Barboursville in Orange County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Barboursville
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, March 28, 2026
1. Barboursville Marker
The ruins of Barboursville, the home of James Barbour (1775-1842) are just to the south. The house was designed by Thomas Jefferson and completed ca. 1822. Barbour, who owned about 5,000 acres here, was governor of Virginia (1812-1814), U.S. senator (1815-1825), secretary of war (1825-1828), and minister to Great Britain (1828-1829). A proponent of scientific farming, he conducted experiments on his land and published the results in agricultural journals. More than 100 enslaved African Americans worked on his plantation. Barboursville burned in 1884. Barboursville Vineyards was established here in 1976.
Erected 2016 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number D-22.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Architecture • Science & Medicine • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1822.
Location. 38° 10.282′ N, 78° 16.771′ W. Marker is in Barboursville, Virginia, in Orange County. It is at the intersection of Spotswood Trail (U.S. 33) and Constitution Highway (Virginia Route 20), on the right when traveling north on Spotswood Trail
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Virginia and in the Piedmont. 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 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Governor James Barbour (approx. 0.2 miles away); Barboursville Ruins (approx. 0.6 miles away); James Barbour, 1775-1842 (approx. 0.6 miles away); Montebello (approx. 2.1 miles away); Madison-Barbour Rural Historic District (approx. 3.7 miles away); Orange County / Greene County (approx. 4.6 miles away); General Thomas Sumter (approx. 4.6 miles away); The Maplewood Memorial Association (approx. 4.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Barboursville.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Barboursville (was about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 9, 2021
2. Barboursville Marker
This is a photo of the marker in its prior environs.
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, March 28, 2026
3. Barboursville Marker
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, March 28, 2026
5. Barboursville Ruins
As described on the marker, the ruins are at the vineyard (entrance off Vineyard Road, about 1 mile southeast of the marker). The mansion's original driveway used to connect to modern Governor Barbour Road about 1300' away, but that entrance has been closed for some years.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 11, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 695 times since then and 38 times this year. Last updated on June 2, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on June 2, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. 2. submitted on April 11, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on June 2, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. 4. submitted on April 11, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 5. submitted on June 2, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia.
