Rippon Lodge facts for kids
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Rippon Lodge
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Rippon Lodge
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 Location in Northern Virginia
Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Woodbridge, Virginia |
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| Area | 40 acres (16 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000988 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 2, 1971 |
Rippon Lodge is one of the oldest houses in Prince William County, Virginia. It was built around 1747 by Richard Blackburn. This historic home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as an important place in American history.
Rippon Lodge sits on a hill overlooking Neabsco Creek. It's located in what is now Woodbridge. The house got its name from Ripon, a small city in England where Richard Blackburn was born.
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A Look Back: Rippon Lodge's History
Rippon Lodge is located along an old road once known as the King's Highway. This important road connected the 13 original colonies, from Newport, Rhode Island to Charleston, South Carolina. It was very important during the American Revolutionary War. American soldiers marched on this road before their big victory against the British at Yorktown.
The Blackburn Family and Early Years
Rippon Lodge started as a large tobacco farm. Richard Blackburn, who came from England in 1720, owned a huge amount of land, about 21,000 acres! The farm even had its own port on Neabsco Creek. It was also close to Dumfries, which used to be the main town for the county.
Richard Blackburn built Rippon Lodge and other buildings using the labor of enslaved people. When he passed away, his son, Col. Thomas Blackburn, took over the property. Thomas Blackburn was an important person in Virginia. He served in the House of Burgesses, which was like the state's government back then. He also helped George Washington during the Revolutionary War.
Thomas Blackburn's son, Richard Scott Blackburn, also served in the Virginia government. The Blackburn family kept Rippon Lodge until about 1820.
New Owners and Preservation Efforts
After the Blackburns, the Atkinson family bought Rippon Lodge. They also used enslaved labor on the farm for many years. The Atkinson family lived there for about a century.
In 1923, the property was sold again to Wade H. Ellis and his wife, Dessie. They moved to Washington, D.C., and worked to fix up and protect Rippon Lodge. Later, Wade Ellis found out that Richard Blackburn was actually his ancestor! This discovery likely made him even more interested in preserving the historic home.
After Wade Ellis died, his wife sold the house to another Blackburn family member, Admiral Richard Blackburn Black. He was a famous explorer who traveled to the Arctic with Admiral Byrd. Admiral Black's daughter inherited the house in 1989. In 2000, she sold it to Prince William County.
Today, Rippon Lodge and its land are cared for by Prince William County's Parks and Recreation Department. A local group of friends also helps to maintain this important piece of history.
Visiting Rippon Lodge
Prince William County has restored Rippon Lodge and takes care of the 42 acres around it. You can visit Rippon Lodge from May through October. It's open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 AM to 4 PM.
