The oldest school building in Loudoun County, the Oakdale School House is a charming symbol of Lincoln’s history. Built by the Quakers of Goose Creek in 1815, the schoolroom has been furnished and equipped with everything from school benches to slates to the books that were used in the year 1818. Most of the children who attended Oakdale were not Quakers, and several...
Slavery likely began in Loudoun in the early 1720’s. Slaves lived in poor quarters, and many of the structures that housed slaves had fallen into disrepair before the end of the 19th century. Today, the Arcola slave quarters is one of the few remaining reminders of Loudoun’s African American antebellum history. The building is thought to have served as a home to slaves...
Founded in 1733 by a Quaker from Pennsylvania, Waterford lies around Catoctin Creek and contains many buildings built before 1840. Today, visitors to Waterford, Virginia, experience many of the same views as residents in the 19th century. Waterford preserves the ambiance and many of the structures that characterized ...
In operation since 1786, White’s Ferry is the last working ferry on the Potomac River. A widely used means of crossing the river (and a shortcut) between Maryland and Virginia since its inception. Today, commuters use the ferry daily, where 24 vehicles can be transported at a time. Located off Rt. 15, just north of Leesburg at the White’s Ferry Road intersection. White’s...
Thomas Balch Library is a history and genealogy library owned and operated by the Town of Leesburg. Collections focus on Loudoun County, regional and Virginia history, genealogy, military history with special emphasis on the American Civil War, and ethnic history. It is designated as an Underground Railroad research site. The library was established and dedicated May 13,...
A stately mansion, beautiful rolling farmland, exquisite gardens, a repository of more than 200 years of American history and culture – all of these can be found at Oatlands Historic House and Gardens near Leesburg, Virginia. Established in the early 19th century by George Carter, Oatlands was a thriving wheat plantation and base for numerous business enterprises until the...
Mt Zion Church is a crossroads of history, where visitors can roam pre-American Indian trails, a thoroughfare of early American commerce and transportation, a landmark of the American Civil War and appreciate an exellent example of a rural antebellum church. The Mount Zion Old School Baptist Church is located near Aldie and Gilbert’s Corner on Route 50, east of the intersection...
Now bypassed by Route 50, the bridge was built in 1802 as part of Ashby’s Gap Turnpike. It is one of the last four arch stone bridges in Virginia, and was the scene of a cavalry and artillery duel on June 21, 1863. Civil War interpretation is available at the site.
The grounds of Morven Park include over 1,000 acres of lawns, fields, and wooded areas, along with the boxwood gardens. Much of the property has been placed in conservation easements in order to preserve the open space for future generations. Indeed, Morven Park has been called an “oasis” in the midst of Northern Virginia’s rapid development. Areas that once saw slaves...
Dodona Manor is the former home of General George C. Marshall, one of the most significant and influential individuals of the 20th century. Dodona Manor has been restored to document how the Secretary of State, head of the American Red Cross, author of the Marshall Plan, and receiver of the Nobel Prize lived. George C. Marshall International Center at Dodona Manor 217 Edwards...