Prince William County Office of Historic Preservation

Prince William County Office of Historic Preservation The Office of Historic Preservation is a division of Prince William County Parks & Recreation

The Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism is dedicated to the preservation of Prince William County's historic resources. The Office of Historic Preservation serves as the stewards of County-owned historic structures, cultural and natural resources, historic landscapes, and artifacts. We build community identity alongside our local partners by telling the story of the people of Prince William County.

Our next lecture series program will be next week, on Thursday, September 24. Historians Francis Gary Powers, Jr., and C...
09/15/2026

Our next lecture series program will be next week, on Thursday, September 24. Historians Francis Gary Powers, Jr., and Christopher Sturdevant will speak on their book, Cold War Virginia, and highlight stories of espionage, heroism, and betrayal in Virginia during the Cold War.

The program will begin at 7 pm upstairs in the Old Manassas Courthouse, 9248 Lee Ave, Manassas, VA. Attendance is free, and pre-registration is not required.

For more information, call (703) 367-7872.

The site of Bacon Race Church, located near Woodbridge on Davis Ford Road, was home to three churches, the last of which...
09/14/2026

The site of Bacon Race Church, located near Woodbridge on Davis Ford Road, was home to three churches, the last of which is believed to have been built in the late nineteenth century. The church is perhaps most noted for serving as Civil War field hospital in August 1861, and later as a storehouse for Confederate Col. Wade Hampton’s troops. The last preacher of Bacon Race Church was the locally famous Reverend William Smoot, whose followers were called “Smootites.” This charismatic preacher often clashed with Reverend Thomas D.D. Clark, who preached at nearby Union Baptist Church, even though their theological differences were relatively minor.

The last church survived until Christmas Eve 1987, when it “leaned over and died,” according to a Washington Post article. A victim of neglect, the building succumbed to the elements and years of disrepair. However, a well-maintained cemetery still exists on the site.

Image: Bacon Race Church & Cemetery, courtesy of Prince William Historical Society.

Day 2 of World War II Days at Rippon Lodge Historic Site starts at 11am today. Free for the whole family. Ends at 3:30.
09/13/2026

Day 2 of World War II Days at Rippon Lodge Historic Site starts at 11am today. Free for the whole family.
Ends at 3:30.

Did you know that Wade H. Ellis the former owner of Rippon Lodge during the early 20th century has a plaster bust in the...
09/13/2026

Did you know that Wade H. Ellis the former owner of Rippon Lodge during the early 20th century has a plaster bust in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum? Created during his tenure at the Justice Department, it is his official government bust. It was created in 1934 by artist Anthony Hutchison.

According to the Justice Department website, "The vast majority of the DOJ's core artistic assets—including murals, bust-length depictions, and full statues—came from a single historic era: the Great Depression.

When the current DOJ headquarters was built in the mid-1930s, the federal government used the Treasury Relief Art Project (TRAP) and the Section of Fine Arts to employ out-of-work artists.

Unfortunately the Wade Ellis bust is not on display and is currently in storage.

World War II Days happening now at Rippon Lodge Historic Site. FREE! Open until 3:30pm
09/12/2026

World War II Days happening now at Rippon Lodge Historic Site. FREE! Open until 3:30pm

Prince William County lost 22 residents in the Sept. 11th attacks: 19 at the Pentagon and 3 in New York City. One of tho...
09/11/2026

Prince William County lost 22 residents in the Sept. 11th attacks: 19 at the Pentagon and 3 in New York City. One of those three was Jeff Simpson of Dumfries, Virginia. Outside of his work at Oracle Systems, Jeff served as a volunteer with a local ambulance squad helping others in their time of need. He just so happened to be in New York on the day of the terrorist attacks and was last seen heading towards the north tower to try and help. 2,977 people lost their lives as a result of 9/11 including hundreds of first responders.

In 2010, Prince William County submitted a request to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to acquire Trade Center steel to build a memorial for those who were lost. Granted the steel in 2011, a contest was held for the design leading to the monument you see dedicated in 2013 at the County government center.
Honor and remember those whose lives were cut short 25 years ago. We will never forget.



Image Caption: The 9/11 Memorial at the Prince William County Government Center Complex.

Getting everything ready for World War II Days happening this weekend, Sepember 12th and 13th, from 11am to 3:30pm at Ri...
09/10/2026

Getting everything ready for World War II Days happening this weekend, Sepember 12th and 13th, from 11am to 3:30pm at Rippon Lodge Historic Site. This FREE, family friendly program commemorates the Greatest Generation, which includes Admiral Richard Black, WWII veteran, survivor of Pearl Harbor and the last owner of Rippon Lodge.

Indoor self-guided tours are limited to 15 at a time.

Images: "Kilroy was Here" image on the post of the well with the historic lodge behind it. Image of a lucky dog sitting in the front seat of a WWII military jeep.

Two weeks from now and we hope you'll join us! Brentsville Bluegrass ConcertSeptember 26, 2025; 530:PM-7:30PM For 204 ye...
09/08/2026

Two weeks from now and we hope you'll join us!

Brentsville Bluegrass Concert
September 26, 2025; 530:PM-7:30PM

For 204 years, the Brentsville Public Lot has been a place of entertainment and festivities and we are continuing that tradition into today! Bring your chairs, kick up your heels, and enjoy some Bluegrass and dinner at Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre during our fall Brentsville Bluegrass Concert! Enjoy music from Big Howdy Bluegrass, food from Catfish On Wheels LLC, and explore the historic site.

Admission is FREE! Tickets are not required.
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre is located at 12229 Bristow Road, Bristow, VA 20136. For more information, call 703-365-7895.

On Saturday, October 3, Ben Lomond Historic Site is requesting volunteer help to assemble a wattle fence around the Slav...
09/08/2026

On Saturday, October 3, Ben Lomond Historic Site is requesting volunteer help to assemble a wattle fence around the Slave Quarter garden. Anyone wishing to volunteer should dress appropriately for the weather and should have leather work gloves and work shoes. Anyone who has brush cutters /loppers that are strong enough to cut limbs 2.5” in diameter or less are asked to bring them. Saplings will be precut in preparation for the work day. Work will begin at 10:00 am and last until 3:00 pm. We will break for lunch at noon. If you wish, you can leave the site to eat or pack a lunch. Ben Lomond is located at 10321 Sudley Manor Drive, Manassas, VA 20109. Please contact David M. Born at [email protected] or by phone at (703) 895-3819 if you are interested in volunteering.

Address

17674 Main Street
Dumfries, VA
22026

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Prince William County Office of Historic Preservation posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Prince William County Office of Historic Preservation:

Shortcuts

Share

Category