Woodburn
Why it's listed
Woodburn is a farmstead of 240 acres in the rolling hills southwest of Leesburg, Loudoun County. It holds a remarkably intact group of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century buildings: a two-story brick manor house, a large forebay bank barn with round-headed brick arches under the forebay, a stable, a stone-and-frame mill dated 1777, a stone miller's house dated 1787, and a log-and-stone 'patent house' thought to be the original dwelling. George Nixson patented the land in the mid-eighteenth century and built the mill and miller's house. A later Nixson raised the brick house and barn in the second quarter of the nineteenth century, earning the house the nickname 'Dr. Nixson's Folly.' The barn is described as the largest and finest of its type in the area. A later amendment adds a frame Farm Manager's House built in 1909 with locally cut oak timber and a fieldstone foundation, which had been omitted from the first description.
Significance in brief: The original nomination presents Woodburn as a well-preserved group of stone and brick buildings from the late 18th to mid-19th century, including the largest and finest brick barn of its type in the area. It shows the settlement of Northern Virginia and its early nineteenth-century growth under the Nixson family. A 2008 amendment adds the 1909 Farm Manager's House, which had been left out of the original description.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 76002111, listed December 12, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3 mi. SW of Leesburg off VA 704, Leesburg |
|---|---|
| County | Loudoun County |
| Listed | December 12, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76002111 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1750-1909 (amendment); 1700-1899 on the original form |
| Architectural style | Early 20th century Farmhouse (Farm Manager's House, per amendment); main house is a brick, five-bay, Federal-influenced dwelling |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Original form lists the property as occupied, private residence and agriculture use. The amendment says the Farm Manager's House is a private single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 240 |
| Coordinates | 39.08790, -77.62212 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 76002111.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8032444
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.