jones point lighthouse

Have lived in Old Town for 3 years and finally took the walk out to the point - why didn't I do this before? The views are beautiful and I loved the peaceful surroundings. The markers were informative and the updates to the adjacent park have really made this a great destination. It's an easy stroll from the center of town and worth the visit!

If you like the views from the Alexandria waterfront but not the crowds, this is the place to come for an "off the beaten path" picnic in Old Town Alexandria. Even though this park is actually located on a bike path, not much bicycle traffic makes it to the actual lighthouse. The lighthouse is lovely, and has 2 or 3 picnic tables for a terrific view of the Inner Harbor Waterfront across the river. This location actually boasts the original cornerstone laid in the 1700's at the southernmost tip of what was meant to be Washington DC. Plenty of free parking, which is tough to find in Old Town Alexandria!

You could go to Alexandria and miss it; you could go to Jones Point and miss it. But go find it on the path and see where the state markers used to be, and enjoy some tranquility at Alexandria's waterfront. Take your dog too!

The lighthouse sits in Jones Point Park along the Mt. Vernon Trail which happens to be adjacent to the parking lot of the apartment complex I live in...and the selling point for the complex was access to the park. While smallish, the park does afford a spot for picnics, fishing and short walks through wooded areas along the Potomac. There's also restrooms, picnic tables and a basketball court under the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. It's a great spot to take a break from your bike ride or to wander through if you've got the time. There are historical markers and informational plaques scattered throughout the park as well as historical boundary markers for the DC, Maryland and Virginia areas AND, best of all, the park trail connects to the Old Town boardwalk which will take you into the King Street area for shopping and restaraunts. Fun for history buffs, accessible for fishing, space to ride bikes and take a walk...it's a good spot for anyone in the Old Town area to get outside for a bit.

An historic setting at the foot of Old Town, it sits by the Potomac River in parkland preserved as part of the reconstruction of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge connecting Maryland and Virginia. Site of one of the original stone boundary markers for the District of Columbia, when the latter included parts of Alexandria

My wife and I observed the Jones Point Lighthouse during a group tour of Old Town Alexandria. The lighthouse is located on Jones Point in Alexandria, and is part of Jones Point Park. Jones Point Park is located on the Potomac River, just south of Old Town Alexandria. It was a critical piece of the city of Alexandria's history as one of the largest centers for shipping, manufacturing, and transportation in the nation. Its lighthouse, built in 1855, is the last remaining riverine lighthouse in Virginia.The Jones Point lighthouse is not open to the general public because its unfinished interior presents safety concerns.

I live a few blocks from Jones Point and walk around it every week. It is a neat area with little signs of the history of the area including the shipyard, the original markers for VA, MD and DC, and the light house. I have never seen the light house open and I am not sure it is supposed to be open. It is about 10 blocks south of King Street in Old Town and is a beautiful walk around the river. There are picnic benches, a small play ground, basketball courts. If you are visiting Old Town and want to go for a walk, walk south along the river (via Union Street) and walk around the Ford Landing complex of town houses and you will get to Jones Point. When in the area, visit Balducci's (Franklin and Washington St) or Safeway (Royal and Gibbons) for picnic items and have a picnic by the lighthouse and the river. It has a neat neighborhood vibe to the area. You can always walk under the Wilson Bridge, which is kind of cool and there are restrooms by the basketball courts.

they have redone the park so the area around the lighthouse offers lots of walking and hiking, and a very historical lighthouse.

Set on the tip of a peninsular south of Old Town Alexandria, this beautiful lighthouse still captures the attention of sailors coming up the Potomac. It was the primary beacon for ships entering into the Alexandria harbor, the 4th largest port on the Atlantic seaboard in the early part of the 19th century. Even as shipping moved into other ports, Jones Point signaled entry into shallower waters as captains set their sites on Alexandria and beyond into Washington itself. The lighthouse is a white clapboard building that housed both the light and the keeper and his family for a number of years. In disrepair for many years, it was refurbished by the National Park Service when it took over Jones Point with the expansion of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Walk south from the parking lot under the Wilson along a circular path to get to the light. Note the various stone markers near the light -- reminders of how the newly formed District of Columbia was laid out on its southern boundary. Take time to sit and face south to enjoy the view of the Potomac and imagine the host of ships sailing into full view.

This lighthouse has good interpretive signs giving history and interesting information. It is right off of the bike trail, and is a nice walk from King St if you have an afternoon to enjoy. There are picnic tables and a kids playground nearby. There are public bathrooms under the Wilson bridge, which are about a 5 minute walk from the lighthouse.

The Jones Point Lighthouse is at the end of a nice stroll along the waterfront from downtown Alexandria. At the same time, there is ample parking provided as well. The completely rehabbed building and grounds provides an excellent stop to see where the original marker for the District of Columbia was laid by George Washington himself. It is a lovely natural setting as well. The Mt. Vernon bike trail runs nearby, and many cyclists park their cars, pull out their bikes, and ride either south to Mt Vernon or north to DC along the Potomac. Tourists often miss this spot, which I feel is unfortunate.

I run here often, and it's a beautiful place! I'm so glad whoever fixed it up did so. It's in a place with a wonderful view down the river, and its history is awesome--this was the original southern-most corner of DC for over 40 years!

Jones Point is a park just outside the beltway at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. It has only of the original DC boundary stones at the southern tip of the District of Columbia. The park has a lighthouse which is located about the boundary stone but was not open to the public while I was present. There is also some athletic courts located below the bridge. The bridge itself was the most impressive feature to me.