Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center

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Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center

Official Page of The Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center, City of Fairfax Office of Historic Resources Closed select holidays only. area.

The Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center is OPEN daily 11am - 4pm. The museum is administered by the City of Fairfax and operated by a professional staff and dedicated volunteers. The Museum - housed in the historic Fairfax Elementary School, built in 1873 - features exhibitions about local and regional history, including the permanent exhibit The Fairfax Story. The Museum hosts several historic prog

rams throughout the year, including the popular Second Sunday series. The Visitor Center stocks maps and information about sites and special events throughout Virginia and the D.C. The Museum is the flagship for the City of Fairfax Office of Historic Resources, which also includes:

Historic Blenheim & the Civil War Interpretive Center - 3610 Old Lee Hwy, Fairfax
open Tuesday- Saturday 11 AM -3 PM (Center open; Historic House tour at 1 pm)
Front Desk: (703)591-0560

The Ratcliffe-Allison-Pozer House - 10386 Main St. Fairfax
Re-opening April 30 2022- Saturdays 11 AM-2 PM through October, and City special events - FREE

Guided group tours and educational programs for students, scouts, and adults are available for a fee with advanced scheduling.

06/06/2026

June is full of history, hands-on activities, and special programs with Fairfax City Historic Resources! This month, we are participating in the 250th Commemoration of America’s independence with programs exploring food history, maps, museum objects, Civil War stories, and more.

🍳 Cooking Through History
Saturday, June 6 | 10–11:30 a.m.
Historic Blenheim
Ages 6–Adult | Free, registration required
Explore how food can teach us about communities and cultures, then cook and sample a real historic dish!

🔎 Museum Explorers
Thursday, June 18 | 10–10:45 a.m.
Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center
Ages 2–4 | Free, registration required
Little historians will explore an object from our exhibits or collections through a story, song, craft, and activity.

🗺️ 250 Years of Maps!
Tuesday, June 23 | 10–11 a.m.
Historic Blenheim
Ages 7–13 | Free, registration required
Kids will explore how maps of Virginia and Fairfax have changed over time, learn basic map and compass skills, and create their own map.

✨ Corsets and Contraband: African American Women’s Labor in the Fight for Freedom
Saturday, June 27 | 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Historic Blenheim
Ages 6–Adult | Free, drop-in event
Step into an immersive living history event featuring historic interpreters, hands-on activities, themed stations, film screenings, and exhibit displays. Explore the stories of Lucy Ann Walker, Mary Bowser, and Mary Louvestre, and discover how African American women’s labor became a powerful tool of resistance during the Civil War.

You can also find us out in the community this month!

⛵ The Historic Resources Division will have tables featuring activities, history, and information at the Sails on the Potomac event in Alexandria, June 12–14. Come see us there!

🎉 The Historic Resources Division will have tables of activities, history, and information at the Fairfax City Juneteenth Celebration in the Stacey C. Sherwood Community Center on Friday, June 19, from 6–9 p.m. Come see us there!

Registration is required for select programs. Visit our website for more details and to reserve your spot!
City of Fairfax Government Fairfax City Parks and Recreation VA250 - American Revolution 250 Commission

05/31/2026

Corsets and Contraband: African American Women’s Labor in the Fight for Freedom comes to Historic Blenheim on Saturday, June 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

As Fairfax celebrates Juneteenth, drop in for a powerful living history experience exploring the courage, labor, and resistance of African American women during the Civil War. Meet historic interpreters, engage with hands-on stations, explore themed displays, and learn the stories of Lucy Ann Walker, Mary Bowser, and Mary Louvestre.

This free drop-in program includes living history, film screenings, exhibit displays, and family-friendly activities courtesy of the Scandalous Women of the Civil War Guild.

Free | No registration required | Ages 6–Adult
Historic Blenheim
City of Fairfax Government Fairfax City Parks Virginia Museum of History & Culture

05/29/2026

Museum Explorers is back this summer at the Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center! Designed for ages 2–4, this free, history-filled program invites young learners to explore an object from our exhibits or collections through activities, games, songs, crafts, and a story connected to the day’s theme.

Registration for the June 18 Museum Explorers program opened today, May 28, and spots are still available!

Upcoming dates:
📅 June 4 & June 18
📅 July 2 & July 16
⏰ 10:00–10:45 a.m.
📍 Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center, 10209 Main St.
🎟️ Free, registration required
👨‍👩‍👧 All registered participants must be accompanied by an adult.

Registration for each remaining program opens 3 weeks before the program date.

Use link in comments to register.
City of Fairfax Government Fairfax City Parks and Recreation

05/24/2026

We had an amazing time at our Cooking Through History: Teas and Tales program yesterday at Historic Blenheim! Huge thanks to Elizabeth Winslow, author of Lost Recipes of the American Revolution, for guiding us through tea mixing and infusing, talking about the history of tea in the American Revolution, and teaching us the early history of hoe cakes as we sampled some from our kitchen!

For more programs like this, check the programs and tours link in our bio and help support us by signing up and attending as we continue our 250 Anniversary commemoration programming!
City of Fairfax Government Fairfax City Parks and Recreation VA250 - American Revolution 250 Commission

05/21/2026

Revolutionary War history is kept alive in Fairfax City at the historic courthouse building where a memorial plaque honors forty-seven men from Fairfax County who served and died in the Revolution between 1775-1783. The George Washington Chapter of the Virginia Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) dedicated the plaque in June 2017.

The SAR website maintains research profiles on many of these soldiers as part of their Patriot Research System, though there is often very little detail. Many of the men listed on the plaque appear to have died from “sickness” or “sickness in hospital”, particularly during the period of late 1777- early 1778 when Washington’s army encamped at Valley Forge and faced brutal conditions.

One notable name on the list is George William Carlyle. He was the son of John Carlyle and Sarah Fairfax of Alexandria, VA. John Carlyle was a wealthy merchant and his house stands today as the Carlyle House Historic Site in the Nova Parks system. Records indicate that George joined the Fairfax Militia at the age of 17. By April, 1781, young Carlyle had left to make his way to South Carolina, where he joined William Washington’s Cavalry and was killed charging British lines at the Battle of Eutaw Springs September 8th, 1781.

Come learn more about the Revolution in Fairfax and Virginia through the Give Me Liberty: Virginia and the Forging of a Nation exhibit on display from now until June 8th.

05/16/2026

This summer, Fairfax City is commemorating America’s 250th anniversary with programs that invite all ages to explore the people, ideas, labor, and stories that shaped our nation.

From hands-on mapmaking and historic ice cream making to early American music, living history, traveling exhibitions, and powerful talks highlighting overlooked stories, there’s something for everyone to experience.

Upcoming summer programs include:

🇺🇸 Give Me Liberty: Virginia & the Forging of a Nation
🗺️ 250 Years of Maps!
🧵 Corsets and Contraband: African American Women’s Labor in the Fight for Freedom
🎆 Independence Day Lawn Party
🍦 Historic Ice Cream Making!
📖 Forgotten Patriots of the American Revolution
🎶 History You Can Hear
🖼️ Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Democracy
✨ 250th Anniversary Reflection and Activity Room

Join us this summer at the Fairfax Museum & Visitor Center, Historic Blenheim, and the Ratcliffe-Allison-Pozer House as we reflect on 250 years of history, freedom, struggle, resistance, and change. Many programs are free, with both drop-in and registration-based opportunities available.

Find full program details and registration information through link in bio.
City of Fairfax Government Fairfax City Parks and Recreation VA250 - American Revolution 250 Commission

05/10/2026

🍳 Cooking Through History returns to Historic Blenheim!

Join us on May 23 at 10 a.m. as we explore how food can teach us about communities, cultures, and daily life in the past.

This month’s program will feature special guest Elizabeth Winslow, author of Lost Recipes of the American Revolution, who will discuss the importance of tea and hoe cakes in colonial diets and lead participants through a tea mixing session. She will also be selling her new book, Lost Letters of the American Revolution.

Participants will learn fascinating food history, enjoy a hands-on activity, help prepare a real recipe, and sample the finished dish!

📍 Historic Blenheim
📅 May 23
🕙 10 a.m.

All participants under 16 must be accompanied by a registered adult. Registration required through the programs and tours link in the comments.

City of Fairfax Government Fairfax City Parks and Recreation

05/09/2026

Join Historic Fairfax City, Inc. for its Annual Meeting & Program on May 13 from 7–8:30 p.m. at Historic Blenheim.

Guest speaker Bob Deans will present “The River Where America Began: A Journey Along the James,” exploring the history, landscapes, and stories connected to one of Virginia’s most important waterways.

This program is open to the public, and non-members are welcome to attend.

📍 Historic Blenheim
📅 May 13
🕖 7–8:30 p.m.
City of Fairfax Government Fairfax City Parks and Recreation

05/07/2026

What’s happening this May with Historic Resources? 🌿🏛️

Join us this month for exhibits, programs, tours, and local history throughout Fairfax City!

✨ Give Me Liberty: Virginia & the Forging of a Nation
Now open at the Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center through June 8.

🍽️ Cooking Through History
May 23 at Historic Blenheim | 10–11:30 a.m.
Registration is still open! Learn the history behind a featured dish, enjoy a hands-on activity, and sample what you make.

📚 Museum Explorers
May 7 & May 21 at the Fairfax Museum
Our May 21 program is full, but families are welcome to join the waitlist.

🏠 Ratcliffe-Allison-Pozer House Tours
May 30 | Noon–2 p.m.
Free drop-in tours of the oldest residence in Old Town Fairfax.

📖 Historic Fairfax City Inc. Annual Meeting
May 13 at 7 p.m. at Historic Blenheim, featuring Bob Deans and his book The River Where America Began.

Visit the programs and tours link in the comments for registration and more details!
City of Fairfax Government Fairfax City Parks and Recreation Virginia Museum of History & Culture

Address

10209 Main Street
Fairfax, VA
22030

Website

https://www.fairfaxva.gov/Fun-Facilities/Cultural-Arts-and-History/Fairfax-Museum

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