Fairfax Stone Historical Monument State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fairfax Stone Historical Monument State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Fairfax Stone
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 Fairfax Stone Historical Monument State Park
Location in West Virginia
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| Location | West Virginia, United States |
| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Elevation | 3,169 ft (966 m) |
| Established | 1957 |
| Named for | Fairfax Stone |
| Governing body | West Virginia Division of Natural Resources |
Fairfax Stone Historical Monument State Park is a West Virginia state park that celebrates the Fairfax Stone. This stone is a special marker used by surveyors to show where a boundary is. It sits right at the start of the North Branch of the Potomac River.
The first stone was put in place on October 23, 1746. It helped solve a big argument over land between Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron and the English government. This stone helped decide the borders of a huge area of land in the old English colonies of Maryland and Virginia.
Contents
What is the Fairfax Stone Park?
Fairfax Stone Historical Monument State Park is a small park in West Virginia, about four acres big. It's located six miles north of a town called Thomas. The park is very simple, with no buildings or restrooms. It's mainly a quiet spot to see the historic stone.
History of the Fairfax Stone
The story of the Fairfax Stone goes back a long time. In 1649, King Charles II gave a huge piece of land, known as the "Northern Neck Land Grant," to Lord Fairfax. But the exact borders of this land were not clear.
In 1736, a surveyor named John Savage found the source of the North Branch of the Potomac River. This river was meant to be the northern border of the land. However, they didn't mark the western borders yet.
In 1746, two other surveyors, Colonel Peter Jefferson (who was Thomas Jefferson's father) and Thomas Lewis, did more work. They placed the first Fairfax Stone. They also drew a line, called the "Fairfax Line," from the stone southeast to the source of the Rappahannock River. This line was about 77 miles (124 km) long.
The North Branch of the Potomac River first flows west from the Fairfax Stone. Then it curves north and generally flows east towards Chesapeake Bay. Because of this, the stone marks where three West Virginia counties meet: Grant, Preston, and Tucker.
For a long time, the exact border between Maryland and West Virginia was unclear. In 1910, the Supreme Court finally decided. They ruled that Maryland's border would go west along the Potomac River only until it met a line drawn north from the Fairfax Stone.
What Happened to the Original Stone?
The very first Fairfax Stone was probably just a natural rock found in the area. It wasn't specially carved. Over the years, the stone was sometimes lost or damaged.
In 1833, after the original spot was forgotten, the state of Virginia moved the stone. In 1859, a Lieutenant Melcher found it again and re-marked the "Fairfax Line." But by 1909, the stone was gone, likely taken by vandals.
There have actually been six different Fairfax Stones over time! Each new stone replaced an older one that was worn down by weather or taken by people. The stone you see today is a very large, six-ton rock. It has a flat side with a special plaque that explains its history. Next to it is another stone from 1910. The current six-ton Fairfax Stone was officially put in place on October 5, 1957.
What the Plaque Says
The plaque on the current Fairfax Stone has this message:
"Fairfax Stone"
"This monument, at the headspring of the Potomac River, Marks one of the historic spots of America. Its name is derived from Thomas Lord Fairfax who owned all the land lying between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers. The first Fairfax Stone, marked "FX", was set in 1746 by Thomas Lewis, a surveyor employed by Lord Fairfax. This is the base point for the western dividing line between Maryland and West Virginia."
Images for kids
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Fairfax Stone
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The park beside the Fairfax Stone is a clearing at the end of a road with a few picnic tables
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The North Branch Potomac River emerging from under the Fairfax Stone
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The Fairfax Stone in 1881.
