Leesylvania in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

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Historic Landscape

Rippon Lodge

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 29, 2019

1. Historic Landscape Marker

Inscription. The landscape you see before you has changed quite a lot since the house was built in the 18th century. Situated on Neabsco Creek and the Kings Highway (now Route 1), the site allowed Richard Blackburn easy access to move hisgoods to market.

Paintings by Benjamin Latrobe in 1796 illustrate the site as Richard and Thomas Blackburn knew it. Today visitors can enjoy the view of Neabsco Creek and the Potomac River beyond. The site includes the cemetery for the Blackburn and Atkinson families.

In the early 20th century Wade Ellis installed the ornamental gardens you see before you today, including our county champion American Elm tree and the dozens of boxwoods. Mrs. Dessie Ellis was a garden club member, and their home was featured many times during Virginia's Historic Garden Week. Rippon also was a working farm until the 1950s, when the property was purchased by its last private owner, Admired Richard Blackburn Black.

Erected by Prince William County Department of Public Works, Historic Preservation Division.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Colonial Era

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• Man-Made Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 1796.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 38° 36.928′ N, 77° 16.699′ W. Marker was in Leesylvania, Virginia, in Prince William County. It could be reached from Admiral Black Drive west of Blackburn Road, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 15520 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge VA 22191, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area,

in Northern Virginia,

and in the Piedmont.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

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

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 29, 2019

2. Historic Landscape Marker

this location: A different marker also named Historic Landscape (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Centuries of History (a few steps from this marker); Latrobe's View (within shouting distance of this marker); Rippon Lodge (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Neabsco Creek (about 400 feet away); The Burying Ground (about 600 feet away); Stones, but No Bones (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Rippon Lodge (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Leesylvania.

Other markers no longer nearby. Centuries of History (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Latrobe's View (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 29, 2019

3. Nearby sign

Credits. This page was last revised on October 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 29, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 441 times since then and 19 times this year. Last updated on October 1, 2025, by N. Jozsa of Woodbridge, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 29, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.