Tag: Historic Blenheim

Seven Sites on the Northern Virginia Civil War Graffiti Trail

Here is an interesting twist on Civil War historical sites. Seven buildings across Northern Virginia have graffiti as an element of fame. Northern and southern soldiers occupied the sites during the American Civil War. These young men, looking for something to do, decided to take their frustrations out by writing and drawing all over the walls. Graffiti, you can still see today, thanks to preservationists. Please visit these sites to see what life was like for a soldier during the war—diaries on plaster. 

The Northern Virginia Civil War Graffiti Trail has the following sites you can visit:

  1. Historic Blenheim
  2. The Graffiti House
  3. Liberia House
  4. Ben Lomond Historic Site
  5. Mt. Zion Historic Park
  6. Old Court House Civil War Museum
  7. The Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum

For more information:

Fairfax County “Connect With America” site

Brandy Sation Foundation brochure

Let me know how the visit goes.

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The Historic House Museum Consortium – The NOVA List

The Historic House Museum Consortium of Metropolitan Washington D.C. is a collection of over 40 sites in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia (NOVA), and suburban Maryland. All the sites are open to the public as museums and historic attractions. The sites in Northern Virginia include:

  1. Aldie Mill Historic Park (Aldie, VA)
  2. Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial (Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA)
  3. Ben Lomond Historic Site (Manassas, VA)
  4. Blenheim and the Civil War Interpretive Center (Fairfax City, VA)
  5. Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre (Bristow, VA)
  6. Carlyle House Historic Park (Alexandria, VA)
  7. Cherry Hill Farmhouse (Falls Church, VA)
  8. Colvin Run Mill Historic Site (Great Falls, VA)
  9. Friendship Firehouse Museum (Alexandria, VA)
  10. Gadsby’s Tavern Museum (Alexandria, VA)
  11. George C. Marshall’s Dodona Manor (Leesburg, VA)
  12. George Washington’s Mount Vernon (Mount Vernon, VA)
  13. Gunston Hall (Mason Neck, VA)
  14. Historic Green Spring (Alexandria, VA)
  15. Historic Huntley (Alexandria, VA)
  16. Lee-Fendall House Museum (Alexandria, VA)
  17. Morven Park (Leesburg, VA)
  18. Oatlands (Leesburg, VA)
  19. Ratcliffe-Allison House & Kitty Pozer Garden (Fairfax, VA)
  20. Rippon Lodge Historic Site (Woodbridge, VA)
  21. Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum (Alexandria, VA)
  22. Sully Historic Site (Chantilly, VA)
  23. Weems-Botts Museum (Dumfries, VA)
  24. Woodlawn – Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House (Alexandria, VA)

I visited two of the sites on this list:

Blenheim and the Civil War Interpretive Center

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum

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Historic Blenheim House & The Civil War Interpretive Center – The Virtual Tour (Fairfax City, VA)

Museum details | Historic Blenheim House & The Civil War Interpretive Center | 3610 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030 (Fairfax City)| 703-591-0560 | Free admission except during Fairfax History Day activities. There’s also a fee for group tours| Free Parking | Four buildings on 12-acre grounds. The buildings are the Historic Blenheim House, the Civil War Interpretive Center (photos below), Grandma’s Cottage, and the Dairy Barn Complex. | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn (unclaimed profile) | Wikipedia

Read my previous posts – Historic Blenheim House & The Civil War Interpretive Center and Historic Blenheim House & The Civil War Interpretive Center – The Buildings (Fairfax City, VA).

COVID-19 Warning: All the buildings on the Historic Blenheim (Willcoxon Farm) campus are closed until further notice. Public tours and event space rentals are not available as well. There is a message on the museum’s voicemail inviting everyone to walk the grounds.

I recommend walking around the 12-acre grounds. Paths are connecting all the buildings. The parking lot is closed (gate with a padlock). However, street parking is available.

You can see inside some of the buildings from the comfort of your home. There are short videos on Historic Blenheim’s Facebook Page & City of Fairfax YouTube Channel that tell the rich history of the campus. Explore Historic Blenheim, at home, in your favorite chair! Here is a list:

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Historic Blenheim House & The Civil War Interpretive Center – The Buildings (Fairfax City, VA)

Museum details | Historic Blenheim House & The Civil War Interpretive Center | 3610 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030 (Fairfax City)| 703-591-0560 | Free admission except during Fairfax History Day activities. There’s also a fee for group tours| Free Parking | Four buildings on 12-acre grounds. The buildings are the Historic Blenheim House, the Civil War Interpretive Center (photos below), Grandma’s Cottage, and the Dairy Barn Complex. | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn (unclaimed profile) | Wikipedia

Read my first post on Historic Blenheim House & The Civil War Interpretive Center.

The Civil War Interpretive Center

Historic Blenheim House

Grandma’s Cottage

The Dairy Barn Complex

Boxwood Garden and the Willcoxon Family Cemetery

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Historic Blenheim House & The Civil War Interpretive Center (Fairfax City, VA)

It was time to scratch my history itch. I love to visit museums. However, they’re all closed due to COVID-19. It’s the weekend of Memorial Day. I had to do something. Curiosity drove me to call the next museum on my list. To hear what the voicemail says. The next museum is the Historic Blenheim House & The Civil War Interpretive Center in Fairfax City, Virginia.

Museum details | Historic Blenheim House & The Civil War Interpretive Center | 3610 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030 (Fairfax City)| 703-591-0560 | Free admission except during Fairfax History Day activities. There’s also a fee for group tours| Free Parking | Three buildings on 12-acre grounds. The buildings are the Historic Blenheim House, the Civil War Interpretive Center (photos below), and Grandma’s Cottage. | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn (unclaimed profile)

The voicemail greeting explained the house and center were closed for due to COVID-19. All historical programs at the center are canceled. Event space rentals are not available until further notice. The public is welcome to walk around the buildings was the last point on the message.

I decided to take up the offer and go for a walk!

There’s an interesting display near the entrance. A message from the center staff to all visitors:

There’s also a post on the center’s Facebook page with photos and details about the shoes.

More to come …

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