Certified Historic Markers placed under the Virginia Department of Historic Markers program and sponsored by Historic Fairfax City Inc. include:
Richard Ratcliffe’s Mount Vineyard Plantation: marker located at the site of Ratcliffe’s Mansion home at Oak St. and Main St.. The building destroyed in 1921 was the headquarters of Confederate General Beauregard in 1861 and Union General McClellan in 1862.
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Draper House, 1821: marker describes the history of the building, the second oldest residence in the City, and the history of the Draper family that built it. Located on Main St. at East St.
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Arlington-Fairfax Electric Railway: marker describes the history of the old Trolley and the commercial center that developed near the old terminal located near this spot. Located at Railway Ave. and Main St.
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Fairfax Rosenwald School: marker at University Drive and School St. near where the first Julius Rosenwald sponsored school in Fairfax County was built in 1924-25.
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Old Baptismal Area: marker commemorates the place where, in the 1930s, Mount Calvary Baptist Church, the first African-American church in the City, regularly conducted baptismal services. Located on Chain Bridge Rd. at Rust Curve
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Old Fairfax High School: marker located on Lee Highway at Paul VI commemorates the opening in 1935 of the original 4 year Fairfax High School, then the largest consolidated high school in Fairfax County.
Virginia State Markers in the City of Fairfax include:
- Capt. John Quincy Marr, Warrenton Rifles, First Confederate Officer Killed: located at the site where Marr fell on June 1, 1861; on grounds of the Fairfax County Courthouse at West St. in front of the Massey Building.
- Birth of the Confederate Battle Flag: marker denotes the location of General Beauregard’s Headquarters where the Battle Flag, now referred to as the Confederate Flag, was born in late September, 1861 and where President Davis’ “Fairfax Court House Conference” was held on October 1, 1861. Located on Main St. and Oak St.
- Mosby’ Midnight Raid: Marker describes actions of March 9, 1861 when Colonel Mosby’s band of 29 men captured Union General Stoughton, two captains, thirty enlisted men and 58 horses in the downtown area, never firing a shot. Marker located on Chain Bridge Rd. near Armstrong St.
Other Historic Markers in City of Fairfax include:
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Old Fairfax Court House, DAR plaque;
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Fairfax Court House, OTF plaque describing events at or near the old Court House,
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Ratcliffe-Allison House, Main St near University Dr;
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Peyton Anderson, First Soldier of the South to Shed His Blood, UDC sponsored stone marker, Lee Highway at the Econo Lodge;
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Marr Monument Stone placed by Warrenton Riflemen in 1905, at Old Court House;
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Ford House, OTF plaque, Chain Bridge Rd. and North St.;
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Moore House, (originally the Nelson Conrad House), OTF plaque, Chain Bridge Rd. at North St.;
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Joshua Gunnell House, OTF plaque, Chain Bridge Rd. at Sagar Ave.;
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W. P. Gunnell House, OTF plaque, at Truro Church.
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Mosby, UDC placed Stone and Plaque, Truro Chapel, describes Mosby capture of Stoughton;
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Historic Blenheim, CWT Marker, Old Lee Highway at Interpretive Center;
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First Elementary School, presently the City Museum on Main St; Old Town Hall, Main St. and University;
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Fairfax Herald Building, OTF plaque, Main St. at University;
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The Donohoe House, OTF plaque, near Chain Bridge Rd. and North St..
Be a Sponsor:
You can help relive our great history by sponsoring a certified historic marker. Markers under consideration include the Death of Union General Corcoran, First Confederate Volley, 15th New York Cavalry, The Farr Houses, and many others. Begin the process by contacting Dr. Christopher Martin, City of Fairfax Director of Historic Resources, at Chris.Martin@fairfaxva.gov or at 703.273.5452 and request the “Procedures Document, Fairfax City-Historic Fairfax City Inc.”