Near Stafford in Stafford County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Aquia Landing

Photographed by Shane Oliver, March 5, 2022

1. Aquia Landing Marker

Marker text was slightly changed in 2016.

Inscription. The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad was extended to its terminus here at Aquia Landing in 1846. By steamboat and railroad, travelers from Washington, D.C., to Richmond could complete in 9 hours a journey that took 38 hours by stagecoach. In May-June 1861, Confederate batteries at Aquia Landing exchanged fire with Union gunboats. The first use of nautical mines ("torpedoes") in the Civil War occurred here on 7 July 1861 against the U.S.S. Pawnee. After the Confederates abandoned the site in 1862, the Union army built new wharves and storage buildings. The army burned them in 1863, when it pursued the Confederates into Pennsylvania. The railroad was extended across Aquia Creek in 1872.

Erected 1994 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number J-92.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles • War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 7, 1861.

Location. 38° 23.001′ N, 77° 19.205′ W. Marker is near Stafford, Virginia, in Stafford County. It is on Brooke Road

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(County Route 608), on the right. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2846 Brooke Rd, Brooke VA 22430, 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: History of the Patawomeck Indians (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Aquia Landing (about 400 feet away); Mason's Homestead (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Aquia Landing (about 600 feet away); Battle of Aquia Landing (about 700 feet away); Patawomeck Tribe Village (approx. ¼ mile away); Steamships, Stages and Slave Trade (approx. half a mile away); Gateway to Freedom (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stafford.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Early Escape Route (was approx. half a mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Aquia Landing Marker (1994 version) image. Click for full size.

February 16, 2007

2. Aquia Landing Marker (1994 version)

Since this picture was taken in February 2007, the marker disappeared and has since been replaced.

Aquia Landing image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin White, August 29, 2007

3. Aquia Landing

Aquia Landing is now a county park. Note that between February and August 2007, the marker disappeared. Directly across the street from the Aquia Landing sign, near the tree, you can see its telltale post in this August 2007 photo.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 22, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 19, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,041 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 23, 2022, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 2. submitted on January 14, 2008. 3. submitted on August 29, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.