History & Culture

Experience the rich history and culture of Washington, D.C. and Loudon County

Lansdowne Resort welcomes history buffs to explore Virginia's rich heritage. Minutes from the Resort, you can trace the footsteps of Civil War soldiers, or stroll tree-lined streets where Southern charm has never gone out of style. For information about activities and area attractions, please call our concierge at 703-729-8400 or click here to email us.

Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum Steve F. Udvar-Hazy Center

14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway Chantilly, Virginia 20151

The Udvar-Hazy Center is the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum companion center near Dulles International Airport. The 760,000-square-foot hangar facility has 125 aircraft and 130 major spacecraft on display now, and will eventually display over 200 aircraft and 160 spacecraft. The museum also features an observation tower from which visitors can watch air traffic at Dulles Airport, a large-format IMAX theater, flight simulators, and a museum store.

Learn more about the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center >

Oatlands Historic House & Gardens

20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane Leesburg, VA 20175

Oatlands, a National Trust site, encompasses 360 acres in scenic easements and features a Greek Revival mansion, circa 1804, rare 19th century brick dependencies including America's oldest restored propagation greenhouse, circa 1810, and a magnificent four acre English terraced garden. Oatlands offers guided tours of the mansion, grounds, and gardens. Oatlands also offers two gift shops featuring unique gift and gardening items.

Learn more about the Oatlands Historic House & Gardens at oatlands.org

Ball's Bluff Battlefield Regional Park

Balls Bluff Road, NE Leesburg, VA 20175

Surrounding the Ball's Bluff National Cemetery, this regional park preserves the site of the Battle of Ball's Bluff, the earliest Civil War engagement to take place in Loudoun County. Hiking trails and interpretive signs aid in understanding this important and tragic part of American history.

Learn more about Ball's Bluff Battlefield Regional Park>

Dodona Manor

Leesburg, VA

Visit the historic home of General George C. Marshall, one of America's greatest statesmen, famous as the organizer of the Allied Victory in World War Two and architect of the European Recover Program (the Marshall Plan) for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Learn more about Dodona Manor at georgecmarshall.org>

Aldie Mill Historic Park

39401 John Mosby Hwy Aldie, VA 20105

The restored Aldie Mill, an imposing four-story brick structure with tandem metal waterwheels, offers a glimpse of rural Southern life when the Mill was a vital center of the community. Gristmills once dotted the landscape of Virginia and rural America, but most of them have now vanished or stand abandoned as silent witnesses of the past. At Aldie Mill the unique heritage of water-powered gristmills is remembered and preserved.

Learn more about the Aldie Mill Historic Park >