Lexington, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

William Henry Ruffner

Photographed by Kathy Walker, October 19, 2009

1. William Henry Ruffner Marker

Inscription. William Henry Ruffner, educational reformer, clergyman, and geologist, was born in Lexington on 11 Feb. 1824. After pursuing careers as a preacher and a geological surveyor, he was appointed in 1870 as Virginia's first superintendent of public instruction by the General Assembly. During Ruffner's tenure, he developed Virginia's free public school system. Resigning from his position in 1882, Ruffner returned to geological surveying and farming before becoming the president of the State Female Normal School, now Longwood College, in 1884. Ruffner retired in 1887 and died in 1908 in Asheville, North Carolina. Nearby stood his house Tribrook.

Erected 2000 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number A-42.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Religion & Religious Structures • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 11, 1824.

Location. 37° 46.181′ N, 79° 26.829′ W. Marker is in Lexington, Virginia. It is at the intersection of North Lee Highway (U.S. 11) and South Main Street (Business U.S. 11), on the right when traveling south on North Lee Highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lexington VA 24450, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds 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 one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Original African American Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away); The Fame of Stonewall Jackson (approx. ¾ mile away); Manly Memorial Baptist Church (approx. 0.9 miles away); Rev. Lylburn Downing (approx. one mile away); Trinity United Methodist Church (approx. one mile away); Margaret J. Preston (approx. one mile away); A Stone from Old Monmouth/Lexington Presbyterian Church (approx. one mile away); Soldier John Grisby (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lexington.

Photographed by Kathy Walker, October 19, 2009

2. William Henry Ruffner Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 29, 2009, by Kathy Walker of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,501 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 29, 2009, by Kathy Walker of Stafford, Virginia. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Historical photographs of Tribrook. • Can you help?