Leesylvania in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Neabsco Creek
Rippon Lodge
Photographed by Kevin W., February 22, 2008
1. Neabsco Creek Marker
Architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe (1764 – 1820) was Thomas Blackburn’s friend. Latrobe visited Rippon Lodge in July, 1796. He described his stay in his journals and drew the property.
On July 11, Latrobe stood on the porch of Rippon Lodge and painted this view of Neabsco Creek. While his work shows period landscape details, the scene has changed little.
This View shows the Coast of Maryland on the NE side of the Potowmack. Occoquan bay lies between the two Points above A and B and extends beyond A as far as the Occoquan at Colchester. Neabsco creek enters the Potowmack at the Bottom of the bay winding its way through a great extent of Marshy ground to Mr. Tayloe’s iron works. The point over B is called freestone point. The Ground on the Virginia side of the Potowmack is broken into bold abrupt hills. Rippon lodge is built upon a very magnificent natural level terrace, extending in the direction of the large trees in the foreground about ¼ of a mile. The Potowmack flows from the left to the right, and is in this spot about 2 ½ miles over. Alexandria lies about 22 Miles higher up.
Benjamin Latrobe wrote these notes about his sketch, View from the porch of Rippon Lodge, 11 July, 1796.
River Plantations
Rippon
this page online
Erected 2007 by Prince William County.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Colonial Era • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1796.
Location. 38° 36.862′ N, 77° 16.674′ W. Marker is in Leesylvania, Virginia, in Prince William County. It can be reached from Admiral Black Drive west of Blackburn Road, on the left when traveling west. The marker is located at Rippon Lodge. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 15500 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge VA 22191, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area, in Northern Virginia, and in the Piedmont. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. 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 walking distance of this marker: Rippon Lodge (within shouting distance of this marker); The Burying Ground (within shouting distance of this marker); Stones, but No Bones (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Latrobe's View (about 300 feet away); Historic Landscape (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Centuries of History (about 400 feet away); Collo. Richard Blackburn
Photographed by Kevin W., February 22, 2008
2. Neabsco Creek Marker
Other markers no longer nearby. Latrobe's View (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Historic Landscape (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Centuries of History (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on October 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 22, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,783 times since then and 34 times this year. Last updated on October 2, 2025, by N. Jozsa of Woodbridge, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 22, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
