Independence Day has always been a grand celebration, but in two years, the occasion will be even bigger, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As the country approaches July 4, 2026, planning for this milestone has begun.
Colonial history is part of Northern Virginia’s DNA, a region that took a pivotal part in the country’s founding. Representatives of the commonwealth, such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, were integral to drafting the document that stated the principles of the new government and severed connections to Great Britain. The document was written during the American Revolution, a war that lasted eight brutal years.
During Colonial times, the quiet communities around Prince William County were known as the “breadbasket” of Virginia. When the war arrived in their backyards, these farmers joined the fight by providing food and vital supplies to American and French allied troops.
“War wasn’t possible without their contributions,” says Nathan McDonald, a historic interpreter for Prince William County. “Prince William County was a pastoral area, and Rippon Lodge in Dumfries reveals how families played a role in America’s complicated struggle for freedom.”
McDonald gives tours at the Rippon Lodge historic site, the second-oldest home in the county. He explains how owner Thomas Blackburn volunteered in the Continental Army and was wounded. Blackburn became a militia member, and his wife, Christian, managed the farm and cared for her injured husband.
The farm was located less than a mile from Kings Highway, a road connecting the American colonies, and allied soldiers relied upon Rippon Lodge as a waystation. “Thomas Blackburn contributed his personal resources to maintain the roads. His enslaved workers provided food for the troops and forage for the horses,” McDonald says.
The allied armies marched through Prince William County on their way to the Battle of Yorktown, where the British surrendered in 1781. “Assistance with civilians makes that happen,” says McDonald. “Rippon Lodge is the only Colonial-era home in Prince William County that’s open to the public. The house has stood the test of time. It was saved during the War of 1812 and the Civil War. We’re lucky it’s survived into the present day.”
As we approach July 4, 2026, Prince William County will host events at Colonial-era sites. On November 2, 2024, “Road to Victory at Rippon Lodge” will feature the contributions of civilians, enslaved soldiers, and Indigenous scouts engaged in the March to Yorktown, along with demonstrations of Colonial living.
Road to Victory at Rippon Lodge
WHAT: Living history demonstrations with a focus on the Revolutionary War
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 2
WHERE: 15520 Blackburn Rd., Woodbridge
Feature image courtesy Rippon Lodge Historic Site
This story originally ran in our November issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
