Historic Sites

Visit some of these popular historic sites, buildings, properties and attractions in Northern Virginia and discover the history that surrounds Fairfax. A great activity for families, for long time residents and for those visiting the area.

The Fairfax County Courthouse
4000 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030
Guided tours conducted every Friday 3 pm (excluding holidays and inclement weather days). Courthouse also accessible Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm: please call the Fairfax Circuit Court Historic Records Center at 703-246-4168 for more information.

Historic Fairfax County Courthouse
Historic Fairfax County Courthouse

Historic Blenheim Civil War Interpretive Center
3610 Old Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA 22030 Phone: 703-591-0560
Open Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 3 pm, with a guided tour at 1 pm – FREE Admission.
Historic Blenheim – built c. 1858 by Confederate citizen Albert Willcoxon – is known for its exceptional collection of Union soldiers’ Civil War graffiti. To date, over 110 of these soldiers, hailing from 7 states, have been identified. The Civil War Interpretive Center illustrates the lives of the Union soldiers who came through the house, as well as the effect of war in Fairfax. A life scale reproduction of the inaccessible attic, showcasing many of the best signatures, is a highlight of the gallery.

A free, guided tour of the first floor of the house and grounds is available at 1 pm Tuesday – Saturday.

Historic Blenheim offers several programs with a Civil War focus throughout the year. Our premier program is Civil War Day, a living history event, annually held in late April or early May. Group tours for students, scouts and adults are available by reservation – please call (703) 591-6728 for more details.

Historic Blenheim

Ratcliffe-Allison-Pozer House
10386 Main Street, Fairfax, VA 22030
Open from 11 am to 2 pm Saturdays April through October
Tours available by appointment; call 703.385.8414
Built by Richard Ratcliffe in 1812, this house is the oldest residence in the city.

Historic House
Ratcliffe-Allison-Pozer House

George Mason’s Gunston Hall
10709 Gunston Road, Lorton, VA Phone: 703-550-9220
Mansion and Museum open daily 9:30am to 5:00pm
Walk in the footsteps of history at the 18th-century home of George Mason, Founding Father and author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights.
Each visitor will receive a guided tour of the mansion; the 550 acres of grounds and hiking trails are open until 6:00 p.m. A variety of special events are presented throughout the year.

Gunston Hall

George Washington’s Mount Vernon
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy, Mount Vernon, VA 22309 Phone: 703-780-2000
Open 9:00am to 4:00pm from November thru March; Open 9:00am to 5:00pm April thru October
One of the nation’s most beloved historic sites, Mount Vernon offers a glimpse into 18th-century plantation life through beautiful gardens and grounds, intriguing museum exhibits, and immersive programs honoring George Washington’s life and legacy.

Entrance to Mount Vernon
George Washington’s Mount Vernon

Sully Historic Site (Sully Plantation
3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly, VA 20151 Phone: 703-437-1794
An oasis of the past, Sully reflects the history of Fairfax County. Completed in 1799 by Richard Bland Lee, the main house at Sully combines aspects of Georgian and Federal architecture. Richard Bland Lee was Northern Virginia’s first Representative to Congress, as well as General Robert E. Lee’s uncle. Guided tours highlight the early 19th century life of the Richard Bland Lee family. Programs reflect the history of Fairfax County through the 20th century.

Colvin Run Mill
10017 Colvin Run Road, Great Falls, VA 22066 Phone: 703-759-2771
Colvin Run Mill was built c. 1811 and is the sole surviving operational 19th-century water-powered mill in the Washington, DC area. Explore the beautifully wooded and landscaped grounds around historic Colvin Run Mill and General Store. Take a tour of the mill where you will see the massive waterwheel and gears, feel the furrowed stones that grind grain and smell the burn of mill stones. Visit the General Store to purchase stone ground cornmeal, wheat flour and grits, “penny” candy, toys, books, snacks and drinks. Special programs, craft demonstrations and seasonal activities take place February thru December.

Historic Mill
Colvin Run Mill

Green Spring Historic House
4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312 Phone: 703-941-7987
The historic house, set amid the gardens at Green Spring, was built in 1784. Visitors can enjoy art exhibits, teas, tours and presentations, a Museum Shop. The house is open Wednesday-Sunday, noon-4:30 p.m.

Green Spring Historic House

Historic Huntley
6918 Harrison Lane, Alexandria, VA 22306 Phone: 703-768-2525
Historic Huntley is a Federal Period villa built in 1825 for Thomson Francis Mason, a former mayor of Alexandria and a grandson of George Mason, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. The grounds at Historic Huntley are open March-November, dawn to dusk. Historic Huntley is closed December-February.
Buildings are open during weekend tours (Saturdays, 10am-3pm; April-October) and for scheduled programs, open houses and special events.

Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm
312 Park Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046 Phone: 703-248-5171
Cherry Hill Farmhouse was completed in 1845. The house is fully furnished with antiques of the mid-19th century. Today, reenactments, concerts, readings, lectures, workshops, teas, and private events take place at Cherry Hill throughout the year. The house is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday between the hours of 9 am and 4 pm however we strongly encourage visitors to call ahead to ensure tour availability or visit during our Open House hours scheduled Saturdays April through October from 10 am- 12pm.

Historic House
Cherry Hill Historic House

Woodlawn and Pope Leighey-House
9000 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22309 Phone: 703-780-4000
Woodlawn, the first site operated by the National Trust, was part of George Washington’s Mount Vernon. In 1799, he gave the site to his nephew, Lawrence Lewis, and Lewis’ new bride, Eleanor “Nelly” Parke Custis, Martha’s granddaughter, in hopes of keeping Nelly close to Mount Vernon. The newly-married couple built the Georgian/Federal house designed by William Thornton, architect of the U.S. Capitol.
Woodlawn and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House are open April-December, long weekends, Friday through Monday, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Arlington National Cemetery
1 Memorial Ave, Fort Meyers, VA 22211 Phone: 877-907-8585
Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place for more than 400,000 active duty service members, veterans and their families. Service to county is the common thread that binds all who are remembered and honored here. Arlington is both a national treasure and an active cemetery. Visitors are encouraged to discover Arlington’s rich history, witness the time-honored ceremonies, take in the scenic landscapes and grounds, wander through the headstones and monuments, reflect on the names, and ponder the stories each person could tell. The cemetery is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., October through March, and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., April through September.