(6-Adult) Explore the Past Through Archeology at Sully Historic Site. Delve into the rich history of Sully Historic Site through the fascinating lens of archeology. Participants will discover how the artifacts left behind by past residents reveal the stories of their lives and this place. Using hands-on activities, visitors will explore archaeology tools, techniques and procedures. Join us to uncover the layers of history and connect with the past. This program links to the VA250 and the Fairfax250 commemoration.

(12-Adult) Discover how people of the past patched, stitched and darned to mend worn clothing. See and touch examples of mending techniques. Learn how to thread a needle, make basic stitches and sew on a patch to extend the life of your own garments. Materials will be provided.

(12-Adult) Join award-winning author P. O’Connell Pearson for an engaging exploration of her acclaimed book Fighting for the Forest: How FDR's Civilian Conservation Corps Helped Save America. Discover the true stories of the young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) who helped restore America’s landscapes into National Parks during the Great Depression. Then bring it to life by designing erosion-control structures in groups to explore the real-world impact of these young environmental pioneers. Wrap up the program by planting a tree together, honoring the legacy of the CCC and making a lasting contribution to the future of Fairfax County forests. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration.

(6-12 yrs.) Did you know that Huntley Meadows Park was once part of George Mason's holdings? Discover this forgotten Founding Father as you make your own candle, design your own stencil to mark crops, write with a quill pen and decide the future of the Virginia colony.

(16-Adult) In this program, learn the basics of using plants from the garden to make oils, tinctures and vinegars. Learn how different infusions extract different properties from the plants and how plants have been used in traditional medicines for healing and strengthening the immune system. Participants will go home with one tincture, one vinegar and one oil.

(Adults) Modern medical and scientific knowledge is often used to investigate ailments and causes of death of historical figures and ordinary people. Hear what we do and don’t know about the long-ago demises of past residents of Historic Green Spring as we consider the practice of retrospective diagnosis. Discover potential pitfalls in attempting to diagnose “historical patients.”

(8-Adult) Farming is the backbone of America, and farm animals have changed over time with breeding. Learn more about historic animal breeds that have lived in America and then meet and interact with some of their modern descendants. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration.

(14-Adult) African Americans' labor, experience, and knowledge were crucial to 19th-century grist milling. Explore a historic mill as you discuss the contributions of African American millers in Fairfax County. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax 250 commemoration.

(8-Adult) Discover the bounty of edible plants in your backyard. Join us to hunt edible plants and explore how the people of Sully used wild plants for food and medicine.

(8-Adult) Unearth the secrets of crafting clay pots and make a pot to take home. Discover the traditional methods of making paints and pigments from natural materials, connecting with our ancestors' resourcefulness.  

(12-Adult) Take a brief outdoor stroll around the 1784 Historic House to learn about its architecture and historic designed landscape. Step inside the house to learn about residents of Green Spring past. Enjoy compelling stories of public service, trailblazing women, espionage, civil rights, enslavement and freedom. Hear what we know about enslaved people who lived and worked on Green Spring Farm, and ongoing research to discover more.

(6-10 yrs.) Help us in the kitchen garden and practice your seasonal cooking skills.

(All Ages) Make and enjoy hand-cranked ice cream as Huntley's Harris family may have done. Discover how the histories of ice cream and Huntley follow a similar path from elite luxury to family fare. Ice well and Historic Huntley House tour included.

(16-Adult) Celebrate Saint Patrick's Day with a lovely cup of Irish tea accompanied by a sampling of Irish treats and savories. Includes a tour of Historic Huntley.

(Adults) Enjoy an afternoon tea circa 1830 much as Betsey Mason would have with the gleam of polished silver and proper tea etiquette. Sample a menu of tasty treats appropriate to the period in an historic setting as you brush up on your tea history. Includes a tour of Historic Huntley.

(4-Adult) Explore 200-year-old Colvin Run Mill as we grind grain using the power of the waterwheel. Hear and smell the grindstones at work. Learn how automated gristmills revolutionized flour production. Visit the 19th century Miller's House and stop by Colvin Run General Store to purchase our ground grain. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration.

(3-Adult) Watch a family-friendly screening of Alice in Wonderland (1951). Explore the historic house and gardens before or after the film. Refreshments and concessions will be available for purchase.

(10-Adult) Watch an outdoor screening of Sense of Sensibility (1995) at the 19th century gristmill. Bring your own blanket or low lawn chair. Refreshments and concessions will be available for purchase. The Miller's House Exhibit will be open for self-guided tours at 7:30pm and will close at the start of the film. The film will start at sunset (8:30pm).

(8-Adult) Listen to stories of African Americans who were forced to live and work on this farm. Reflect on individuals’ stories of resistance and survival. Learn how enslaved communities and freedom seekers have forged a path of resiliency throughout American history.

(12-Adult) Learn about the lives and legacy of the people enslaved at Sully Historic Site from the 1700s to the Civil War. This tour includes a walk into the original outbuildings, main house and representative housing for the enslaved. Sully is on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The tour is held weather permitting. This program links to the VA250 and the Fairfax250 commemoration.

Join historians, scholars, educators, and community members for a full day of exploration and discovery focused on Fairfax’s role in the American Revolution. As Fairfax marks #Fairfax250, this conference examines the causes, conflict and consequences of the Revolution—and how the county shaped, and was shaped by, this pivotal moment in history. Through engaging presentations, panels led by George Mason University faculty and students, and interactive afternoon activities for all ages, participants will explore stories of both famous figures and everyday people whose ideas and actions helped change the course of history. The program also features hands-on archaeology activities, genealogy sessions, digital research tools, student research exhibits and opportunities to connect with local history organizations. This free conference is presented as part of the Virginia American Revolution 250th Commemoration (VA250).

(4-Adult) Explore Colvin Run Mill as you learn about the milling process from beginning to end. Learn hands-on how we clean, mill and sift grains using antique equipment. All participants get to take home a souvenir sample bag of what is milled during class. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration.

(6-Adult) Eat and drink your way through historical milestones from the last 250 years. Changing tastes and ingredients make our history full of flavor and delight. Taste history at this program and take some recipes home to try for yourself. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration.

(Adults) Take a stroll with us on the less-visited side of the park to uncover the history of spies, espionage and how the Cold War struggle between the US and the USSR shaped Huntley and the Fairfax County we know today. Meets at South King Highway entrance includes a 2.4 mile walk over flat terrain.

(Adults) From the Revolutionary War to the mid-twentieth century, some former residents of Green Spring had connections to England that reflected the changing relations between America and its former adversary. Since declaring independence from the tyranny of British rule 250 years ago, the two nations have formed an enduring alliance. Consider the history of the “Special Relationship” between the U.S. and the U.K. and the rocky road towards our close ties and cultural affinities today. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration.

(21 yrs.+) Follow whiskey's journey from grain to glass. Explore the 19th century gristmill cracking the needed wheat, learn about the distilling process and taste local spirits. The historic relationship between mills and distilleries was as important then, as it is today. Snacks will be provided. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration.

(3-Adult) Bring your child to the mill and celebrate Spring. We’ll have tea, savory and sweet treats and play 19th century games. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(7-Adult) Explore the lives of the men and women during the Revolutionary War who passed along secrets and information and the technology they used in dangerous times. Try your hand at a little spy craft to take home.

(8-Adult) In celebration of the Fairfax County 250th anniversary commission participants will hike on the Potomac Heritage Trail and engage in activities such as archery and exploration to learn about the cultural history of Riverbend Park. Participants will be able to tie connections between past and present-day events at the park. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration.

(16-Adult) Tea was a social custom enjoyed by past residents of Green Spring from the early 1800s to the mid-20th century. Learn how and when they drank tea and sample the tea types they enjoyed as we guide you through a tasting of all four tea groups – black, oolong, green and white. Hear about the teas’ origins, cultures, health benefits and brewing methods and enjoy accompanying ethnic finger foods. This workshop will inform and entertain tea aficionados and novice tea-drinkers alike.

(6-Adult) Discover more about the turbulent history and importance of Sully and Fairfax County during the Civil War. Tour the historic site and learn about the different figures who experienced the war at Sully. Hear about Maria Barlow, who encountered and dealt with troops on both sides. Gain a better understanding of the effects the war had on Fairfax County and why it matters today. This program links to the VA250 and the Fairfax250 commemoration.

(Adults) Learn how trees pinpointed a construction date for Green Spring’s 1784 Historic House through the fascinating science of dendrochronology. Hear all about the exciting process that solved a long-standing mystery and revealed more about Green Spring’s history. Discover that tree-ring dating has been used to date many things, from a Stradivarius violin to a portrait of Mary Queen of Scots, and that it can interpret long-ago environmental events and help to predict future trends.

(Adults) Historic Huntley sits high upon a hill overlooking Hybla Valley and Huntley Meadows Park that is even more dramatic and stunning by the setting sun. Join us after hours for a special tour and see the house in a different light. Light refreshments served afterward. Dress appropriately for the weather.

(12-Adult) From the Brown family in the 1740s until Ellanor C. Lawrence in the 1970s, women have defined the Park's cultural and natural history. Hike around Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, learning about the women whose lives and work helped shape our land. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(6-Adult) Explore the work 19th century women did at home and in their community as you try some of the tasks from the 1800s, including cooking, sewing and mending, running a business and managing a household. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.