“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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Fairfax County has a long history of courageous, pioneering women, from fearless spies in the Civil War to those whose determination turned a farm into the nation’s only National Park for the Performing Arts. But, in the Potomac Banks area of Fairfax County, the sites—and freedoms—that women created…
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Each year, a million-plus people make the exodus to Washington, DC’s Tidal Basin area to catch the cherry blossoms during their short blooming window. Because they flower at different times every year (roughly the last week of March to mid-April) and peak bloom only lasts a few days…
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International Women’s Day is March 8, but in Fairfax County, we can’t help but celebrate it every day. Because everywhere you look in the county, you’ll find women who’ve changed history, preserved history, and broken all molds. America celebrated the centennial of the ratification of the 19th…
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Grab your pint glass and get ready to raise a toast to the women who are making waves in the beer industry! These women are breaking stereotypes and paving the way for more gender diversity in the brewing world. So, let's kick back, relax, and learn about the amazing women behind some of the best…
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Even in our darkest times, love is all around us. Civil War-era Northern Virginia illustrates many of these examples. During a time of great division, people helped each other. Soldiers were buoyed by the romantic letters they wrote home. Women took grave risks for love. Humanitarian efforts lifted…
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One of the most treasured historic estates in America (and possibly the world) is George Washington's Mount Vernon. Given the popularity and reverence of POTUS 1 back in the day, one could easily assume that plans would have been in place to ensure the protection and preservation of his beloved…
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When it comes to female heroes of the Civil War, there are many familiar names. Clara Barton took fire tending wounds on battlefields. Harriet Tubman helped hundreds of slaves escape to freedom. And Sarah Rosetta Wakeman (posing as a man named Lyons Wakeman) fought as a Union soldier with the 153 rd…
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A turn down Gunston Road in southern Fairfax County transports you into a serene oasis as you inch closer to the Mason Neck peninsula. The one-lane road weaves past historic attractions and various parkland, surrounded by trees, wildlife, and scenic beauty. Bald eagles soar overhead as they search…
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There is one thing that every music and performing arts lover familiar to the Northern Virginia and Washington, DC region can agree on – and that is the indelible fact that there is nothing quite like a show under the stars at Wolf Trap, America’s only National Park dedicated to the Performing Arts…
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