Robert E Simon purchased 6,750 acres of land in Fairfax in 1961 after his family sold Carnegie Hall in New York. He built a planned community with his initials RES and town as its name.

Discover an incredible Civil War map of part of Virginia from Alexandria to the Potomac River above Washington, D.C. Click on the image for a much larger version. Source: Library of Congress.

Tysons Corner or Tysons used to be called Peach Grove. William Tyson owned a farm west of DC which would become the site of a major shopping mall.

Check out this 1950 advertisement from The Washington Post. Does anyone recognize this home? We quickly received a Tweet pointing out that the farm still stands today - take a look at the Google Street View!

This is a great old map that we dug up at the Library of Congress. It shows Fairfax County and the surroundings near the end of the Civil War. A map of Fairfax County, and parts of Loudoun and Prince William Counties, Va., and the District of Columbia] / copied by J. Paul Hoffmann, Top’l. Office, A.N.Va. ; approved S. Howell Brown, 1st Lt. Engs. Troops, in chg. Topl. Dept. A.N.V., March 29th...

Delve into the past with an old advertisement from the Maryland Gazette in 1760 promoting a large tract of land for rent in Fairfax, located about 40 miles northwest of Alexandria. Through this historical document and a bit of research, gain insight into life in early colonial America and the social and economic dynamics of the time.

1912 map of rural mail delivery routes in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Happy Saturday GoDCers! We uncovered an incredible Civil War map of the rebel fortifications just west of D.C. in the Boston Public Library archives. Check out the original here!

Discover the history of Falls Church, Virginia in this 1903 article from the Washington Times. Learn about the town's history, its connection to George Washington, and its importance as a nerve center of communication in the early 20th century.