Updated for 2025 Every year, starting in late November, George Washington's Mount Vernon infuses a healthy dose of holiday spirit and hospitality into its normal programming, resulting in a magical few weeks of memory-making opportunities for those who know when and where to find it. Below is your…
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In 2026, the United States will celebrate its 250th birthday and its independence from the British crown. While many patriots get credit for victory in the Revolutionary War, one British subject, in particular, literally led the charge—Commander of the Continental Army, General George Washington…
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Historically, Native American tribes chose to live near water sources like lakes, rivers, and coastlines. Water was a crucial element of survival, providing access to transportation, food sources like fish, and fertile land for farming. For many tribes, water was considered sacred and an essential…
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Fairfax County was founded in 1742 and has a long and fascinating history. But many of the histories that shape the County today happened thousands of years prior. Did you know that the county has an Archaeology and Collections Branch that helps to identify, preserve, and interpret the material…
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Updated for 2025 Legend has it that, each October, the veil between this world and the spirit world grows thinner leading up to All Hallows Eve, aka Halloween. It is a time to remember the dead. And some believe it is a time for the dead to visit us. Over the centuries, however, October 31 changed…
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Updated 2025 July is a month filled with celebrations of independence, both in America and France. While Americans mark the Fourth of July, signifying their freedom from British rule, the French honor "Quatorze Juillet" on July 14, remembering the storming of the Bastille and the end of monarchy…
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Did you know the U.S. Army is a year older than the United States itself? The oldest and largest military branch in the United States was formed on June 14, 1775, during the early days of the Revolutionary War, when the Continental Army was formed to fight for the freedom that would eventually…
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Updated 2025 It is known as “America's Second Independence Day.” Yet there is no battle marking that day. No birthday of a new nation. Not even an anniversary of a document. Rather Juneteenth, the commemoration of freedom from slavery, commemorates June 19, 1865 - the date federal troops arrived in…
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Updated for 2025 Memorial Day Weekend is one of the best times to visit Fairfax County and the U.S. Capital Region. And it's also a great time for us to take a moment to remember what the day is really all about: honoring the brave men and women who gave their lives to protect ours. The sacrifices…
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“Well behaved women seldom make history.” —Laurel Thatcher Ulrich It may seem strange in the 21 st century to think of Clara Barton as anything but well behaved. But Clara defied norms and accomplished feats unheard of among other women of her time. She held jobs women weren’t supposed to hold. She…
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