Editor’s note: This story was updated on September 9, 2021.
The museum scene in DC is, of course, amazing. But when you’ve been through the Air and Space Museum for the umpteenth time and, perhaps more pressingly, you don’t feel like dealing with the accursed choice of the Metro or DC traffic, it’s time to explore NoVA’s museums.
The good news is, NoVA holds its own. Through an intersection of DC’s national movements and critical, often tragic Southern history, Northern Virginia is host to everything from mind-expanding science museums to records of both the darkest and brightest periods of the United States.
National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center
A mainstay on Northern Virginia Magazine’s annual “Best of NoVA” list, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is companion museum to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in DC. The facility boasts two cavernous hangers full of aircraft including the original Concorde, space shuttle Discovery and the B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay. The museum has an IMAX theater and Observation Tower that offers 360-degree views of the area. Head up there if you want to watch the airplanes take off and land at nearby Dulles Airport. Free, parking $15
Colvin Run Mill Historic Site
Stately Colvin Run Mill in Great Falls dates back more than 200 years. Today, visitors can see the historic mill’s massive water wheel that, at the time, modernized the milling industry. Don’t miss the monthly grinding demos and wood carving lessons. Free
Sully Historic Site
Located in Chantilly, this plantation was finished in 1799 by Richard Bland Lee—uncle of Robert E. Lee—who served as Northern Virginia’s first member of Congress. The property features the central homestead along with outbuildings like a smokehouse and slave quarters, all preserved from the pre-Civil War era. Stroll through the expansive gardens in the summer, and enjoy candlelight tours of the house in December. Free, guided tours $5-$7
Cherry Hill Historic House & Farm
This Greek Revival style home was built in the mid-19th century and gives a view of what life was like during the Civil War. Popular among families, Cherry Hill offers regular programming for children, including a chance to dress in period clothing, do crafts, and play old-fashioned games. Monthly teas, and a lesson in etiquette in manners for children, are also on the programming lineup. $2-$33
Laurel Grove School Museum
The only remaining African-American schoolhouse in Virginia, this building was erected by freed slaves in the early 1880s and served black children until the 1930s. The museum, located in Franconia, displays period furnishings, hosts exhibits and offers educational programs. Free
Workhouse Prison Museum at Lorton
Within this complex of art studios, is the Workhouse Prison Museum. It primarily served as a minimum security correctional facility until December of 2001. Its most notable prisoners were 72 suffragists held after their arrest for picketing the White House. When the public learned of their suffering, they gained sympathy for their cause, helping to enact the 19th Amendment. Free
All Aboard!
Fairfax is home to not one, but two railroad museums. The Fairfax Station Railroad Museum ($2-$4) demonstrates the vital role the railroad played in the development of Northern Virginia and during the Civil War, while the Herndon Depot Museum (free), located next to the WO&D trail in downtown Herndon, is a former railroad depot and caboose-turned-museum (open on Sundays) and contains collectables that illustrate life and events from Herndon’s history.
City History
Reston, Fairfax and Vienna all have museums that look back on their history. The Historic Fairfax City Museum & Visitors Center (free), located on Fairfax City’s charming Main Street, is housed in a brick building that dates back to 1873 when it served as the first two-story school in Fairfax County. The Reston Historic Trust & Museum (free) collection consists of artifacts from the pioneering planned community’s past. The museum sponsors multiple events including the Reston Home Tour, Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta and Reston Founder’s Day. In Vienna, the Freeman Store & Museum (free) looks at what life was like in the suburban town during the Civil War and other historical periods.
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