Northern Virginia

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Alexandria

For more information about Alexandria Civil War-oriented walking tours, call 888-458-6778.

Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site
4301 W Braddock Road, Alexandria VA 22304
703-746-4848
 road map 
   One of the 68 forts that ringed the Federal capital has been restored and interpreted. A nearby museum offers excellent Civil War exhibits relating to Alexandria's war-time experience and other topics. This is the place to get oriented for a tour of Civil War fortifications in the Washington area. Restrooms, gift shop. Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 10 am–5 pm; Sunday noon-5 pm. Free, donations welcome. To get there: From I-395, take the Seminary Road exit east. At the fourth traffic light, turn left (North Howard Street). Turn right on West Braddock Road. Look for park entrance almost immediately on the left.

Fort Willard
1.6-acre park located at 6625 Fort Willard Circle, Alexandria VA 22307
 Road map 
   One of the forts constructed in 1862 to protect the Federal capital. This preserved section represents the extreme southern defensive line of the city. Walking trail with interpretive signs.

Alexandria National Cemetery
1450 Wilkes St, Alexandria 22314
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   One of the earliest of the National Cemeteries, established as the Soldiers Cemetery in 1862.

City of Alexandria
Trails sign at the Amtrak Station
110 Callahan Drive, Alexandria VA 22301
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   Trails sign tells the story of the first officer killed in the war (Union Col. Elmer Ellsworth) and the initial Federal occupation of the city in 1861. A Civil War walking tour is available at the visitor center.

Arlington

Arlington National Cemetery
and Arlington House
    Robert E. Lee left his home in Arlington and his long career in the Federal army to take command of Virginia forces in April 1861. Union soldiers occupied his estate a month later. In 1864, burials of Union soldiers began on the grounds and by the end of the war 16,000 graves scarred the lawn and gardens of Lee's former home. Today Arlington National Cemetery is studded with famous memorials including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the graves of John F. and Robert Kennedy. A small section is devoted to the remains of Confederate dead. Another section (27) is dedicated to the United States Colored Troops and residents of the Freedman's Village.
    Don't miss the self-guided tour of the restored Arlington House (Lee's home).
    Admission is free but there is a parking charge. Save time and shoe leather; buy a Tourmobile ticket. The cemetery is open daily 8 am–7 pm April–September. It closes at 5 pm other months. Arlington House is open 9:30 am-4:30 pm; Robert E. Lee Museum is open 8:30 am-4:30 pm.

Freedman's Village
Trails sign in Foxcroft Heights Park, Southgate Road and South Oak Street, Arlington VA 22211
 road map 
    Refugee slaves made their way to the Washington area after the outbreak of the war. The government selected this site to house and educate them. Graves of the Freedman's Village residents are located in Section 27. Civil War Trails interpretation located in Soxcroft Heights Park (corner of Oak Street and Southgate Road) overlooking Arlington National Cemetery.

Fort C.F. Smith
2411 N 24th St, Arlington VA 22207
703-243-7329
 road map 
   Well-preserved Union fortification built in 1863 to extend the Arlington defenses to the Potomac River. Nice county park. Call for programs. Civil War Trails interpretation.

Fort Ethan Allen
Trails sign in Fort Ethan Allen Park, 311 Old Glebe Road, Arlington VA 22207
 road map 
    Built in 1861 to command approaches to the Chain Bridge over the Potomac into Washington, this is a companion fortification to Fort Marcy (Fairfax County), on the Washington Parkway. Historical marker and school parking lot at the south face of the fort. Civil War Trails interpretation located near the south face of the fort past the soccer fields.

Fall's Church

Falls Church
Trails sign located near pull-off
North Roosevelt Street and Ridge Place
Falls Church VA 22046
 Road map 
    Material here highlights first Union occupation of this once-small farm town and the balloon ascensions here by the famed Thaddeus Lowe.

Fairfax

Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center
10209 Main St., Fairfax City VA 22030
800-545-7950
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   Exhibits here outline the rich history of the city with some emphasis on the Civil War. Nearby Chantilly battlefield is highlighted. Restrooms and shop. General travel information available. Open daily 9 am-5 pm. Free, donations welcome. Saturday morning walking tours featuring Civil War sites in old Fairfax are scheduled some months. Civil War Trails interpretation.

Civil War Interpretive Center at Historic Blenheim
3610 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax VA 22030-1804
703-591-0560
 Road map 
   This 1855 home was shelter and hospital for soldiers during the Civil War. Many left their names, poetry and art behind on the walls, creating one of the finest collections of Civil War graffiti in the country. The interpretive center highlights the history of the house and Civil War Fairfax. Open Tuesday-Saturday, noon-4 pm. Daily house tour at 1 pm. Free.

Battle of Ox Hill (Chantilly)

Ox Hill Battlefield
4134 West Ox Road, Fairfax VA 22033
(Just south of Monument Drive)
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   A small but excellent park located a short distance south of US 50 is devoted to the Sept. 1, 1862, battle that immediately followed the Second Battle of Manassas. Stonewall Jackson’s attempt to block the Federal retreat toward Washington was turned back here in a driving thunderstorm. The Union army lost two generals during the battle, Phillip Kearney and Isaac Stevens. Monuments to both generals are located along a paved pathway as well as excellent interpretive displays and signs. The 4.9-acre park represents only a tiny piece of this battlefield, now surrounded by modern development; but a kiosk near the parking lot does a good job setting the scene. A modern aerial photograph with troop movement overlays is especially helpful.
Animated map from Civil War Preservation Trust

Site of Reid-Ballard House
Trails sign near intersection of Cedar Lakes Drive and Cannon Ridge Court, Fairfax VA 23033 (about 1/4 mile south of the battlefield park, turn west on Cedar Lakes Drive)
 Road map 
   Union soldiers moved through here on their way to attack Jackson’s troops during the Ox Hill (Chantilly) battle. Federal artillery supported the effort from this vicinity.

Fort Marcy
Parking lot off north-bound George Washington Parkway near Route 123
703-289-2500 (George Washington Parkway Park Service)
    Part of the Washington defenses, these earthworks were built in 1861 to protect the Potomac River crossing at Chain Bridge. The fort boasted 17 guns and three mortars and was named for Gen. Randolph Marcy, Gen. George McClellan's chief of staff. A trail connects several hundred yards of well interpreted and preserved earthworks maintained by the National Park Service. Companion fort to Ethan Allen. See Arlington County.

St. Marys Church
5222 Sideburn Road, Fairfax VA 22032
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    Civil War Trails sign at this 1858 church describes the action here Aug. 8, 1864 when Confederate horsemen led by John Singleton Mosby routed a Union cavalry encampment.

Fairfax Station
11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax 22039
Call 703-425-9225 before you visit
  road map 
    Trails sign at station. Nurse Clara Barton played a role here as the wounded streamed in after the Second Battle of Manassas. Countless Union soldiers guarded the Orange and Alexandria Railroad stop against raids by JEB Stuart and JS Mosby. Building now houses the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, open most Sundays 1–4 pm. Includes Civil War history.

Sully
3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly VA 20151
703-437-1794
 road map 
   This late-18th-century estate, established by Richard Bland Lee (Robert E. Lee's uncle), offers tours of the nicely preserved house and outbuildings. The estate was visited by troops of both sides during the war. The men of the Union-favoring family often fled to Alexandria, escaping capture by Confederate visitors, leaving the estate's management to the women during much of the war. Pick up a Civil War-oriented flyer with your ticket. Some Civil War material and exhibits offered during tours of the 1794 home. Open every day except Tuesday 11 am–4 pm. $6/adult.

Dranesville Tavern
11919 Leesburg Pike, Dranesville VA 22066
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    This 1820 roadside inn was in no man's land between armies in the winter of 1861. On Dec 20, Union infantry and Confederate cavalry and infantry clashed here. Both sides withdrew from the area after the battle, but the Federals claimed a tactical victory, lifting their morale after the disaster at First Manassas.

Orange and Alexandria RR
Trails sign in Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield VA 22150
 road map
   The park's access road lies on top of the original roadbed of the strategic Orange and Alexandria Railroad. The area was occupied early by Federal troops, but the railroad continued to be the target of frequent Confederate raids.

Herndon

Mosby's Raid
Elden Street (Route 228) and Station Street, Herndon, Fairfax County, VA 20170
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   Story here about a March 1863 raid by famous Confederate partisan John Singleton Mosby against this lightly protected rail station. Mosby's action captured dozens of prisoners and forced Union outposts to move closer to Washington.

Vienna

The following Vienna sites are marked with Civil War Trails interpretation:

Hunter’s Mill
Sign at 10401 Hunter Station Road, Vienna VA 22181
 Road map 
   For four days in March 1862, the 15,000 men of the Pennsylvania Reserves camped here and nearby. They remained near Hunter’s Mill until ordered to move out to participate in what became the Peninsula Campaign. The area, along the recently completed Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad, changed hands several times during the war.

Freeman Store/Museum
131 Church St NE, Vienna VA 22180
 road map 
    Trails sign here tells the story of the role of this site, used by Union and Confederate troops, and directs visitors to other historic sites.

Civil War Fort
330 Center St N, Vienna VA 22180
 road map 
    Star-shaped Civil War fortification is of undermined heritage but is one of many unidentified field works in the hotly contested Northern Virginia area. 703-938-9535 (Legion phone number).