National Historic Landmark

Ripshin

Trout Dale, Grayson County, Virginia
Listed
September 21, 1971
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
71000979

About this property

Ripshin Farm, also known as the Sherwood Anderson Farm is a historic farm property at the junction of Routes 603 and 732 near Troutdale, Virginia. It was developed as a summer home and later year-round home by writer Sherwood Anderson (1876–1941), and is where he wrote most of his later works. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1971. Ripshin Farm is located in a rural setting in Virginia's southwestern hills, east of the village of Troutdale. It is set on a rise overlooking the confluence of Ripshin and Lauren Creeks, and is accessed by a long drive on the east side of Route 603 north of its junction with Route 732. The property consists of 76 acres (31 ha), much of which is wooded, but with views cleared to the west. It includes the main house, two small guest cottages, and a log cabin in which Anderson did his writing. The main house is 1½ stories in height, with a central section of fieldstone flanked by log wings. The property was a small farm when Sherwood Anderson purchased it in 1925. He at first lived in a log cabin on the site, while the house was under construction. It would serve as his home and principal writing location until his death in 1941. Anderson was one of the first writers of his time to create candid depictions of the sometimes gritty aspects of life, and for his frankly self-revealing works. He was acknowledged as a major influence on a generation of writers, including William Faulkner, Stephen Vincent Benét, and Eudora Welty. Anderson's only bestseller in his career, Dark Laughter, was completed here in 1925. National Register of Historic Places listings in Grayson County, Virginia Ripshin Farm, Grayson County, one photo at Virginia DHR

Location

Trout Dale, Grayson County, Virginia
36.69612, -81.40729

Categories

EDUCATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Ripshin

This page lists Ripshin. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Ripshin report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Thomas, Abijah, House
Industrial
10.5 mi
Southwestern State Hospital Tubercular Building
Industrial
11.1 mi
Henderson Building, Southwestern State Hospital
Industrial
11.1 mi
Greer, R. T., and Company
Industrial
11.3 mi
Hotel Lincoln
Industrial
11.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Marion
1864Civil War
11.3 mi
Stoneman's Raid – Marion VA
1865Civil War
12.1 mi
Stoneman's Raid into Southwest Virginia
1864Civil War
14.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Ripshin listed on the National Register?

Ripshin was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 21, 1971.

What type of historic resource is Ripshin?

Ripshin is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Ripshin a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Ripshin has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Ripshin?

The period of significance for Ripshin is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Ripshin?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Ripshin will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Grayson County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Grayson County.

Explore GraysonCounty ›

More historic places in Virginia

Browse all historic places in Virginia.

View Virginiahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Virginia history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Virginiahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Ripshin will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report