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Sun, 18 Oct, 2026 at 02:00 pm UTC-04:00

15 Minute History: Men, Myths, Markers & Maps – Drawing the Boundaries of Washington, D.C.

  • 1805 S Arlington Ridge Rd, Arlington, VA, United States, Virginia 22202 · Arlington
Arlington Historical Society Publisher / Host Arlington Historical Society
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15 Minute History: Men, Myths, Markers & Maps \u2013 Drawing the Boundaries of Washington, D.C.
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How did a few surveyors, some astronomical calculations, and a series of stone markers define the nation’s new capital?
Join David Pearson for a fascinating 15 Minute History exploring the people and process behind the original survey of the District of Columbia. Learn about Benjamin Banneker and Andrew Ellicott, their roles in the landmark 1791 survey, and the boundary stones placed to mark the new federal district, including those still standing in and around Arlington today.
Along the way, David will separate fact from folklore, explore some of the myths that have grown around Banneker and the survey, and reveal what early maps and surviving boundary stones can tell us about the creation of Washington, D.C.
Come discover the men, the myths, the markers and the maps behind the lines that shaped our nation’s capital.
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1805 S Arlington Ridge Rd, Arlington, VA, United States, Virginia 22202

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