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 culture of Fairfax County? Through this branch, the County Archaeological Research Team often conducts archaeological investigations on parkland throughout the county to deepen our understanding of how we came to be.

Even beyond the County parkland, there are several sites in and around Fairfax County where you can watch archaeologists in action, learn about our history through artifacts discovered through this work, and find a deeper appreciation for our past.

Here are just a few where you can witness history in real time:

 

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

 

Preservation work on George Washington’s beloved home started way back in the 1850s and is, to this day, a daily ongoing process. A team of architectural historians, archaeologists, carpenters, curators, conservators, and collections managers work tirelessly to learn and present findings from the course of the site’s existence. [In fact, starting now through 2026, the Mansion is undergoing a massive revitalization project to ensure the health of the site for future generations. Read more about potential visitation disruptions here.]

On the Archaeology side, a survey conducted back in the 1980s identified hundreds of archaeological interest points throughout the property, providing evidence of human lifeways from the Early Archaic period through the modern day and prompted the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association to create an in-house archaeology department.

Mount Vernon recently made huge national news as its team of archaeologists discovered an incredible 35 bottles from the 18th century in the cellar during an excavation – 29 of which were still intact and contained perfectly preserved cherries and berries.

During Virginia Archaeology Month each October, guests can visit Mount Vernon archaeologists on the Bowling Green every Tuesday and Thursday to learn about a variety of subjects, including Native Americans at Mount Vernon, the Historic Bottle Discovery, Technology used by Archaeologists, and more.

Additionally, on November 2-3, 2024, visitors can attend the Archaeology Family Day to learn about the archaeological process, participate in mini digs, make your own clay replicas, meet staff from both Mount Vernon, Gunston Hall, and Ferry Farm, and watch performances and demonstrations.

 

George Mason’s Gunston Hall

 

Similarly to Mount Vernon, George Mason’s Gunston Hall undergoes ongoing preservation and restoration work to ensure the 18th-century home of this Founding Father remains intact for future generations.

Throughout the grounds of this sprawling Mason Neck estate, Gunston Hall’s archaeology team works long-term to try to understand the landscape of the property during the time of George Mason, oftentimes finding traces of roads, buildings, fences, plantings, and other artifacts in their excavation work.

Visitors can chat in real-time with archaeologists on most Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10am – 3pm during the dig season (usually April through mid-December) at the various dig sites on the property. There are even Archaeology Volunteer Opportunities that offer you the chance to get hands-on experience with these unique digs and discoveries.

 

The Winery at Bull Run

 

The Winery at Bull Run may be one of the two closest vineyards to Washington, DC, but did you know that it sits adjacent to the Manassas National Battlefield Park, the site of the first major land battle of the American Civil War? The property that the winery now exists on was used as a battle post by Union General Sherman, and, as the owners excavated the land, a myriad of relics were found and recovered that indicate the land also found use as a field hospital.

Visitors today will see many of these recovered artifacts in display cases in the main tasting room as well as inside of an extensive museum in the Barrel Room that showcases over 200,000 artifacts from the Civil War. Additionally, the winery offers several tours that dive into the history of the property:

 

Riverbend Park

 

Riverbend Park, just northwest of Great Falls Park, is one of the Fairfax County Parks home to more than one hundred archaeological sites, especially histories related to the region’s first people – who were here thousands of years before European contact.

Current visitors can explore the park’s small museum, housed in the Visitor Center, which contains an exhibit displaying artifacts found at the park along with other replicas that depict how people used the tools and shed light on the region’s first people. You can read more about these discoveries here.

Fun fact: each September, Riverbend Park hosts the Virginia Native American Festival, which highlights the cultures, tools, and traditions of Native Americans.

 

Fairfax County Museum Collections

 

You can also take time to explore the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Museum Collections, which is home to more than 5,000 objects, thousands of archival items, and an incredible three million artifacts that help tell the stories of Fairfax County. Browse the artiFACTS page here.

 

There are many more sites and stories that explore Fairfax County’s history. What are some discoveries you’ve made while visiting or residing in #FXVA? Share with us in the comments below or on social using @VisitFairfax.