Falls Church – Discover History, Culture and Trails

Falls Church brings together historic architecture, civil rights history and cultural diversity. Notable places include a house museum, historic churches and parklands, a cultural center, and trails for walking, skating or cycling. The Farmers Market is also part of the city’s character. If you’re looking for a hotel in Falls Church, these different highlights can help you tailor your stay to the places and activities that interest you most.

Historic Buildings and Their Stories

Cherry Hill Farmhouse is a Greek Revival-style house with a barn dating from the mid-19th century. In 1973, it was added to both the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. It opened as a historic house museum in 1976. Access is by guided tour only, so keep that in mind when planning your visit.

The present brick building of The Falls Church dates to 1769 and was designed by James Wren. The Declaration of Independence was read from its steps in 1776; at the start of the American Revolutionary War, the church served as a recruiting station for the Fairfax militia. The churchyard also tells the story of the area: for most of the 18th and 19th centuries, it was the only large burial ground in the village of Falls Church. The Falls Church offers a tour of the churchyard and Memorial Garden, including its gravesites.

A restoration in the late 1990s turned The State Theatre into a venue for live music and private events. This historical perspective complements the older buildings with an example of how a place’s use can change over time.

Civil Rights History and Memorial Sites

Tinner Hill Historic Park features historic markers and the Zig Zag Monument, which follows the original route of segregation in Falls Church. Tinner Hill is considered the site where the first rural branch of the National Association for the Protection of Colored People (NAACP) in the United States was founded. The park also has a covered pavilion available for small group gatherings.

The mural Hope for Tomorrow also recalls local history: its subject is a blacksmith shop with a story dating to the period before the American Civil War in Falls Church. The mural was created through a partnership between the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation and The Falls Church. While the park recalls civil rights history, the mural’s blacksmith shop depicts another local story.

Big Chimneys Park highlights its historical significance with interpretive signage. It recalls a structure believed to have been the first permanent building in what is now the City of Falls Church, associated with the year 1699. This cautious interpretation is part of the site’s story: the structure is considered a possible first permanent building, not a confirmed attribution.

Cultural Diversity and Market Life

Eden Center is home to more than 120 family-owned restaurants, shops, supermarkets, jewelry stores and travel agencies catering to the Asian American community. The number of businesses and their offerings may change. The center’s clock tower is an exact replica of downtown Saigon. The Lion Arch honors Vietnamese and Chinese cultures, reflected in the center’s businesses and customers. Eden Center also hosts an annual Tet Festival. If you’d like to plan your visit around it, check the festival dates.

The City of Falls Church Farmers Market takes place year-round every Saturday in the City Hall parking lot. More than 50 vendors offer seasonal fruit and vegetables, meat, cheese, baked goods and specialty products; the number of vendors and the selection may change. Once a month, a Chef Series adds recipes and tastings featuring market products to the program. Market hours and program dates may vary seasonally, so check them before planning a visit around the market.

Trails and Themed Tours

The W&OD Trail runs east to west through the northern part of Falls Church and crosses several city streets. It is open to walkers, skaters and cyclists. This offers a different way to explore than the themed routes: the trail focuses on getting around, while two interactive options explore specific historical themes.

An interactive map is available for the Civil War Trail in Falls Church. The Victorian Walking Tour provides an interactive route through 19th-century architecture. If you’re interested in architecture, the Victorian tour is a good fit; the Civil War Trail map, by contrast, focuses on the history of the American Civil War. The two options therefore highlight different aspects of history, so there’s no need to confuse them.

For the broader travel overview: Falls Church.