Historic Blenheim - Tours & History

Historic Blenheim Sign

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⚠️March 2026: Historic Blenheim museum is closed for seasonal maintenance. The rental venue and scheduled programs remain open. Check back for reopening updates.

Historic Blenheim House 

In 1862-63, Federal soldiers left graffiti on the interior house walls of the c. 1859 brick home of the Willcoxon family.  Learn about the challenges and experience of the common soldiers who left their marks on the walls; the lives of the Willcoxon family; and the struggles and perseverance of the enslaved laborers of African descent owned by the family.

Tour Information

View visitor information brochure(PDF, 988KB)

Free Guided Historic Blenheim House tours
  • Available Tuesday–Saturday at 1 p.m.
  • Meet your knowledgeable docent in the Civil War Interpretive Center.
  • Tour includes the house's first floor and historic landscape.
  • Limited to one group (up to 7 people)
Group reservations
  • Groups of 4+ should call 703-591-0560 to schedule.
  • Tour groups of 8 or more and educational tours and programs require reservations and a fee. Visit the history & heritage events page for more information. 
Self-guided grounds tour
  • Explore the secluded 12 acres of grounds and read interpretive signage along accessible pathways.
  • See Grandma’s Cottage (c.1840)*, once home to Margaret Conn Willcoxon Farr, Albert Willcoxon’s sister. The cottage features rare log-wall construction with hewn timber framing and brick infill.
  • Stop at the Willcoxon Family Cemetery, where both Willcoxon and Farr family members are buried.
    *Note: Cottage interior is not currently open to the public.


ADA Accommodations: Call 703-591-0560 or 703-385-8414.

Events

View all history & heritage events

Cooking Through History

Saturday, May 23, 2026 | 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

1 more date

Come to Historic Blenheim as we take you through the history of a specific dish and how food can teach us about communities and cultures! Participants will learn fascinating food history, do an activity and cook a real dish that they can sample. Each date features a different food. Registration is required. All participants under 16 must be accompanied by a registered adult.

Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center, 10209 Main St.,  22030

Tagged as: , History & Heritage

Corsets and Contraband African American Labor in the Fight for Freedom

Saturday, June 27, 2026 | 10:00 AM to 02:00 PM

Come to Historic Blenheim for a powerful drop-in program exploring the courageous contributions of African American women during the Civil War. Engage with living historians and discover the remarkable stories of three extraordinary women.

Come anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Historic Blenheim for this immersive experience that includes exhibit displays, themed stations and more.

Historic Blenheim, 3610 Blenheim Blvd.,  22030

Tagged as: , History & Heritage

Author Talk: Forgotten Patriots of the American Revolution

Saturday, July 11, 2026 | 02:00 PM to 03:30 PM

Historian Ric Murphy will join us at Historic Blenheim to talk about his new book Forgotten Patriots of the Northern Theatre which brings to the light the inspiring but overlooked heroes of the Revolutionary War’s northern campaigns: American men, women, and children of African and Indigenous descent who served in the Continental Army and local militias.

Historic Blenheim, 3610 Blenheim Blvd.,  22030

Tagged as: , History & Heritage

History You Can Hear

Saturday, July 18, 2026 | 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, join us for a hands-on program exploring early American music and the instruments that brought it to life. Early American music specialist David Hildebrand will share a variety of colonial-era instruments, explain their stories, perform live, and invite participants to try a few for themselves.

Historic Blenheim, 3610 Blenheim Blvd.,  22030

Tagged as: , History & Heritage

Your Visit

Historic Blenheim and the Civil War Interpretive Center is renowned for the signatures, pictographs, and thoughts of Federal soldiers preserved on the attic and house walls of this Greek-Revival/Georgian-style brick house. This “diary on the walls” left by soldiers in 1862-1863 provides historians and visitors insight into the lives of common soldiers.  The deep effect of the Civil War also extends to the house owners--the Willcoxon Family--and to the enslaved people of African descent who they owned.  These enslaved laborers who were able to move into freedom and finally become recognized citizens of the United States.

Civil War Interpretive Center

Civil war interpretive center with grassy knoll

Begin your visit at the modern Civil War Interpretive Center where a gallery features a full-sized ADA accessible replica of the house's attic. The original attic is not accessible to the public.

  • Examine the graffiti up-close as tangible artifacts that provide a direct link to these soldiers and their lives.
  • Learn more Civil War history with an illustrated timeline of Civil War events, artifacts that interpret the common soldier, soldier biographies, information about the family and enslaved laborers, and temporary displays.
  • Watch videos highlighting the house graffiti in the multipurpose room.

Gift shop

Visit the gift shop for books, children’s games, Civil War replica items, and local souvenirs.

Revealing History

Historic Blenheim, a Virginia Civil War Trails and Northern Virginia Graffiti Trail site, received a federal grant to further analyze the writings on the wall with cutting-edge multispectral technology.

To learn about the newest investigative research of the graffiti, watch the video below.

Location

Civil War Interpretive Center at Historic Blenheim,  3610 Blenheim Blvd,  Fairfax, VA 22030  View Map

Google Map

About Us

Type

  • Historic Resources

Contact for school, scout, and adult tours

703-591-0560
sean.redmiles@fairfaxva.gov

Hours

⚠️March 2026: Closed for seasonal maintenance.

Free admission
Fully accessible
Free parking on site

Postal Address

10209 Main St.
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