Rippon Lodge
The pin is a point inside the NPS boundary polygon, not a surveyed location.
Why it's listed
Rippon Lodge is a frame house of one and a half stories on a hilltop overlooking the Potomac plain near Woodbridge, Virginia. Richard Blackburn, an English-born planter and builder, bought the tract in 1737 and built the original house. He also built the first Falls Church, owned a grist mill, and helped found towns including Dumfries. The house has been enlarged several times, including a west end addition possibly in the late eighteenth century and two wings and a full-length porch in 1924. Even so, the original framing, two brick corner chimneys, parts of the basement masonry and much beaded siding survive, and two rooms keep their eighteenth-century pine paneling. The property is also valued for its association with the Blackburn family, who served in colonial and state government. A descendant restored it to the family in 1924, and another descendant, a polar explorer, acquired it in 1952.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites its surviving early eighteenth-century framing, chimneys, siding and paneled interior rooms, and its site above the Potomac plain. It also stresses the Blackburn family, whose members served as planters, builders and colonial and Commonwealth leaders, and who are described as models of Virginia's eighteenth-century gentry leadership.
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 71000988, listed July 2, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 0.8 mi. N of jct. of U.S. 1 and VA 642, Woodbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Prince William County |
| Listed | July 2, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000988 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th and 20th Century |
| Architect / builder | Richard Blackburn (builder and original owner) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition, altered, on its original site, and occupied as a private residence. It was restored in 1924 and has had many additions. |
| Acreage | 140 |
| Coordinates | 38.61479, -77.27887 (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 71000988.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7335740
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.