Richard Ratcliffe’s Mount Vineyard Plantation

Photographed by Craig Swain, April 14, 2008

1. Richard Ratcliffe's Mount Vineyard Plantation Marker

Inscription. On the knoll 70 yards NE of this marker, stood the home of Richard Ratcliffe (1751-1825). The mansion was on his 600-acre "Mount Vineyard," part of a 1714 land grant of 1,930 acres to George Mason II. In 1798 Ratcliffe donated 4 acres to the east of Mount Vineyard for the Fairfax County Courthouse, built in 1800. Ratcliffe petitioned the Virginia Assembly to establish a town on adjacent property and on January 14, 1805 this town was chartered as "Providence," becoming the City of Fairfax in 1961.

Erected 2004 by City of Fairfax - Historic Fairfax City, Inc.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1861.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 38° 51.02′ N, 77° 19.049′ W. Marker was in Fairfax, Virginia. It was at the intersection of Oak Street and Main Street (Route 236), on the right when traveling south on Oak Street. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 10800 Main St, Fairfax VA 22030, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker

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was in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Mount Vineyard (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Richard Ratcliffe's Mount Vineyard Plantation (within shouting distance of this marker); Ratcliffe Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away); Arlington-Fairfax Electric Railway (approx. 0.3 miles away); Manassas Gap Railroad (approx. 0.3 miles away); Confederate Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Confederate Dead (approx. 0.4 miles away); Old Fairfax High School (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairfax.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Birthplace of the Confederate Battle Flag

Photographed by Craig Swain, April 14, 2008

2. Richard Ratcliffe's Mount Vineyard Plantation Marker

(was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced by the linked marker.

Site of Mount Vineyard image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, April 14, 2008

3. Site of Mount Vineyard

The grounds of the plantation are now part of the Oak Knolls Apartment complex.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 22, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 14, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,382 times since then and 47 times this year. Last updated on February 22, 2017, by Matt Marrazzo of Fairfax, Va, Usa. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 14, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.