Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Custis Family

Abingdon Plantation

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, December 10, 2025

1. The Custis Family Marker

Inscription.
John Parke Custis was the adopted stepson of George Washington and had been raised at the nearby Washington estate of Mount Vernon. He and his wife, Eleanor Calvert, lived in New Kent County with their first two daughters. However, Custis wanted to live closer to his parents at Mount Vernon.

In 1778, Custis made a contract with the Alexanders to buy their land. George Washington warned him of the disagreeable terms of sale; however, he wanted so much to live near Mt. Vernon that he ignored his stepfather’s warnings. The Custis family moved to the estate, which they named Abingdon. Their third daughter, Eleanor “Nelly” Parke Custis, was born at Abingdon in 1779 and a son, George Washington Parke Custis, was born in 1781 at Mount Airy, Maryland, the Calvert family home.

Unfortunately, John Parke Custis did not live to see George Washington become the first President of the United States. Custis died of “camp fever” after the British army surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia in 1781. Washington adopted the two youngest Custis children, Nelly and George, who moved from Abingdon to live with their grandparents at Mount Vernon.

In

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1783, Custis’ widow, Eleanor, married Dr. David Stuart, whom Washington appointed to help plan the nation’s new capital city while the family continued to live at Abingdon. After John Parke Custis’ death, Abingdon was returned to the Alexanders in 1792.

Erected by Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #01 George Washington series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1778.

Location. 38° 51.074′ N, 77° 2.685′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. It can be reached from National Avenue north of Smith Boulevard, on the left when traveling north. The marker stands between the parking garages at Ronald Reagan National Airport. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2400 National Ave, Arlington VA 22202, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, December 10, 2025

2. The Custis Family Marker

Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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: Abingdon Plantation (here, next to this marker); The Hunter Family (here, next to this marker); Abingdon and John Alexander (here, next to this marker); The Industrial Age (a few steps from this marker); Abingdon Plantation Restoration (a few steps from this marker); The Stable Manager - Rented to George Washington (a few steps from this marker); Abingdon (a few steps from this marker); The Dress (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.

More about this marker. At the top of the marker is an illustration of "Abingdon, as it may

The Hunter Family and Custis Family Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin W., June 12, 2008

3. The Hunter Family and Custis Family Markers

have appeared in 1778."

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Mount Airy in Maryland, the Calvert family home.

Also see . . . Abingdon Plantation. (Submitted on July 11, 2011, by Bernard H. Berne of Arlington, Virginia.)

John Parke Custis image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin W., June 12, 2008

4. John Parke Custis

The Custis Family Tree image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin W., June 12, 2008

5. The Custis Family Tree

The combined Washington and Custis Family, after the death of John Parke Custis image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin W., June 12, 2008

6. The combined Washington and Custis Family, after the death of John Parke Custis

Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 17, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,467 times since then and 65 times this year. Last updated on April 28, 2026, by Bernard H. Berne of Arlington, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 15, 2026, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on June 17, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 18, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.