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How Old Town Alexandria is preserving its original DC border

Matt Kaufax | matt.kaufax@wtop.com

July 23, 2024, 4:28 AM

Check out one of the DMV's oldest federal monuments

The City of Alexandria may have just celebrated its 275th birthday, but did you know there was a time when it used to be a part of D.C.?

In today’s episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax heads to the site of one of the first ever federal monuments in Virginia — an old marker lost to time, the Old Town Boundary Stone.

More specifically, this stone, known as the Southwest 3 Boundary Stone on King Street, was laid down in 1791, according to Alexandria historian Dan Lee, who joined Matt on his latest adventure.

Back in the day, passing this stone meant you were officially leaving Virginia and heading into D.C. Looking at the location in 2024, it’s hard to believe the area it’s in — and much of what is now Old Town — used to be considered the District.

Come along with Matt to explore the backstory behind this boundary stone, and the 35 others like it that are still preserved around the D.C. region.

“Matt About Town” airs every Tuesday and Thursday on WTOP at 7:45 a.m., and runs throughout the rest of the day on 103.5 FM. His video pieces are always posted on wtop.com.

You can also find Matt’s videos on Instagram (@wtopnews and @mkaufax) and TikTok (@wtopnews and @mattabouttown_).

If you’ve got an idea for a feature story Matt should cover, reach out via the WTOP “contact us” page to submit your idea.

You can also contact Matt directly. His contact information is listed below. 

Check out more of “Matt About Town” on WTOP.

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Matt Kaufax

If there's an off-the-beaten-path type of attraction, person, or phenomenon in the DC area that you think more people should know about, Matt is your guy. As the features reporter for WTOP, he's always on the hunt for stories that provide a unique local flavor—a slice of life if you will.

matt.kaufax@wtop.com

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