved; for those facing Maryland, "1792."

In 1915 the Daughters of the American Revolution recovered, restored, and placed iron fences around 39 of the 40 stones, many of which had been lost in debris. Because the Federal Government in 1846 ceded 36 square miles of the District to Virginia, some of the stones are located outside the present boundaries of the District. Many of the stones can be seen today.

	COMMANDANT'S HOUSE (U.S. Marine Barracks) District of Columbia
8th and I Streets SE., Washington. U.S. Marines: Marine Barracks

This is the oldest extant building at the Marine Barracks. In 1801 Thomas Jefferson selected the site of the barracks, and by January 1806 they were occupied. In 1814 British troops made their headquarters there when they occupied Washington. At that time the buildings were damaged or partially destroyed, but they were repaired upon the cessation of hostilities. Today, most of them are two-story modern structures, built in 1902. The Commandant's House, erected in 1805, is the only original building. A good example of early 19th-century architecture, it is 2-1/2 stories high and contains 23 rooms. It is not open to the public.

	DOLLEY MADISON HOUSE District of Columbia
Southeast corner of Madison Place and H Street NW., Lafayette Square, Washington.

Dolley Madison resided in this house on Lafayette Square for most of the 13 years following her husband's death, in 1836. Richard Cutts, Congressman from the District of Maine, which was then a part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, had built it between 1818 and 1820. He was Dolley Madison's brother-in-law and had borrowed from her husband to build the house. In 1829, after he had lost most of his money in unsuccessful business ventures, the house reverted to James Madison. Upon Madison's death, in 1836, his wife acquired it. The following year, after an absence of 20 years from Washington, she returned and took up residence in the house. Her absence had not dimmed her popularity, and until her death, in 1849, she advised the various First Ladies and was prominent in Washington society.

At the time of Mrs. Madison's residence, the house had two stories plus an attic. The gable roof sloped east and west, and upon the west slope were two dormer windows. During subsequent years, owners of the house removed the gable roof and added a story having a flat one; converted the original entrance on Lafayette Square into a window; added a new entrance on the H Street side, in an addition built at the rear of the house; and made other extensive alterations. The interior has been extensively altered. The building is now the property of the Federal Government and is not open to the public.

	DUMBARTON HOUSE District of Columbia
2715 Q Street NW., Washington. Dumbarton House

George Beall constructed this mansion sometime in the 18th century. A century earlier Ninian Beall, the original owner of the property, had come to the United States as an indentured servant. He acquired large tracts of real estate, and in 1703, as a reward for his services as an Indian fighter, was granted a large tract of land on Rock Creek. The Bealls owned the property until 1796, when Thomas Beall sold it, including the mansion. It subsequently changed hands many times, and in 1813 Charles Carroll bought it. Dolley Madison stayed at the mansion briefly during the British raid on Washington in 1814, after Carroll had assisted her in fleeing from the White House.

Various families owned the house until 1931, when the National Society of Colonial Dames of America purchased it. In 1915 the owners of the mansion had moved it to its present site. The brick mansion is trimmed in white. The central portion, accented by a pillared porch, delicate iron balconies, corbeled cornice, and crowning pediment, is flanked by low service wings. The interior contains furniture of the period 1790-1810. In the exhibition room are displayed personal belongings and costumes of such people as President and Mrs. Washington, Mrs. Madison, George Mason, and Lord Fairfax. Portraits by Peale and Stuart hang in the dining room and parlor. All the books in the library are pre-1810 editions. The mansion, now headquarters of the National Society of Colonial Dames, is open to the public.

	DUMBARTON OAKS District of Columbia
3101 R Street NW., Washington. Dumbarton Oaks

In 1801 William H. Dorsey, a judge, erected this mansion in a grove of trees on his estate, Acropolus ("Grove on the Hill"). Subsequently, Robert Beverly bought it, and his son sold it to James E. Calhoun, who lent it to his brother John C. Calhoun. Calhoun lived in it while he served as Secretary of War, Vice President, and Senator. During World War II, in 1944, the Dumbarton Oaks Conference convened there. Attended by representatives of the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and China, the conference created the Dumbarton Oaks Plan, which served as a basis for the charter of the United Nations.

The mansion has been extensively altered from its original late Georgian style by addition of a mansard roof and other modifications. Its exterior is adorned with carved stone ornaments, classic cornices, and crowning pediments. On the grounds, which are open to the public, is an original greenhouse, containing an orangery, a brook having miniature waterfalls, an orchard, a yew walk, a waterwheel and millstone, stables, and a caretaker's house. The mansion is now owned by Harvard University. The Treaty Room may be viewed.

	NAVY YARD District of Columbia
8th and M Streets SE., Washington. Naval Historical Center

During the administration of President John Adams, because of French and British aggression on the seas, the Federal Government decided to build six navy yards. By 1801 it had acquired 40 acres of land for the Washington yard, and that same year construction began. Benjamin H. Latrobe, one of the architects of the Capitol, drew up the plans, and Capt. Thomas Tingey supervised construction. In 1805 the yard was completed. Navy ships from the yard figured prominently in the War of 1812. In 1814 officials burned the buildings to prevent their falling into British hands. Soon afterwards, however, the Government rebuilt the yard. Between 1819 and 1840 the U.S. Navy launched there several first-class frigates and sloops-of-war.

During the Civil War the yard served as a base for naval stores and armament and as a military prison. World War I brought about the yard's peak of productivity. At that time employment reached more than 10,000 workers, who produced ordnance and other equipment. The yard was also active during World War II, and it still is today.

Two structures have historical and architectural interest: The entrance gate and the commandant's residence, both designed by Latrobe and built between 1801 and 1805. The Latrobe gate has been remodeled somewhat to allow for construction of a barracks room over it. The commandant's residence stands inside to the left of the entrance. Some parts of the Navy Yard may be visited by the public.