Historic Attractions

In many ways the recorded history of Fairfax County, Virginia, is a reflection of the history of the United States. Although the county was not formally created until 1742, the history of English settlement on the land that is now Fairfax County spans the early 1600s to the present. Such familiar Fairfax County names and places as George Washington, George Mason, Mount Vernon, Bull Run have played or are still playing important roles in the lives of Americans everywhere.

In addition to sites in neighboring Washington, D.C., Fairfax County is home to a number of historic attractions including George Washington's Mount Vernon and George Mason's Gunston Hall.

At Claude Moore Colonial FarmClaude Moore Colonial Farm
The Claude Moore Colonial Farm at Turkey Run in McLean, VA is a living history museum that portrays American family life on a colonial-era working farm. The Farm uses interactive educational programs to further understanding of agriculture and everyday life in 18th century Virginia. The Claude Moore Colonial Farm conducts a variety of programs and events including 18th Century Farm Skills, Apprentice Program, seasonal Market Fairs, Colonial Threshing Day, Rail Burning, Herbal Remedies and other. The Farm is the only privately operated park in the National Park system and is managed by the non-profit organization, Friends of the Claude Moore Colonial Farm, Inc. Farm membership is available. For more information please visit www.1771.org. (Photo: Experiencing 18th Century life at Claude Moore Colonial Farm.)

Dates and Hours: April-mid December, Wednesday-Sunday from 10 AM-4:30 PM.
GateHouse Shop hours: 10 AM-5 PM
Summer Market Fair: July 19 - 20 (Discount Pass at www.1771.org)

The Farm is closed during inclement weather and on Thanksgiving Day.
Admission: $3 adults; $2 children and senior citizens.

6310 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101
703-442-7557

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Colvin Run Mill
Colvin Run Mill is an early 19th century wooden water wheel and operating gristmill. The old miller’s house includes an exhibit about the process of milling and the families who operated the mill. Another exhibit in the renovated 20th century dairy barn features the history of the Great Falls community around the mill.

Hours: Open daily (except Tuesdays) 11 AM-5 PM (11 AM-4 PM, January & February).
Admission: Free.
Tours: $6-adults; $5-students with ID; $4-children (5-15) and seniors (60+).
*Tours depart on the hour.

10017 Colvin Run Road
Great Falls, VA 22066
703-759-2771

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Dranesville Tavern
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Dranesville Tavern was a popular stopping place for weary travelers on Leesburg Pike. It was so popular that in 1865, the Alexandria Gazette described Dranesville Tavern as “one of the best roadside inns in the State of Virginia.”

The tavern, built around 1820, served both travelers and the drovers taking livestock and farm produce to the Georgetown, Washington, DC and Alexandria markets.

Only the grounds of Dranesville Tavern are open to the public.

11919 Leesburg Pike
Dranesville, VA 22066
703-438-8835

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Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope Leighey House
Designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright for an average-income family, the house was completed in 1942. In 1964, it was moved to its present location on the grounds of Woodlawn Estate from the original site in Falls Church. A compact modern house built for efficiency, it is a marked contrast to the spacious Woodlawn Estate mansion next door. The house is owned and operated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Hours: Daily 10 AM-5 PM March-December (Closed in January and February)
Admission: $6

9000 Richmond Highway
Alexandria, VA 22309
703-780-4000

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Frying Pan Park and Kidwell Farm
Kidwell Farm recreates the era from 1920 to 1940—a time of great transition in rural America. These two decades saw the advent of tractors, milking machines, mechanical bailers and other improvements in modern agriculture. The farm is home to chickens, peacocks, rabbits, sheep, goats, pigs, cows and other livestock common to the early farms of Fairfax County.

The Spring Meeting House, built in 1791, was used for town meetings, as well as for religious services. The meeting house is designated a Virginia landmark and is included in the National Register of Historic Places.

Hours: Frying Pan Park—daily dawn to dusk; Kidwell Farm—daily 9 AM-5 PM;
Country Store—10 AM- 4:30 PM Mon - Sat, and 1 PM - 4 PM on Sundays Admission: Free

2709 West Ox Road
Herndon, VA 20171
703-437-9101

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George Washington's Distillery & GristmillGeorge Washington's Gristmill
George Washington's whiskey distillery, one of the largest operations of its kind in America, was one of the most successful economic enterprises at Mount Vernon. From April through October, costumed distillers demonstrate the 18th-century process of distilling, operating stills, mash tubs, and a boiler in the two-story building that also includes an office and living quarters. A museum on the second floor features a History Channel video, George Washington's Liquid Gold, and an exhibit, "Spirits of Independence: George Washington and the Beginnings of the American Whiskey Industry."

At the adjacent Gristmill, millers in period costume operate the giant machine that turns grain into flour and corn into meal. The 18th-century mill has been authentically reconstructed to allow visitors to see the water-powered mill in operation, discover how it works, and learn how this particular mill played an important role in Washington's vision for America's future.(Photo: The Gristmill.)

Hours: 10 AM-5 PM (April-October)
Admission: $4-adults; $2-children (Discounted admission when purchased with tickets to Mount Vernon.)

5514 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway
Alexandria, VA 22309
703-780-2000

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Gunston Hall
Gunston Hall was the home of George Mason, father of the Bill of Rights. Mason wrote the Virginia Constitution and the Virginia Declaration of Rights on which the U.S. Bill of Rights was based. Mason’s home, constructed circa 1755-1760, is an outstanding example of Georgian architecture. The elaborate carvings of the interior, designed by indentured servant William Buckland, serve as an impressive backdrop for guided tours discussing the 18th century plantation household. The boxwood gardens at Gunston Hall include the massive central allée, believed to have been planted during Mason’s residence. Beyond the garden lies the deer park and the Potomac River.

Hours: 9:30 AM-5 PM Open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Admission: $7-adults; $3-children

10709 Gunston Road
Mason Neck, VA 22079
703-550-9220

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Historic Herndon
Located just minutes from Washington Dulles Airport, Herndon is an historic town that was the heart of Northern Virginia's dairy farming country. Once a major rail stop, the town has maintained its character and charm with boutique shops and numerous restaurants. The Herndon Visitors Center, located in the historic train depot, is open every day.

730 Elden Street
Herndon, VA 20172
703-HERNDON

Mount VernonMount Vernon Estate and Gardens

Discover the real George Washington at Mount Vernon! In addition to being America's most visited historic home, the estate now includes 25 recently opened galleries and theaters. The Ford Orientation Center and the Donald W. Reynolds Museum & Education Center feature artifacts, original movies, hands-on exhibits, and an immersive Revolutionary War "snow" experience. Learn about Washington's life, from his boyhood to his wartime service, agricultural entrepreneurship, and his presidency. Tour the beautifully restored mansion and see original outbuildings in addition to slave quarters, a slave cabin, and a greenhouse. Visit the four distinctive gardens and get a glimpse of Mount Vernon's working farm, featuring heritage breed animals and a 16-sided treading barn. Pay your respects at the tomb of George and Martha Washington, and visit the Slave Memorial, located on grounds where slaves were buried.

George Washington acquired Mount Vernon in 1754, and greatly expanded it to reflect his status as a Virginia gentleman and experimental farmer. The extensive grounds combine beauty and functionality in a welcoming and harmonious setting. Open every day year-round. (Photo: Mount Vernon.)

Hours: 8 AM-5 PM (April-August); 9 AM-5 PM (March, September, October) and 9 AM-4 PM (November-February).
Admission: $13-adults; $12-seniors; $6-youth (6-11); FREE-children 5 and under

George Washington Memorial Parkway
Alexandria, VA 22121
703-780-2000
www.mountvernon.org

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Pohick Episcopal Church
Attended by George Washington and George Mason, Pohick Episcopal Church was completed in 1774 from plans drawn by Washington himself. The church was heavily damaged during the Civil War and has since undergone a series of renovations. Soldier graffiti remains visible on its sandstone walls.

Pohick Church is an active parish. Please call ahead for an appointment
9301 Richmond Highway
Lorton, VA 22079
703-550-9449

River Farm
River Farm is a 25-acre estate once owned by George Washington and is the headquarters of the American Horticultural Society. Overlooking the Potomac River, the farm’s gardens include rose and perennial borders, idea gardens, children’s gardens and special plantings by local horticultural societies.

Hours: 9 AM–5:00 PM Monday-Friday; 9:00 am–1:00 PM Saturdays (early April-early October).
Admission: Free

7931 East Boulevard
Alexandria, VA 22308
703-768-5700

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Sully Historic SiteSully Historic Site
The home of Richard Bland Lee, Northern Virginia’s first congressman, the main house at Sully was built in 1794. The house is furnished with antiques of the Federal period. Outbuildings include a kitchen, smokehouse and stone dairy and a slave cabin. Formal and kitchen gardens complement the house. Educational programs, craft demonstrations and living history events are offered throughout the year.

Sully Plantation was often the focus of foraging Union and Confederate armies. The Haight family owned Sully during the Civil War. Jacob Haight, a union sympathizer, was forced to stay behind the Union line in Alexandria, leaving the protection of the house and farm to his sister and wife. A variety of living history programs are held throughout the year, highlighting aspects of both gentry and slave daily life.

Hours: 11 AM-4 PM; tours on the hour; 11 AM-3 PM (January and February). Closed on Tuesdays.
Admission: Combined tours of the main house and outbuilding—$7-adults; $6-students; $5-seniors & children.

3650 Historic Sully Way
Chantilly, VA 20151
703-437-1794

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Woodlawn EstateWoodlawn Plantation House
Built between 1800 and 1805, this Georgian-style mansion was designed by William Thornton, architect of the first U.S. Capitol. Woodlawn was the home of Eleanor Custis and Lawrence Lewis, Martha Washington’s granddaughter and George Washington’s nephew. Many Washington and Lewis family heirlooms and furnishings are on display. (Photo: The Plantation House at Woodlawn.)

Hours: Daily 10 AM-5 PM March-December (Closed January and February, except Presidents' Day)
Admission: $7.50-adults; $3-students

9000 Richmond Highway
Alexandria, VA 22309
703-780-4000

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