Alexandria, VA – Last month’s Unseen Old Town photo stretches the definition of Old Town. The ruins of Abingdon Plantation are actually located North of Old Town, off the George Washington Parkway. Unless you knew it was there, you likely have never seen this site. The reason is that the Abingdon Plantation is only accessible through the parking structure at Reagan National Airport. To visit, you have to follow the pedestrian path from Parking Garage A towards B/C. Make sure you are on the ground level.
The site was also known as the Alexander-Custis Plantation because of two early prominent families that owned the land grant. The original parcel of some 6,000 acres stretched from Hunting Creek to the current site of Arlington National Cemetery. Our city, Alexandria, draws its name from John Alexander, who inherited the plantation in 1677 from his father, Robert Alexander. John Alexander gave a large portion of the property to Alexandria so that it could be formally incorporated into the town in 1749.
Yes, George Washington did sleep here. He was a frequent visitor after 1788, when John Parke Custis, his stepson, purchased the farm. There’s a long and varied history of the property. Unfortunately, it is too long to discuss here. However, to conclude our little investigation, in the 20th century, Abingdon and its land were acquired by the R F & P Railroad. The house fell into disrepair and burned in a fire in 1930. The remains of the structure that survive were rebuilt in 1998, after the Airport Authority investigated building a new parking facility on the site, and preservationists stepped in to save it.
Have you noticed this around town? Where is it? What do you know about it?
To see more quirky photos and close-up angles of secret and not-so-secret spots in Old Town, Alexandria, and jump in with guesses, and comments, follow the discussion, and submit your own photos for consideration, join the Unseen Old Town Facebook group.
As for the photo above, we will reveal what it is and where it is in our next issue, along with a new one for you to ponder.
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