Manassas in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Ruffner Public School Number 1

July 20, 1872

Ruffner Public School Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, September 2, 2007

1. Ruffner Public School Marker

Inscription. Named for Wm. H. Ruffner, Virginia’s first superintendent of public instruction, and opened as a public school on this date. Before free public schools were established by the Virginia constitution of 1869, a one room free school was in operation with voluntary gifts.

Erected 1965 by Virginia State Library. (Marker Number CL-2.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 20, 1930.

Location. 38° 45.032′ N, 77° 28.666′ W. Marker is in Manassas, Virginia, in Prince William County. Marker is on Center Street (Virginia Route 28) west of Peabody Street, on the left when traveling east. Located just to the east of the split of Church and Center Streets (west and east bound Route 28, respectively). Located on the east bound side of that route. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9305 Center Street, Manassas VA 20110, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. African American Entrepreneurs (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Baptist Church (about 400 feet away); Old Bennett School (about 500 feet away); Fifth Prince William County Courthouse

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

(about 800 feet away); Prince William County World War I Memorial (about 800 feet away); Answering the Call to Service (approx. 0.2 miles away); Peace Jubilee (approx. 0.2 miles away); Manassas Confederate Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Confederate Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); In Commemoration of the Manassas National Jubilee of Peace (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manassas.

Additional commentary.
1. Location of the marker
This marker stands on the grounds of the courthouse for Prince William County. While Manassas is independent of Prince William County, the courthouse is technically an exclave of Prince William County that is entirely surrounded by the City of Manassas.

— Submitted July 8, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

Photographed By Craig Swain, September 2, 2007

2. Ruffner Public School Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 18, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,452 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 10, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.