The 10 Best Historic Sites in Fairfax County, Fairfax County

Come share the fascinating moments of America’s first family with yours at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Explore the beautiful mansion and grounds and get to know the man, the ideas and the values that founded a nation. Dive into history through action-packed theaters, fascinating exhibits and meet characters from Washington’s world. Admire the view of the peaceful Potomac, or hop on board a sightseeing cruise. It’s a place where history truly comes to life.

Tours that show visitors what life was like on a working plantation in the 1700s.

Sully Historic Site is a charming and historic place to visit. The feature attractions, of course, are the site's history and historic structures. The grounds are a lovely place for strolling. Sully reflects Fairfax County history. It was the 1794 home of Richard Bland Lee, Northern Virginia's first Representative to Congress and General Robert E. Lee's uncle. Sully is on the National Register for Historic Places, is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is part of the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Holiday Tour Fees for Private / Same Household Groups 12/3/20 - 01/03/21: 1 or 2 people: $25.00 3 to 9 people: $45.00 Walk-through house tours are available Thursdays through Sundays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Forgotten Road Tours are available on demand at 2 p.m. This is a one-hour, outside walking tour of the original outbuildings and slave quarters. Meet at the Main house 15 min prior for COVID-19 screening. Masks are required.

After nearly a 200-year hiatus and a multi-million dollar reconstruction, George Washington's Distillery & Gristmill is back in business - producing grain products powered by a 16-foot waterwheel and the same rye whiskey that made the Founding Father the nation's most successful whiskey producer in the years after his presidency. Located at the original site, George Washington's Gristmill highlights his vision for America's future as "granary of the world;" while his Distillery is the only site in North America that demonstrates 18th-century distilling from seed to barrel.

Explore George Mason’s nation-shaping ideas at The Home of American Rights. Learn what motivated him to craft the 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights and how his ideas inspired the nation. Tour the historic Mason-family home, hike scenic trails to the Potomac River, and discover George Mason's lasting legacy.

The historic Sydenstricker Schoolhouse was built in Springfield, Fairfax County, Virginia in 1928. Once the center of education and social activities in our community, the schoolhouse now stands as a reminder of a past era, and a testament to the many generations of people that have loved, cared for and preserved the building over the years. The Sydenstricker Schoolhouse is the last remaining

The Claude Moore Colonial Farm at Turkey Run is a living history museum that portrays family life on a small, low-income farm just prior to the Revolutionary War. This privately funded and operated National Park, located in McLean, Virginia, has served more than 2 million visitors since it opened in 1973, and is host to increasing numbers each year. The popularity of the Farm is due in large part to its continuing focus on authenticity and its ongoing encouragement of both child and adult visitors to participate in the daily activities of an 18th century family farm. Experiential learning is a growing trend with most museums and the Farm has been a leader in this —-for over 40 years. The Farm has achieved national recognition for its innovative educational programming that uses the 18th-century Farm as an authentic representation of colonial agricultural history to provide perspective and context for present day life. Each year, thousands of students visit this working class farm, which recreates the life and times of a tenant family living in northern Virginia in 1771.

Colvin Run Mill Historic Site is a Virginia Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Featuring Fairfax County's award-winning operatinal 19th century water-powered gristmill, the site offers recreational and educational activities for all ages. See website for the most up-to-date information about programs, classes, and events!