You would think that in a historical place like DC that every single memorial or ruin would be a huge tourist attraction. But there is so much history in this city that not all of them make it into the organized tours. If you want to visit a secret ruins and experience a unique part of history, head to the incredible unknown ruins of Abingdon Plantation.
The ruins of Abingdon Plantation are located in one of the most trafficked areas in the DC area but no one seems to know they are there. They lay on the property of Ronald Reagan National Airport.
The remains of the plantation are just a few hundred feet away from the North Terminal. From far away, they just look like a small park.
In fact, you can even see the site from the passing Metro line but you'd never know this grassy knoll is home to ruins of a Revolutionary War era plantation.
The Abingdon Plantation was built in 1695 by the Alexander family and later, it was purchased by George Washington's stepson so the family could be close to Mount Vernon.
The house would survive through the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. However, it burned down under mysterious circumstances in 1930. The RF&P Railroad wanted to build on the site and it is suspected that they invited their employees to "strip the area" to save on demolition costs.
Eventually, the area surrounding the ruins became the airport. While the area was in danger of complete destruction, a group of preservationists fought to protect the ruins and won.
Now, the ruins are set in a small park that anyone can visit. Visitors can read about the history of the plantation and explore the small foundation of the home that still exists.
The next time you have some extra time and are near the airport, take a drive and explore this little known memorial.
Did you know this memorial existed? Check out other ruins around DC on these amazing hikes.
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