Northern Virginia
This monument commemorates the seven crew members of the Challenger space shuttle, which exploded a few seconds after take off in 1986.
Must-see attractions in Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia
This 91-acre wooded island in the Potomac is a wilderness preserve honoring the conservation-minded 26th US president. A large memorial plaza and statue…
Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site
Alexandria
Washington, DC’s best-preserved Civil War fort is surprisingly hidden away in a residential Alexandria neighborhood. But there it is, a vivid foray into…
Northern Virginia
Set on a hill overlooking the cemetery, this 1802 Greek Revival–style mansion is the former home of Confederate General Robert E Lee and his wife Mary…
Contrabands & Freedmen Cemetery
Alexandria
During the Civil War, the Union-controlled southern city of Alexandria, VA, became a safe haven for formerly enslaved African Americans. Though they had…
Northern Virginia
In Chancellorsville, Robert E Lee, outnumbered two to one, split his forces and attacked both flanks of the Union army. The audacity of the move caused…
George Washington Memorial Parkway
Northern Virginia
The 25-mile Virginia portion of the highway honors its namesake with recreation areas and memorials all the way south to his old estate at Mount Vernon…
Alexandria
Alexandria is known for its landmark archaeological protection code – one of the first in the US – which encourages local archaeologists and developers to…
Alexandria
Once a real tavern (operated by John Gadsby from 1796 to 1808), this building now houses a museum demonstrating the prominent role of the tavern in…
Northern Virginia
The propaganda is served up with nary a chuckle at this heavy-handed museum brought to you by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Exhibits cover the last…
Northern Virginia
Newly opened to tourists, this 113-acre farm next to the Rappahannock River was the boyhood home of George Washington, who lived here from age six until…
Northern Virginia
One of the smaller Loudoun Heights operations, this place is best known for its farm-to-table Grandale Restaurant (mains $25 to $32, open noon to 9pm…
Northern Virginia
Overlooking the Pentagon and adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery, three graceful stainless-steel arcs soar 270ft into the air. This shimmering…
Northern Virginia
Part of the George Washington Memorial Pkwy, Lady Bird Johnson Park commemorates the First Lady who tried to beautify the capital via greenery-planting…
Alexandria
This 1855 Italianate firehouse displays historic firefighting gear – a great draw for kids. Local legend has it that George Washington helped found this…
Alexandria
Between 1785 and 1903, generations of the famous Lee family lived in this architecturally impressive house. Guided tours (on the hour) show the restored…
Northern Virginia
Paying tribute to a free press, this narrow elevated park was originally designed as a two-block walkway. It now features a memorial honoring journalists…
Alexandria
Built in 1773, this brown-brick Georgian-style church has welcomed worshipers from George Washington to Robert E Lee. The cemetery contains the mass grave…
Northern Virginia
A small six-columned gravestone marks the final resting place for Pierre L'Enfant, one of the great planners behind the layout of Washington, DC.
Northern Virginia
This controversial 10m-high monument pays respects to the Confederate war dead. Some 32 life-size figures surround a cylindrical mount.
Lyceum: Alexandria's History Museum
Alexandria
For a quick primer on Alexandria’s history, stop by this small city museum in a beautiful Greek Revival building dating from 1839. A somewhat dusty array…
