City of Fairfax, VA
Home MenuFairfax Museum and Visitor Center
The Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center
10209 Main St., Fairfax
Daily hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed: New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after; Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day and select other holidays
Free admission • Fully accessible • Free parking on site
Phone: 703-385-8414
To request reasonable ADA accommodations, call 703-385-8414.
Start your visit to Fairfax City here! The Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center is conveniently located near historic and charming Old Town Fairfax and is a Virginia certified tourist information center.
Welcoming and knowledgeable staff and volunteers will provide information about local attractions and events for your Fairfax visit and also for other sites in Virginia and nearby Washington, D.C. Looking for lodging, restaurants, transportation, historic and natural attractions, our staff is ready to help you. The Visitor Center is stocked with brochures, travel guides, and maps. Ask us about the array of special events in and around Fairfax City! Don’t forget to ask what makes Fairfax City a special place to visit, live, and work.
Connect with the Past
Explore The Fairfax Story exhibition, which follows the arc of Fairfax’s history, from Native American cultures to our local astronaut who orbited the earth aboard three Space Shuttle missions. The gallery is bursting with interesting local stories, and you can view everything in about an hour! The museum hosts traveling and special exhibits on a wide range of Virginia and American history topics so you will want to make return visits.
Historic Schoolhouse
The Museum and Visitor Center is housed in the former Fairfax Elementary School. Built in 1873, this was the first two-story brick school in Fairfax County and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. See the photo of students here in the 1880s, and then take a selfie under the original arched doorway.Gift Shop
Take Fairfax City home with you! Shop for children's toys and games, replica items, history books (many titles by local authors), gifts, and souvenirs to remember your visit to Fairfax City.
Old Town Fairfax Awaits
Leave your car parked; put on your walking shoes and get ready to explore Historic Old Town Fairfax, a National Register Historic District. A self-guided walking tour will envelop you in history as you stroll past 19th and early 20th century buildings. Refuel with a tasty meal at one of the city’s popular restaurants. Or take a break, grab an ice cream cone, and enjoy the Kitty Pozer Memorial Garden. Still energy to burn? Walk over the family-friendly Ratcliffe Park, located adjacent to the Museum and Visitor Center, where you will meet Fairfax the Fox and other charmingly carved woodland friends.