The 9 Best Museums in Prince William County, Prince William County

The National Museum of the Marine Corps is a lasting tribute to U.S. Marines--past, present, and future. Situated on a 135-acre site adjacent to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, and under the command of Marine Corps University, the Museum's soaring design evokes the image of the flag-raisers of Iwo Jima and beckons visitors to this 120,000-square-foot structure. World-class interactive exhibits using the most innovative technology surround visitors with irreplaceable artifacts and immerse them in the sights and sounds of Marines in action. Admission and parking are always free.

The Loft Gallery & Art Center features the fine-art works of 21 local artists as well as individual artist studios. Mediums include watercolor, acrylic, oils, sculpture, fused glass, woodturning, photography, colored pencil, graphite, mixed media, alkyd, and pastels. Browse the entire top floor at 313 Mill Street in Occoquan!

Enjoy a permanent exhibit spanning Native American through 20th Century periods, with a special emphasis on the Civil War. Meet spies and scallyways, slaves and soldiers, presidents and generals as you and your family experience special living history portrayals from the past. Don't miss the Museum's seven diverse historic sites, all nearby, or changing exhibit space.

Visitors to the Weems-Botts Museum will learn about historic Dumfries, the oldest chartered town in Virginia. Colonial Dumfries had a thriving port - rivaling New York, Philadelphia, and Boston - located on a deep water harbor, which no longer exists. The tobacco trade led to the development of Dumfries and its position as the social, political, and economic center of Prince William County in the Colonial and Revolutionary periods. Visitors will also learn about the people who used the building, which dates back to the 18th century, including: Parson Weems, author of George Washington's first biography and originator of the cherry tree story; Benjamin Botts, a lawyer and defense attorney for Aaron Burr during his infamous treason trial; and the Merchant family, who lived in the house from 1869-1968. Tour offered hourly May-October (First tour at 11am - last tour at 3pm). Tours by appointment only November-April. Park open year-round dawn to dusk.

Visit Northern Virginia's oldest restored Courthouse complex. In 1820, the Prince William County courthouse was moved from Dumfries to the new town of Brentsville. The Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre features the 1822 Courthouse and Jail, an 1850s farm, the 1874 Union Church, and the 1928 one-room school. Visit these historic buildings, learn about the 1822 Tavern archaeology, and discover wildlife on the Nature Trail. Tours are offered from 11:00am until 4:00pm. Thursday through Monday, May through October and by appointment November through April. The grounds are open daily from dawn until dusk.

The gallery is a juried coop of 17 local artists displaying a range of artistic styles: paintings, drawings, fabric, woodworking, metalwork, pottery, photography, and multimedia. We try to express a unique vision in each piece. You will be pleasantly surprised at the quality and variety of artistic expression when you visit.