Jefferson Pier Stone — Attraction in Washington

Hold on to your powdered wigs, folks, because we're about to embark on a journey into the realm of the ridiculously unremarkable—the Jefferson Pier Stone. Nestled among the grandeur of the National Mall in D.C., this humble little stone is like the plain Jane of historical monuments.

Picture this: you're strolling along, marveling at the majestic monuments that tower over you, and suddenly, you spot it—a diminutive stone sticking out of the ground, desperately trying to get noticed. It's like the runt of the monument litter, hoping to catch your eye amidst its more glamorous cousins.

But what makes the Jefferson Pier Stone so special, you ask? Well, it marks the spot where Thomas Jefferson once stood, raising his arms victoriously and proclaiming, "I hereby declare this to be the middle of absolutely nowhere!" Okay, maybe he didn't say that exactly, but close enough.

This tiny stone is so inconspicuous that you might mistake it for a pebble left behind by an absent-minded geologist. It's like the "blink and you'll miss it" attraction, where the blink is the size of a millisecond. You might even find yourself wondering if it's just a clever ruse by mischievous park rangers to see who falls for their "world's tiniest monument" prank.

Now, let's talk about the surrounding ambiance. Imagine standing there, squinting to make out the engravings on this microscopic monolith, all while a horde of squirrels stares at you, silently judging your life choices. It's a moment of pure existential confusion. "Why am I here? Is this real life? Did someone shrink the Washington Monument?"

But fear not, my fellow travelers, for this monument has a secret power—it's the perfect selfie opportunity. You can strike your most nonchalant pose, casually leaning against the itty-bitty stone, and post it on social media with a caption like, "Just hanging out with Thomas Jefferson, no biggie." Your friends will marvel at your historical prowess and your ability to find the most obscure tourist spots.

So, if you're in the mood for a monument that's smaller than your average houseplant and harder to find than Waldo in a sea of clones, the Jefferson Pier Stone is waiting for you. It's the ultimate challenge for the curious traveler and a testament to the fact that sometimes, even the tiniest pebbles can hold a sliver of historical significance. Enjoy the hunt, my friends, and may you find this minuscule...

According to the National Park Service: " On December 18th, 1804, a simple granite obelisk was erected at the intersection of lines from the front doors of the Executive Mansion and the Capitol Building, as part of a meridian system used to align city streets and development. As President, Thomas Jefferson wished for the United States to become scientifically as well as politically independent from Europe, so he wished for the new national capital itself to be a new “first meridian.”

The original marker aided surveyors and later served as a benchmark during construction of the Washington Monument. As Tiber Creek was transformed into the Washington City Canal, the marker became known as the “Jefferson Pier” because barges navigating the Potomac River routinely used the original marker as an anchoring post. The entire Mall area west of the Pier Stone was once under water!

The original marker disappeared in 1874, but a replacement marker was erected December 21, 1889. This simple obelisk is about 100 yards on a diagonal from the northwest corner of the Washington Monument. In addition to offering a glimpse into the dramatic changes the National Mall has undergone, this spot offers marvelous views of the surrounding monuments. When viewed at night from this vantage point, flashbulbs going off in the chamber of the Lincoln memorial look like fireflies on a warm...

Hi! Like this for good luck! Been there at the memorial! Was a cool place to visit liked it! You can come to Washington dc maybe when the pandemic is better..or you could go here this year but pls wear a mask! IDK how many people are here now though probably a bunch! Was here when I was 7 or 8 I think and that was 3-4 years ago. So ya. Beautiful nice place. Nice to see the memorial. Although honest my because I was a kid(still am but almost 12) I got tired of all the walking! Cause I get tired VERY EASILY! So ya stayed at a nice hotel nearby IDK what it was called but had lots of fun and took off from school. Not my favorite place but it was definitely...