Public invited to walking tour of Woodlawn Historic District this Saturday

The Pope-Leighey House, located on the grounds of Woodlawn.

The southern end of the Route 1 corridor is loaded with history, and this weekend you can explore it on a guided walking tour of the Woodlawn Historic District.

Mount Vernon Supervisor Dan Storck, local historians and trail planners will host the tour, which starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Woodlawn estate. From there you’ll see the Arcadia Farm and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House, and then cross Route 1 for a free tour of George Washington’s Distillery and Gristmill. 

Optional afternoon tours of Woodlawn, the Pope-Leighey House and Mount Vernon will also be available for those who register ahead of time (limited number available). You can register here. 

Organizers of the event are looking to promote awareness of the connections between natural areas, historic landmarks, and routes for longer cycling, hiking or paddling opportunities along the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. Organizers include the National Park Service-Potomac Heritage Trail, Northern Virginia Regional Commission, Supervisor Dan Storck, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Mount Vernon Ladies Association, Mount Vernon Lee Chamber of Commerce, and Visit Fairfax.

Itinerary:

9:45 a.m.: Assemble at Woodlawn parking lot at 9000 Richmond Highway (see map). Parking is free.
10 a.m.: Opening remarks from Supervisor Dan Storck and begin outside tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey
House
10:30 a.m.: Tour outside of the Woodlawn Mansion
10:45 a.m.: Walk from Woodlawn Mansion to Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture
11 a.m.:  Return down the paved trail and cross Route 1 for free tour of George Washington’s Distillery and Gristmill