Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Abingdon Plantation Restoration
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, December 10, 2025
1. Abingdon Plantation Restoration Marker
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority worked in concert with Federal, state and local historic preservation agencies and professionals in the field to develop the restoration plan for the Abingdon Plantation site. The restoration process involved:
careful excavation and cataloguing of all archaeological features below ground
repairs to the original brick foundations, retaining as much of the original building material as possible
restoring unstable portions of the original foundations using new building materials
providing new above-ground reconstructions of previously buried ruin features
Erected by Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Anthropology & Archaeology • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 38° 51.077′ N, 77° 2.677′ 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: 2590 National Ave, Arlington VA 22202, United States of America. Touch for directions.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. 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: The Stable Manager - Rented to George Washington (here, next to this marker); Abingdon (here, next to this marker); The Industrial Age (here, next to this marker); Abingdon and John Alexander (a few steps from this marker); The Hunter Family (a few steps from this marker); Abingdon Plantation (a few steps from this marker); The Custis Family (a few steps from this marker); The Dress (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.
Also see . . . Abingdon Plantation at Wikipedia. (Submitted on April 28, 2026, by Bernard H. Berne of Arlington, Virginia.)
Additional commentary.
1. "Abingdon House Ruins" photograph
The title and the caption beneath the photograph entitled "Abingdon House Ruins" are misleading. The caption contains a quotation from an inscription on the left side of the marker that describes a foundation. However, the photograph does not show any "ruins" or any actual foundation.
The structure in the foreground of the photo is actually an above-ground reconstruction of portions of an original structure that were previously buried. After excavation, cataloguing and repair, the original structure was reburied.
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, December 10, 2025
2. Abingdon Plantation Restoration Marker
The marker is the second marker from the left.
For further information about the reconstruction, read the text of the primary inscription on the marker. The last line of the text states that the restoration process involved "providing new above-ground reconstructions of previously buried ruin features". The photograph shows one of these reconstructions.
I therefore suggest the following title for the photograph: "Reconstructed Abingdon House Foundation".
— Submitted May 25, 2011, by Bernard H. Berne of Arlington, Virginia.
Photographed by Kevin W., June 12, 2008
3. Abingdon Plantation Restoration Marker
Photographed by Kevin W., June 12, 2008
4. Reconstructed Abingdon House Foundation
The brick foundation supported the house structure. Originally built in the 1740s, the house was of a typical colonial style featuring oak framework, brick side chimneys, a central hallway and a steep roof. In the 1850s, a second story was added with a pediment, wings, and front and back porches. These changes greatly altered the original appearance of the house.
Photographed by Kevin W., June 12, 2008
5. Reconstructed Abingdon Kitchen/Laundry
Although detailed construction information is incomplete, this structure was probably used as a kitchen/laundry. Because kitchens had open hearths, they were located away from the main house to avoid fire damage. It was much easier to rebuild a burned kitchen than to replace a house. Archaeological investigations uncovered the foundation of a double hearth represented here.
Photographed by Kevin W., June 12, 2008
6. Abingdon Plantation Restoration Marker
Artifacts have been recovered from archaeological excavations at this site. These artificacts and a more detailed history of Abingdon Plantation are housed within Historic Terminal A of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Photographed by Kevin W., June 8, 2008
7. Abingdon Marker
Photographed by PaulwC3, December 23, 2011
8. Digging Through Layers Of Time exhibit
A display in Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Exhibit Hall of the artifacts unearthed at the Abingdon Plantation site.
Photographed by PaulwC3, December 23, 2011
9. Daily Life: Colonial Times at Abingdon Plantation exhibit
A display in Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Exhibit Hall of the artifacts unearthed at the Abingdon Plantation site.
Photographed by PaulwC3, December 23, 2011
10. Trade Unites Abingdon with the World exhibit
A display in Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Exhibit Hall of the artifacts unearthed at the Abingdon Plantation site.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 18, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,783 times since then and 48 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 18, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 4. submitted on June 17, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 5, 6, 7. submitted on June 18, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 8, 9, 10. submitted on December 17, 2012, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
