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 |
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Fairfax Stone Histotical Monument
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| Location | near Thomas, West Virginia |
| Built | 1746 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000653 |
| Added to NRHP | January 26, 1970 |
Fairfax Stone Historical Monument State Park is a special place in West Virginia. It celebrates the Fairfax Stone, which is a very old marker. This stone helped surveyors figure out land boundaries. It sits right where the North Branch of the Potomac River begins.
The first stone was placed on October 23, 1746. It helped solve a big argument over land. This argument was between Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron and the British government. The stone marked the edge of a huge area of land in what were then the colonies of Maryland and Virginia.
Contents
Exploring the Park
Fairfax Stone Historical Monument is part of a four-acre state park in West Virginia. It is located about six miles north of the town of Thomas. The park is a simple, natural area. You won't find any buildings or restrooms here. It's a quiet spot to learn about history.
A Look at History
The exact borders of a huge land grant, called the "Northern Neck Land Grant," were unclear for a long time. This grant was first made in 1649 by Charles II of England, who was in exile at the time.
Finding the River's Start
In 1736, a surveyor named John Savage and his team found where the North Branch of the Potomac River began. This spot was important because it was the northern edge of the land grant. However, they didn't mark the western borders yet.
Setting the First Stone
In 1746, another survey took place. Colonel Peter Jefferson (who was Thomas Jefferson's father) and Thomas Lewis led this survey. They placed the first Fairfax Stone. They also drew a line, called the "Fairfax Line," from the stone southeast. This line stretched about 77 miles (124 km) to the start of the Rappahannock River.
George Washington's Role
Two years later, in 1748, a young George Washington helped survey the area again. He worked with a frontiersman and surveyor named David Morgan. Their job was to mark the northernmost edge of Lord Fairfax's land. This is the area that is now the border between Maryland and West Virginia. They made sure the Fairfax Stone was placed in its correct spot.
The Stone and State Borders
The North Branch of the Potomac River flows west from the Fairfax Stone at first. Then it curves north and generally flows east towards Chesapeake Bay. Because of this, the Fairfax Stone marks corners for three West Virginia counties: Grant, Preston, and Tucker.
For a long time, the border between Maryland and West Virginia was unclear in this area. In 1910, the Supreme Court made a decision. They ruled that Maryland's border would only go as far west as a line drawn north from the Fairfax Stone. This finally settled the boundary dispute. West Virginia had become a separate state from Virginia during the American Civil War.
A Historic Landmark
The Fairfax Stone site was recognized as a very important historical place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 26, 1970.
The Many Fairfax Stones
The very first Fairfax Stone was probably just a natural rock. Surveyors in those days often used rocks they found nearby. Over the years, the exact location of the stone was sometimes forgotten.
Replacing the Stone
In 1833, a legal argument between Maryland and Virginia led to the stone being found and moved again. By 1859, Lieutenant Melcher found the stone and re-marked the "Fairfax Line." However, by 1909, the stone was gone, likely taken by vandals.
The Stone Today
There have been six different Fairfax Stones over time. Each new stone replaced an older one that was damaged or stolen. The stone you see today is a huge six-ton rock. It has a flat side with a special plaque that explains its history. Next to it is the stone that was placed in 1910. The current six-ton Fairfax Stone was officially dedicated on October 5, 1957.
What the Plaque Says
"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."
See also
