Arbitration Rock

Arbitration Rock is a large glacial boulder sitting in the yard of the Van der Ende-Onderdonk House that once marked the dividing line between Brooklyn and Queens. The stone bears the marks of ancient ice age glaciers that scraped and shaped the landscape thousands of years ago.

Surveyor Peter Marschalk placed this boundary marker in 1769 to end a century-long dispute over where Brooklyn and Queens should be separated. The decision settled arguments that had divided the two communities for generations.

The rock marks where Dutch and English colonial communities once met and negotiated their separate territories. It reflects how these early settlements shaped the way the city eventually divided into distinct boroughs.

The site sits in a quiet residential neighborhood in Queens and is easy to reach on foot from nearby streets. Visiting during the house's open hours lets you see both the stone and learn more about the area's past through displays inside.

This stone was buried and forgotten for decades as the city developed, disappearing from view until locals rediscovered it in 2001. It was then moved to its current spot next to the old house where visitors can finally see it again.

Location: New York

GPS coordinates: 40.71070,-73.91960

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:41