City of Fairfax, VA
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Historic Tours
Ratcliffe-Allison-Pozer House guided tours for all ages are provided on a walk-in basis by a knowledgeable docent at the oldest residence in Fairfax City (10386 Main St.). The house is open from noon to 3 p.m. Saturdays from April through September, as well as during many city-sponsored events, such as the Fall Festival.
Old Town Fairfax Guided Walking Tours . 2025 Schedule to be announced in the Spring!
Self-guided tours of Old Town Fairfax are available with A Walk Through History, a free brochure available on the city website (click here) and from the Museum and Visitor Center, 10209 Main St.
Group Tours
Guided adult tours for groups of eight people or more at any city historic sites may be reserved for a $25 fee per group.
Guided youth tours for students and scouts are available; please make reservations at least one month in advance. Cost is $3 per child, chaperones free, no charge for schools located within the City of Fairfax. Programs are tailored for different age groups and educational needs, and incorporate hands-on activities. Space and staff scheduling limits apply.
- Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center tour information: email, 703-385-8414
- Historic Blenheim and the Civil War Interpretive Center tour information: email, 703-591-6728
- Ratcliffe-Allison-Pozer House tour information: email, 703-385-8414
Free Walking Tour of Old Town Fairfax
- Date: 06/24/2023 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Location: Historic Fairfax Courthouse
4000 Chain Bridge Road
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Historic Fairfax City, Inc., is leading guided tours of Old Town Fairfax on the last Saturday of the month from June through October.
Meet your guide at 11 a.m. in front of the Historic Fairfax County Courthouse, 4000 Chain Bridge Road, for the hour-long tour.
Call 703-385-8414 for reservations and any weather cancellations. Tour groups are limited to 15 people.
Start your tour by learning about George and Martha Washington’s wills stored at the courthouse. Then explore more than two centuries of rich history along Main Street and Chain Bridge Road.
As you stroll, you will hear about town founder Richard Ratcliffe, tradespeople, a daring enemy capture and a romance during the Civil War, changing architectural styles, and more stories of people and events that shaped Fairfax City history.
Pair your walking tour with a docent-led visit to the Ratcliffe-Allison-Pozer House. Open noon to 3 p.m., the oldest section of the house dates from 1807. Hear stories of its many residents and owners, from a 19th-century shoemaker to a 20th-century suffragist.
Following your tour, explore charming Old Town Fairfax and enjoy lunch at one of many eateries, or peruse the unique shops. Don’t forget to save time to indulge in an ice cream cone while soaking in the serenity of the Kitty Pozer Garden.
Educational Programs
The Office of Historic Resources offers a wide variety of history-related programs. Programs are free and in person unless otherwise noted.
'I have no doubt...He will Prove Himself an Able Commander,' George Armstrong Custer’s Path from Lieutenant to Brigadier General
Historic Blenheim
Nov. 23, 2 p.m.
Join author Robert O'Neill as he discusses his book George Armstrong Custer’s Path from Lieutenant to Brigadier General. Through in-depth research, the author will focus on Custer’s soliciting support to become a general in the Fairfax Court House area. O'Neill most recently published Small but Important Riots: The Calvary Battles of Aldie, Middleburg, and Upperville. He also runs the Civil War Cavalry blog, Small But Important Things. Free; books will be available for purchase.
Free Walking Tour of Old Town Fairfax
- Date: 06/24/2023 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Location: Historic Fairfax Courthouse
4000 Chain Bridge Road
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Historic Fairfax City, Inc., is leading guided tours of Old Town Fairfax on the last Saturday of the month from June through October.
Meet your guide at 11 a.m. in front of the Historic Fairfax County Courthouse, 4000 Chain Bridge Road, for the hour-long tour.
Call 703-385-8414 for reservations and any weather cancellations. Tour groups are limited to 15 people.
Start your tour by learning about George and Martha Washington’s wills stored at the courthouse. Then explore more than two centuries of rich history along Main Street and Chain Bridge Road.
As you stroll, you will hear about town founder Richard Ratcliffe, tradespeople, a daring enemy capture and a romance during the Civil War, changing architectural styles, and more stories of people and events that shaped Fairfax City history.
Pair your walking tour with a docent-led visit to the Ratcliffe-Allison-Pozer House. Open noon to 3 p.m., the oldest section of the house dates from 1807. Hear stories of its many residents and owners, from a 19th-century shoemaker to a 20th-century suffragist.
Following your tour, explore charming Old Town Fairfax and enjoy lunch at one of many eateries, or peruse the unique shops. Don’t forget to save time to indulge in an ice cream cone while soaking in the serenity of the Kitty Pozer Garden.