History

Colvin Run Mill Historic Site features an operational 1800s water-powered gristmill, an historic general store and the 200-year-old miller’s house. The mill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmark Register. Enjoy recreational and educational activities for all ages, including tours, school field trips, scout programs and special events. Shop for gift items and toys in the c. 1900 general store. The store also sells a selection of whole wheat flour, cornmeal and grits ground at the mill (selection varies, call ahead to check supply). • Featuring an operational 19th century, water-powered gristmill, recreational and educational activities for all ages through tours, school programs and special events. • On the National Register of Historic Places • Listed on the Virginia Landmark Register • Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums • Colvin Run General Store features a selection of flour, cornmeal and grits ground at the mill.

General Store open Thursday-Sundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Miller’s House open most Saturdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Colvin Run Mill will be closed beginning September 19, 2022 for renovations. Closure will last approximately 4 weeks. Please call or check website for up to date information on our reopening.

Opportunities Available including Volunteer Program Leads

(All Ages) Enjoy a tour of historic Colvin Run Mill Built c.1811. The Mill is a tribute to industrial and mechanical innovation, and to the working people who made it happen. You will learn the importance of the Mill to the multifaceted, surrounding community. Explore why our operational, water-powered gristmill is a prime example of how people, technology, and society rely upon each other for survival and success. You will see how the miller continues to make flour and cornmeal today. The tour covers the main grinding floor and the basement, including the gear pit. This tour is ADA compliant. Private tours available upon request. Please contact the site for details. Individual tour tickets available at Parktakes online.

(All Ages) Come behind the scenes at Colvin Run Mill! This 4-flour tour of the mill takes you behind the scenes at Colvin Run Mill and lets you see the upper two floors that are not part of the standard tour. While onsite, explore the self-guided exhibit at the miller’s house and visit the general store. Please note that the top two floors of the mill are not ADA accessible. Tour tickets available at Parktakes online.

(14-Adult) Tour beautiful Colvin Run by candlelight. Discover how different a 200-year old mill looks at night and visit the miller’s house decorated for the holidays. Learn how the families of the mill spent the winter months and enjoy some holiday treats. Space is extremely limited. Tour tickets available at Parktakes online

(All Ages) Harvest season was a busy time at the mill and corn was important to the community. Help shell corn and watch the 20-foot waterwheel power the mill. Make a cornhusk doll, play games, and sample a corn muffin. Watch our whiskey still in action and learn how corn was used to make alcohol.

ColvinRunMill Sa 12pm UAN.87SD 10/22 $10/ea.

(All Ages) Wars change the lives of the people waiting at home. Join us to discover how communities like Colvin Run supported the young US Navy during the War of 1812. Learn how women made uniforms, while farmers, millers and bakers fed the sailors. Meet with members of the Ship’s Company, a War of 1812 reenactors’ group, to hear about life at sea and sample naval pudding. Explore the mill, visit the miller’s house and step into the general store.

ColvinRunMill Su 12pm 07A.Q7V2 11/13 $10/ea.

(All Ages) We’re running the mill like it’s 1811 when the mill was first operating. Fresh products, stone-ground on-site. Come learn how an Oliver Evan’s mill operates and don’t forget to buy your grain at the historic General Store before you leave.

ColvinRunMill Su 12pm 6FD.NDAJ 9/4 $10/ea. ColvinRunMill Su 12pm 6FD.QTW1 9/18 $10/ea. ColvinRunMill Su 12pm 6FD.R71Z 10/16 $10/ea.

(All Ages) Bring up to 10 people and learn how to use an old-fashioned cider press by making your own cider. Your group needs to bring approximately 100 apples of their choosing and tightly sealable containers for transporting approximately 2 gallons of cider. Participants will carry and press their own apples and cider. Dress accordingly. All participants will be contacted prior to their program with full details. For program times and to register, visit Parktakes online.

(16-Adult) Learn about and taste teas from around the globe – white, green, oolong, black, and dark styles - their history, how they are similar to, and different from, each other, and how to best brew each style for optimum flavor. Tea infused treats and a take home tea sampler included. With certified Tea Specialist Laurie Bell of Great Falls Tea Garden. Registration required.

ColvinRunMill Sa 1pm 0SY.0NE1 9/10 $45/ea.

(16-Adult) Learn the basics of woodcarving from the Northern Virginia Carvers in this three session series hosted by Colvin Run Mill. Session dates are on 10/16, 10/23 and 10/30. A list of recommended supplies and sources will be sent in advance. There is an additional $60 supply fee for this program.

ColvinRunMill Su 1pm 1R1.18XB 10/16 $45/ea.

(16-Adult) As this Festival of Lights concludes, learn about and taste the many nuances of traditional and modern styles of teas produced across the subcontinent. Tea infused treats and a take home tea sampler included. With certified Tea Specialist Laurie Bell of Great Falls Tea Garden. Registration required.

ColvinRunMill Sa 1pm QHP.2989 10/29 $45/ea.

The Walney Visitor Center features natural and cultural exhibits and a hands-on area to introduce the public to the past farmland and present parkland. • Historic structures and foundations: dairy foundation, spring house, icehouse foundation and smokehouse • Gardens • Kid-friendly red wagon sandboxes

Visitor Center open Monday, Wednesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 12 p.m.-5 p.m. (closed Tuesdays).Programs meet at the Walney Visitor Center unless otherwise noted. Various themed tours are available for $10 per person. For more information, call 703-631-0013. Grounds open dawn to dusk.

(2-3 yrs.) Bring your toddler to explore history through sight, sound, smell and touch. Program includes indoor and outdoor activities. Adults must be able to participate with children. Topics vary with seasons: Sept-Apples, Oct-Pumpkins, Nov-Native Americans, and Dec-Warmth.

ECLawrncePk W 9:45am 6D6.GYRU 9/14 $10/child ECLawrncePk W 11am 6D6.EWOF 9/14 $10/child ECLawrncePk W 9:45am 6D6.599B 10/12 $10/child ECLawrncePk W 11am 6D6.W7O7 10/12 $10/child ECLawrncePk W 9:45am 6D6.67OH 11/9 $10/child ECLawrncePk W 11am 6D6.F5RB 11/9 $10/child ECLawrncePk W 9:45am 6D6.HT9I 12/14 $10/child ECLawrncePk W 11am 6D6.O3WL 12/14 $10/child

(8-Adult) Hear the names and stories of many African American families who lived and worked here at Walney. Learn about slave tenancy, stories of resistance and survival.

ECLawrncePk Sa 10am 775.3W0G 9/24 $8/ea.

(7-Adult) Explore the lives of the men and women during the Revolutionary War who passed along secrets and information and the technology they used in dangerous times. Try your hand at a little spy craft to take home!

ECLawrncePk M 1pm 1EF.FXM3 10/3 $9/ea. ECLawrncePk Su 1pm 1EF.Z3F6 11/20 $9/ea.

(12-Adult) Join us for a spell-binding tale of espionage and secret payments. We will walk and talk about a spy who used Fairfax County parks as a drop off locations with Russia through 2001. Program meets at Cabell’s Mill.

ECLawrncePk F 6pm BE3.TKG7 10/7 $8/ea.

(6-Adult) Our Continental Army, formed in 1775, was created from colonial volunteers. Farmers and tradespeople learned to follow directions, march and fight as one unit. Join us as we practice drilling and talk about the Army’s struggles and successes around the campfire.

ECLawrncePk Sa 1pm 5XV.9GJ4 10/15 $8/ea.

(7-Adult) Turkeys are native to the Americas and have been everything from decorative to Thanksgiving centerpiece. They’ve been here for 10 million years but how can you make sure they have a place here for a million more? Find out more about the role of turkeys in different cultures and how important habitat restoration will make room for turkeys!

ECLawrncePk Su 3pm 1RQ.31EO 11/20 $8/ea.

(12-Adult) From the Brown family in the 1740s until Ellanor C. Lawrence in the 1970s, women have defined the Park’s cultural and natural history. Hike around Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, learning about the women whose lives and work helped shape our land. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

ECLawrncePk Sa 10am 7B6.P6JN 10/29 $8/ea.

Families occupied the 1784 Historic House until the mid-20th century when Green Spring became a public park. Features include: • Historic House and garden • Lectures • English tea programs • Tasting parties • Workshops • Changing art exhibits • Historic photo exhibit and informational videos • On the National Register of Historic Places • Listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register • Tea-themed gift shop

Historic House is open Wednesday-Sunday, 12 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Grounds open dawn to dusk daily.

A traditional English tea follows each lecture. Full tea includes finger sandwiches, pastries and scone with cream and jam. Programs are by reservation only. Call 703-941-7987, TTY 703-324-3988

Be inspired by the colors, combinations, and textures of Green Spring’s fall landscape as you tour the demonstration gardens with an Extension Master Gardener docent. Afterwards, step into the Historic House for a sumptuous and convivial afternoon tea.

Tea is regarded as England’s quintessential drink, but Scots played important roles in tea-drinking history. Travel north of the border to explore Scottish afternoon tea and what it reveals about the country’s culture and traditions. Along with our regular tea menu enjoy some delicious Scottish fare!

Learn why the Victorian era is considered so spooky. Hear about the Victorians’ preoccupation with the spirit world and methods used to communicate with the dead. Skeptics and scammers aside, discover how Victorian spiritualism helped to empower women in a time of female repression.

Artist and collector Caroline Hottenstein displays antique lace items and lace-making tools and explains how this luxury fabric has been used as a fashionable adornment for centuries. Hear about the origins of lace and its unlikely history and see men and women resplendent in lace throughout history.

Bring a cornucopia of cranberry knowledge to your Thanksgiving table! We’ll tell the fascinating story of this colorful, versatile and nutritious American fruit, and clear up misconceptions about how it grows. Discover innovative cranberry recipes and holiday decorating ideas and sample a delicious cranberry sauce with your teatime scone!

Throughout history, Christmas has been a time for celebration…and feasting. How much do you know about the traditional foods of the festive season? Hear about their origins and enjoy some yuletide treats at the tea table. Seasonal favor included.

(Adults) Explore the Hidden history revealed in quilts inspired by Native American and Indigenous culture and lifeways. “History Outside the Box” historian and storyteller T. Carter displays a selection of beautiful star quilts that tell stories passed down by oral tradition. Joe Gaines from the Choctaw Nation provides traditional singing, drumming and a fun dance lesson! After the program, an optional hour-long afternoon tea (limited seating) may be reserved directly with the Historic House at 703-941-7987. Program: $25; optional afternoon tea: $25.

GrnSprGardn Sa 1pm FHA.0M1Q 10/8 $25/ea.

The Huntley Villa, built circa 1825 and connected to the Mason family, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmark’s Register. Historic Huntley is a three-acre park containing the Federal style villa, a brick privy, an ice house, root cellar, an additional residence and cultural landscape features. Tours available on Saturdays during spring, summer and fall. Purchase tickets online. Private tours are also available upon request. Contact the site directly for more info. The grounds at Historic Huntley are open dawn to dusk from March through November.

(All Ages) Discover a Historic Huntley and the many vistas, voices, and stories which reflect the American quest for freedom. The tour includes the unfurnished late Federal style 1825 villa, farm out-buildings, stories from the Huntley community, and an unparalleled view of the Hybla Valley. The short walk to the villa proceeds up a steep hill, an ADA compliant cart is available on request (please contact us in advance). Private tours are available upon request. Please contact the site for details. Individual tickets available at Parktakes online.

(7-13 yrs.) Supplement your historical studies with a fun day of exploring, interpreting and making maps. Try your hand at orienteering, learn about different types of maps from around the world, and take home a personalized map of your life.

HistHuntley Th 10am C5B.0UCO 9/15 $14/child HistHuntley F 1pm C5B.5CIE 11/18$14/child

(6-12 yrs.) Did you know that Huntley Meadows Park was once part of George Mason’s holdings? Discover this forgotten Founding Father as you make your own candle, design your own stencil to mark crops, write with a quill pen and decide the future of the Virginia colony.

HistHuntley T 1pm 925.BCH6 10/18$14/child HistHuntley Th 10am 925.J1CQ 11/10$14/child

(All Ages) Did you know that Huntley has an underground ice well? Watch a video on this hidden treasure, use antique ice tongs, and make and taste handcranked ice cream.

HistHuntley F 1:30pm 129.9CVD 9/2 $10/ea.

(2-Adult) Churn your own delicious butter and taste fresh cheese you can make at home. Discover how Huntley, once summer home for the wealthy, became a dairy farm. House tour included.

HistHuntley Su 3pm 66F.5K0L 9/4 $10/ea. HistHuntley Su 2pm 66F.I89V 11/13 $10/ea.

(5-Adult) Join us for a family friendly tour of Historic Huntley high upon a hill. What significance does this villa have to one of our founding fathers? Can you hold a block of ice with just one finger? Challenge yourself using historical tools like ice tongs and see if you can master old timey children’s games. Hop back in time with us to discover life of days past. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

HistHuntley Sa 3pm AN7.DBFH 9/24 $10/ea. HistHuntley M 1:30pm AN7.HC03 10/10 $10/ea.

(2-12 yrs.) Bring a pumpkin to paint and decorate, make and taste some pumpkin ice cream, and make and bring home your own pumpkin play-dough. Learn about the history of pumpkins and enjoy a pumpkin story.

HistHuntley M 2:30pm 099.9X1Q 10/31 $9/ea.

(6-Adult) Join us around the campfire for some corn pancakes and freshly made butter as we learn about the history of Thanksgiving foodways and how Thanksgiving might not have been celebrated by the Masons!

HistHuntley Su 11am 269.QT52 11/6 $15/ea.

(Adults) Join a historian for a tour of Huntley that examines the relationship of the Mason family to slavery and recovers insights into the lives of the Humphrey family and other enslaved people whose labor maintained Mason wealth and social status.

HistHuntley Sa 3pm BF1.KLRP 9/10 $10/ea. (Adults) Enjoy an afternoon tea circa 1830 much as Betsey Mason would have with the gleam of polished silver and proper tea etiquette. Sample a menu of tasty treats appropriate to the period in an historic setting as you brush up on your tea history. Includes a tour of Historic Huntley.

HistHuntley T 2pm 87A.I307 9/13 $35/ea. HistHuntley Th 2pm 87A.1UCQ 10/13 $35/ea.

(16-Adult) A society matron, an enslaved wife and mother, a farmer’s daughter, a military wife; Historic Huntley has been home to some interesting women and has seen the lives of women change dramatically since the house was built in 1825. See Huntley from a refreshingly different view as we stroll the house and grounds.

HistHuntley Sa 2pm F12.HFD2 9/17 $10/ea. HistHuntley Su 2pm F12.5HB3 11/20 $10/ea.

(16-Adult) Fairfax was as divided as the nation in 1861. Yet these divisions help to explain how Huntley endured the war. This program will examine Huntley through the Civil War through the experiences of the Mason family, their neighbors, and an occupying army. Includes a tour of Historic Huntley.

HistHuntley Su 2pm 4NZ.W1PM 9/18 $10/ea.

(Adults) Historic Huntley sits high upon a hill overlooking Hybla Valley and Huntley Meadows Park. It’s a dramatic setting made all the more stunning by the setting sun. Join us after hours for a special tour and see the house in a different light. Light refreshments served afterward. Dress appropriately for the weather.

HistHuntley Su 7pm D3E.YART 9/18 $10/ea. HistHuntley F 7pm D3E.IL20 10/7 $10/ea. HistHuntley Su 5pm D3E.H0XR 11/20 $10/ea. HistHuntley Su 4:30pm D3E.0NTT 12/11 $10/ea.

(Adults) What clues reveal the story of a house? What can architectural details and styles tell us? Examine photographs, artifacts and the buildings of Historic Huntley and see if you can resolve some of the enduring mysteries of this place.

HistHuntley Sa 3pm 7A9.TLXB 10/8 $10/ea.

(16-Adult) How does Historic Huntley’s architecture connect to America’s hard-won independence? Who designed it and for what purpose? Join a historical guide on a walking tour of this Federal style villa and related outbuildings to discover how architecture from the past speaks to us today.

HistHuntley Sa 2pm 093.SHTW 11/12 $10/ea.

(12-Adult) Mary Teichman says, “calligraphy is a great antidote to modern life.” Explore the connection of Huntley’s past residents to the beautiful art of writing. Try your hand at a variety of pens and brushes. Supplies included.

HistHuntley Sa 4pm YTX.B13Y 11/12 $12/ea.

(14-Adult) Disease has always shaped our history. Enjoy a healthy stroll up to a lovely view while we uncover why the Masons built a summer home upon a hill and how epidemics of the past shaped the society we live in today.

HistHuntley Sa 2pm ZGS.0BEJ 11/19 $10/ea.

(Adults) Take a stroll with us on the less-visited side of the park to uncover the history of spies, espionage and how the Cold War struggle between the US and the USSR shaped Huntley and the Fairfax County we know today. Meets at South King Highway entrance includes a 2.4 mile walk over flat terrain.

HuntMdws Th 10am F8B.5UCG 9/29 $10/ea. HuntMdws W 12:30pm F8B.HKWJ 11/16 $10/ea. HuntMdws F 10am F8B.WZMF 12/9 $10/ea.

The 1794 home of Northern Virginia’s first congressman, Richard Bland Lee, combines aspects of Georgian and Federal architecture. Guided tours highlight the early 19th century Lee family, the enslaved community, and other families who lived here before it became a park in 1959. Features include: • Historic house • Original outbuildings • Slave quarter cabin • Heirloom garden • Squirrel’s Nest gift shop • Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums • On the National Register of Historic Places • Listed on the Virginia Civil Wars Trail • Part of the Underground Railroad Network to

Freedom

Gift shop Open Thursday-Sunday, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. and by appointment Monday-Wednesday.

(All Ages) Enjoy a 45-minute tour of the 1794 dwelling, built for Richard Bland Lee, Northern Virginia’s first Congressman. The story includes his family, political career and the life of the enslaved community that supported Sully. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, Sully is on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Private tours available upon request. Please contact the site for details. Individual tickets available at Parktakes online.

Learn more at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/wp-parties.htm or see the Attraction section of Parktakes.

(All Ages) The tour includes the original outbuildings and representative slave quarter cabin. Learn the history of the enslaved people who lived and worked at Sully over 200 years ago. Tour is held weather permitting. Individual tickets available at Parktakes online.

(5-Adult) Hike the trails and learn about the history of abandoned sites hidden from most visitor’s view. Follow trails of forested areas and Cain’s Branch waterway to learn about the life of early inhabitants who made Sully their home. This outdoor guided program does involve some walking over uneven terrain and along trails. Program is held weather permitting. For more information, please call 703-437-1794.

Sully Th 11am ZNR.FVR7 9/8 $10/ea. Sully Th 11am ZNR.ZBEM 9/22 $10/ea. Sully Th 11am ZNR.BELB 10/13 $10/ea. Sully Th 11am ZNR.71M6 10/27 $10/ea.

(2-Adult) Learn about the history of how pumpkins became associated with Halloween. Pick your pumpkin and paint a face or design on it. Play some games, make a pumpkin craft to take home. Small pumpkins will be available for you to pick from. This program takes place outside. (Rain Date: October 22).

Sully Sa 10am 6RC.1KV9 10/15 $8/ea. Sully Sa 11am 6RC.GCU0 10/15 $8/ea. Sully Sa 1pm 6RC.55MJ 10/15 $8/ea. Sully Sa 2pm 6RC.23M8 10/15 $8/ea.

(5-Adult) Learn about early lighting techniques before the advent of electricity through a touch display including a candle mold, betty lamp, beeswax and wicking. End the program by making your own hand-dipped candle to take home.

Sully Su 11am 873.70MZ 10/23 $8/ea. Sully Su 1pm 873.30HX 10/23 $8/ea. Sully Su 3pm 873.WBHZ 10/23 $8/ea.

(2-Adult) Come out and enjoy the season by creating your own Fall friend. Bring old clothing to stuff with hay and afterwards pose with your new friend. Play some games, make a craft to take home. Great Fall photo opportunities. This program takes place outdoors.

Sully Sa 10am K73.EA2D 10/29 $8/ea. Sully Sa 11am K73.452C 10/29 $8/ea. Sully Sa 1pm K73.G7NA 10/29 $8/ea. Sully Sa 2pm K73.L7AU 10/29 $8/ea. (6-Adult) Get a taste of summer with hearth-cooked peach pie! Back in the 18th century, Sully had more than 1,200 peach trees. Although the orchard is gone, you can still explore the history of Sully’s peaches and all their uses as you cook peach pie using dried peaches, following our historic recipe, in our 18th century kitchen. Make sure to have it a la mode with our handchurned peach ice cream!

Sully Sa 1pm 271.36U1 11/12 $15/ea. Sully Sa 10am 271.MUX3 11/12 $15/ea.

(2-Adult) Bring your camera to take a picture with Santa outdoors in a historic setting at Sully! When you Mingle with Kringle, you will have a chance to tell Santa Claus your Christmas wishes, then make a festive ornament to deck your own halls and enjoy some refreshments. All attendees must register, including accompanying adults. For more information, call 703-437-1794.

Sully Sa 12pm 215.0ANZ 11/26 $9/ea.