Edmund Ruffin Plantation facts for kids
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Marlbourne
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | U.S. Route 360, Hanover County, Virginia |
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| Nearest city | Richmond, Virginia |
| Built | 1843 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000837 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHLD | July 19, 1964 |
The Edmund Ruffin Plantation, also known as Marlbourne, is a special historic place in Hanover County, Virginia. It is about 11 miles (18 km) northeast of Richmond. This site is recognized as a National Historic Landmark because of its important history.
Contents
Marlbourne: A Historic Virginia Home
Marlbourne was built in 1840. In 1843, a man named Edmund Ruffin bought the property. He was a well-known farmer and writer from Virginia. Ruffin was famous for trying new ways to improve farming.
Who Was Edmund Ruffin?
Edmund Ruffin was a very smart and curious person. He was a pioneer in making farms better. This means he was one of the first to try new ideas in agriculture. He even published a farming magazine called the Farmer's Register in the 1840s.
Ruffin was part of a group of thinkers. They called themselves "the sacred circle." This group worked to make farming better across the Southern United States. They taught farmers about important ideas like crop rotation. This is when you change the crops you grow in a field each year. It helps keep the soil healthy. They also promoted soil conservation, which means protecting the soil from washing away. Because of his work, Ruffin is often called "the father of soil science" in the United States.
Improving the Land
Ruffin loved to experiment with different farming methods. He tried mixing a natural material called marl into the soil. Marl is a type of earthy dirt that contains clay and calcium. It helps make soil better for growing plants, especially if the soil needs more lime.
Ruffin and his friends, like James Henry Hammond and William Gilmore Simms, had strong beliefs about society. They wrote many articles in magazines. They shared their ideas on how to improve farms and the way people lived.
A Time of Change
Later in his life, Edmund Ruffin became known for his strong political views. He was one of a group of people called "Fire-Eaters." These were people who strongly supported states leaving the United States before the American Civil War. Ruffin even traveled to South Carolina. He is famous for firing one of the first shots at Fort Sumter in 1861. This event helped start the Civil War.
Marlbourne Today
Because of its important history and connection to Edmund Ruffin, Marlbourne plantation was named a National Historic Landmark in 1964. This means it is a place that is very important to the history of the United States.
