ABOVE PHOTO: Uhazy Enola Gay (Photo: Renée S. Gordon)
By Renée S. Gordon
One can trace the country’s military history by visiting landmarks and attractions throughout Fairfax County, Virginia, from the pre-American Revolution to modern times. The region has always been significant as the location of three Native American villages, a route between the Northern and Southern Colonies from the Revolutionary War, a transit hub of the Civil War, and the location of several museums that interpret US military history. (#FXVA)
Immediately before the American Revolution, Fairfax had a population of 8,310. One resident was George Washington, commander of the Continental Army. No major battles took place in the county, but the Potomac River and proximity to Mount Vernon were strategic goals. The British made rare raids along the Potomac and in 1781 the warship Savage landed and seized numerous slaves from Mount Vernon in a subsequent raid.
On May 23, 1861, Fairfax County voted 1,231 in favor and 289 against secession. With Fairfax inside the Confederation and adjacent to Washington DC, President Abraham Lincoln dispatched eight regiments at 2:00 a.m. on May 24 to prevent Confederate troops from taking over the capital.
Alexandria, Virginia, was taken by the federal government and a number of forts were built in the area. Fairfax was considered a no man’s land. There were about 60 minor skirmishes and one Union raid on the district court. The most important battles in the region were Dranesville (1861), Chantilly (1862), First and Second Bull Run / First and Second Manassas (1861/1862).
Both Battles of Bull Run endangered Washington, DC, but every time the Confederates did not attack the capital. Though technically not in Fairfax County, Manassas Battlefield National Park is a big part of the county’s history. The guided parking tours were resumed in March. Highlights of a visit include the visitor center, a 6-minute fiber optic battle map, and the 45-minute “Manassas: The End of Innocence” orientation video. (www.nps.gov/mana)
Love Me Workhouse (Photo: Renée S. Gordon)
The Catholic Church of St. Mary of Sorrows in Fairfax Station was built in 1836 and is directly linked to the Battle of Second Manassas. Clara Barton came from DC to set up a treatment facility for the wounded battle. Operations were performed inside and benches acted as beds. Barton stayed with the wounded until the evacuations were completed. Here she saw the need and began to plan the establishment of the American Red Cross.
The Laurel Grove School is the last remaining “colored” schoolhouse in Northern Virginia. Former slaves built it in the 1880s using donated materials. It was affiliated with the Laurel Grove Baptist Church. The reconstructed school is now a museum that is open by appointment.
The Workhouse Arts Center and the Lucy Burns Museum are located in a complex that began as the Occoquan Workhouse in 1910 and became the Lorton Reformatory. The redesigned space now includes 12 galleries, 85 artist studios and offers performances and 750 art courses.
The Silent Sentinels, 33 members of the National Women’s Party, have staked the White House. The suffragettes were arrested, imprisoned, chained, beaten and otherwise ill-treated by prison staff on November 15, 1917, “The Night of Terror”. The Lucy Burns Museum, named in honor of one of the leaders, interprets the history of the incarceration of the suffragettes and the history of the facility from 1910 to 21. The 19th women-to-vote amendment was adopted on August 18, 1920. (Www.workhousearts.org)
National Army Buffalo Soldier Museum (Photo: Renée S. Gordon)
The US Army National Museum tells stories from 245 years of US Army history through the US soldier’s experiences with cutting-edge technology, haunting experiences, 1,389 artifacts and realistic dioramas in 11 themed galleries. Entry to the 8,600-square-foot. In the lobby, visitors encounter an inlaid 21-foot army emblem in the terrazzo floor. Panes of glass at the top mark the army’s campaigns. An orientation film will be shown in the 300-degree theater. An adjoining anteroom, which is lined with stainless steel masts, on which the biographies and pictures of 41 individual soldiers are depicted, leads into the chronological gallery area. (@USArmyMuseum)
The 5,700 square meters. The Medal of Honor Garden and Veterans Hall are on the third level. The Veteran’s Hall Experience Medal of Honor interprets the history of the medal, the award process and the stories of each winner. The garden embodies three basic values that the recipients of the Medal of Honor demonstrate: gallantry, fearlessness and bravery. The name of each recipient is engraved on a 10 foot. Granite wall.
The museum’s first special exhibition – the “Nisei Soldier Experience” – shows a collection of rare Japanese-American artifacts. The exhibition tells the story of Japanese-American soldiers from World War II and their experiences in the US and abroad.
The Army Action Center offers visitors the opportunity to experience Army-related activities through cutting-edge virtual reality and motion theater experiences. An experimental learning center includes geographical, science, technological, engineering, and math skills in problem solving and group activities. The youngest visitors can join Fort Discover in interactive educational activities hosted by the animated mule mascots Buckshot and Blackjack.
Artifacts not to be missed include Sgt. Alvin C. York’s WWI steel helmet, a WWII Sherman Cobra King M4 tank, a Higgins boat from Normandy, a UH-1B Huey -Helicopter and the remains of the engine of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that was shot down in Somalia. Special attention should be paid to the 70 sculptures in the galleries. Each was modeled after a currently serving soldier.
The on-site gourmet museum café is a wonderful option at any time during your visit. Visitors can opt for a quick snack or a choice made to order. The food and service are impressive.
The museum has created three registers that any active military, veteran, or civilian worker in the Army can record their name and service information. This can be done online at: ArmyHistory.org. Entry and parking are free. Reservations are required and available online at NMUSA.org.
Lorton (Photo: Renée S. Gordon)
The National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is home to over 2,800 artifacts, memorabilia, and videos that describe the history of aviation from the early airplane to the spaceship. Exhibits include Amelia Earhart’s flight attire, a B-29 Superfortress bomber, Boeing Stratoliner, Supersonic Concorde, and the space shuttle Discovery. A highlight of the exhibitions is the B-29 Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. The museum is adjacent to Dulles Airport.
The Hilton Springfield is a newly renovated hotel that is centrally located and accessible to all of the attractions mentioned. The accommodations feature Hilton Serenity CollectionTM amenities, internet access, a large work area, an LCD television, and the hotel meticulously follows COVID safety standards. www.springfieldva.hilton.com
When starting planning post-pandemic adventures, Fairfax County should be considered. The diverse mix of activities caters to the interests of all age groups. Washington slept here, and so should you!