Accokeek Furnace Archeological Site is a historic

archaeological site An archaeological site is a place (or group of physical sites) in which evidence of past activity is preserved (either prehistoric or historic or contemporary), and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology a ...

located near Stafford,

Stafford County, Virginia Stafford County is located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is a suburb outside of Washington D.C. It is approximately south of D.C. It is part of the Northern Virginia region, and the D.C area. It is one of the fastest growing, and highest- ...

. The Principio Company of Cecil County, Maryland, constructed the Accokeek Iron Furnace about 1726 on land leased from

Augustine Washington Augustine Washington Sr. (November 12, 1694 – April 12, 1743) was the father of the first U.S. president, George Washington. He served as an officer in the British Navy during the War of Jenkin's Ear although he belonged to the Colony of Vir ...

, father of

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...

. After his death in 1743, his son

Lawrence Washington Laurence or Lawrence Washington may refer to: *Laurence Washington (MP for Maidstone) (1546–1619), Member of Parliament (MP) for Maidstone *Lawrence Washington (1622–1662), MP for Malmesbury *Lawrence Washington (1565–1616), Mayor of Northam ...

inherited his interest in the company and furnace. When he died in 1752, his share descended to his brother

Augustine Washington, Jr. Augustine Washington Jr. (1720 – 1762) was an American planter, military officer and politician best known for being the half-brother of George Washington. Early and family life A member of the Washington family. He was the third and younges ...

Operations at this site ceased around 1753. A historical marker denoting this site is located on the grounds of

Colonial Forge High School Colonial Forge High School is a public high school in Stafford, Virginia serving students in grades nine through twelve in the central portion of Stafford County, Virginia. Location and demographics Colonial Forge is located on Courthouse Road, ...

. It was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 1984.

References

Washington family Archaeological sites on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia National Register of Historic Places in Stafford County, Virginia 1726 establishments in Virginia {{StaffordCountyVA-NRHP-stub