Fairfax Self-Guided (GPS) Audio Walking Tour, Virginia - Old Town Main Sites, Historic District
Places: 17 POIs
Distance: 0.96 mi
Duration: 53m
GPS-guided narration through
Your Smartphone
Tour #397
About this English self-guided 53m walking tour in Fairfax
Hello everyone, I’m glad you can join me!
I’m Christian, your guide and I would like to welcome you to my hometown of Fairfax, Virginia.
This walking tour will focus on Fairfax’s Old Town Historic District.
We’ll begin at the Fairfax County Museum and Visitor Center and end in the vicinity of the Fairfax Court House where Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road) and Route 236 (Main Street) meet.
- 1For the best experience, begin at the tour's recommended starting point and follow the stops in order.
- 2Want to start somewhere else? Simply use Start At on the tour screen, before tapping Start Tour, to begin from any stop.
- 3Need to detour or skip a stop along the way? Tap Tour Assistant (
![UCPlaces AI Bot Icon]()
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
Route Preview
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Places (POIs) visited during this tour
Place #1
![Map Pin]()
Recommended Starting Point
Distance: 0.01mi
, Attraction : Main Street
10209 Main St, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
Welcome!
Hey, you found me! If you need to park, there is ample parking next to and behind the Fairfax Museum and Visitors Center. I'll see you at the front of the building soon.
Place #2
![Map Pin]()
Distance: 0.04mi
, Attraction : Historic Building
10209 Main St, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center
Whatever mode of transportation you used to get here, a good starting point is at the Fairfax Museum and Visitors Center. You may go inside before or after your walking tour as it gives an excellent introduction to Fairfax through its permanent exhibit, the “Fairfax Story.” Admission is free. But I’ll still give you little background about the town.
Fairfax derived its name from Thomas, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron who received a land grant of 5,282,000 acres called the “Northern Neck” from King Charles II of England who was in exile during the English Civil War. The region once included what is now Loudoun and Arlington Counties, and the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax. The City of Fairfax began as the Town of Providence in 1805, a community centered on the Fairfax County Courthouse, which was completed in 1800. It was officially renamed the Town of Fairfax in 1875 and became an independent city in 1961. What began as an agricultural region primarily based on raising tobacco with enslaved labor, followed by wheat and livestock, Fairfax has become an affluent, complex, and populous commercial and residential Metropolitan DC suburb.
Now for the building in front of you. Built in 1873 for the then-considered expensive price of $2,750, this remains the oldest two-story brick public school house in Fairfax County. It was a byproduct of legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 1870 to improve and reorganize its existing public school system. A brick, two-story addition was built on the front of the original school in 1912, almost doubling in size. It continued to operate as a school until 1925 when the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan bought it to publish and print a newspaper, the Fairfax Independent. A fire damaged the building in 1930 which was repaired by the 1940’s. After the editors declared bankruptcy, the KKK left and it was put back into use as a school again. Fairfax County Schools held the area’s first special education classes inside in the 1950’s after which it became administrative offices followed by a police academy. In 1992, the former school was rehabilitated into the Fairfax Museum and Visitors Center. Now, walk eastbound on Main Street until you are able to see a long driveway leading to a large brick house with columns and chimneys across Main Street.
Fairfax derived its name from Thomas, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron who received a land grant of 5,282,000 acres called the “Northern Neck” from King Charles II of England who was in exile during the English Civil War. The region once included what is now Loudoun and Arlington Counties, and the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax. The City of Fairfax began as the Town of Providence in 1805, a community centered on the Fairfax County Courthouse, which was completed in 1800. It was officially renamed the Town of Fairfax in 1875 and became an independent city in 1961. What began as an agricultural region primarily based on raising tobacco with enslaved labor, followed by wheat and livestock, Fairfax has become an affluent, complex, and populous commercial and residential Metropolitan DC suburb.
Now for the building in front of you. Built in 1873 for the then-considered expensive price of $2,750, this remains the oldest two-story brick public school house in Fairfax County. It was a byproduct of legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 1870 to improve and reorganize its existing public school system. A brick, two-story addition was built on the front of the original school in 1912, almost doubling in size. It continued to operate as a school until 1925 when the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan bought it to publish and print a newspaper, the Fairfax Independent. A fire damaged the building in 1930 which was repaired by the 1940’s. After the editors declared bankruptcy, the KKK left and it was put back into use as a school again. Fairfax County Schools held the area’s first special education classes inside in the 1950’s after which it became administrative offices followed by a police academy. In 1992, the former school was rehabilitated into the Fairfax Museum and Visitors Center. Now, walk eastbound on Main Street until you are able to see a long driveway leading to a large brick house with columns and chimneys across Main Street.
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Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour
Place 1
Welcome!
Place 2
Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center
Place 3
Farr Homeplace
Place 4
Starbucks
Place 5
Draper House
Place 6
Ratcliffe-Allison-Pozer House
Place 7
Old Town Hall
Place 8
Fairfax Herald and Print Shop
Place 9
Ralston's Store, Nickell's Hardware Store, and Fairfax Hay & Grain
Place 10
Ford Building
Place 11
Moore House
Place 12
Dr. William Gunnell House
Place 13
The Old Fairfax Jail
Place 14
Fairfax County Courthouse and the Marr Memorial
Place 15
Fairfax County Courthouse
Place 16
The Joshua Gunnell House
Place 17
Mission Accomplished!
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Have any questions about this tour? Or a general travel / self-guided tours question? That's completely natural
+ How long does this tour take?
Most travelers complete this tour in approximately 1 to 1 hours, depending on pace, time spent at each stop, and optional detours. Having said that, please remember that self-guided tours are extremly flexible (you can start, pause, continue anytime) and everyone has their own pace.
+ What does this tour include?
This self-guided walking tour includes 17 stops, covering top attractions such as Welcome!, Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center, Farr Homeplace, Starbucks, Draper House.
+ Where does the tour start?
The tour starts at Welcome! (Address: 10209 Main St, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA). You can begin the tour there or join from any stop along the route.
+ What type of tour is this?
This is a self-guided walking tour designed to be completed on foot through walkable areas and city highlights.
+ Can I do this tour at my own pace?
Yes, this is a self-guided walking tour, so you can start anytime and explore at your own pace. You can pause, skip stops, or spend more time at places that interest you. You can even split it into multiple days. Explore however feels right for you.
+ Is this a walkable tour?
Yes, this tour is fully walkable and designed to follow a comfortable route through pedestrian-friendly areas.
+ Do I need anything in order to take the tour?
There is one thing that you need - A mobile phone (with the UCPlaces app installed and active location services, and a cellular data plan with a decent signal for downloading the tour) and comfortable walking shoes! But here are some recommendations for a great experience: 1. Make sure your phone is fully charged and bring a mobile charger/battery. 2. Bring earphones for the best experience. 3. Bring a bottle of water and dress appropriately according to the weather forecast.
+ How will I navigate from point to point during the tour?
The tour uses GPS-based navigation through the UCPlaces app, with automatic audio playback and step-by-step directions between stops. Just follow the route (cross streets carefully using crosswalks) and listen to the audio guide. Use the resume feature to continue the from where you recently stopped (or closed the app). Easily skip or go back to stops.
+ Is this tour suitable for families or groups?
Yes, self-guided tours are ideal for families and small groups, allowing everyone to explore comfortably without being tied to a fixed schedule.
+ What makes a self-guided tour better than a guided tour?
Self-guided tours are more flexible, affordable, and personalized. You can avoid crowds, choose your pace, and focus on the stops that interest you most.
+ I installed the app and it's now asking for GPS and media access permissions, why?
The app is your tour-guide, it needs to know where you are located on the map to be able to trigger the points of interest. It also needs access to audio and media files to provide you with this experience.
+ What happens if there are unexpected roadblocks or navigation issues?
We have been working hard to deliver a great experience. Though you may run into unexpected obstacles (the world is constantly changing), our app has multiple features and mechanisms in place to help you overcome them, including: AI assistance, force play an audio if you can't reach the stop, skip or return to stops, automatic rerouting and more.
+ Can I take the tour in my language?
Though all of our tours are primarily in English, many tours are muyltilingual (including: Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Japanese, Hebrew, French, Arabic and more...). The tour language options depend on the specific tour - You can easily check which languages are available in the tour screen!