Celebrate Historic Preservation Month in Prince William County

(Williams-Dawe House, oldest building in Brentsville, pictured above)

May is Historic Preservation Month! Did you know that the Prince William County Office of Historic Preservation was created in 2005 to maintain and operate the County’s historic sites? Historic Preservation serves as the stewards of Prince William County’s 15 historic structures and over 550 acres of culturally and naturally significant landscapes, as well as countless artifacts. Our goal is to bring history to life and to light through interpretation, research, oral histories, special events, lectures, exhibits and more.

There are many ways you can celebrate Historic Preservation Month with us. 

You can:

* Visit one of your local historic sites this month for a tour or special program.

* Volunteer at one of our historic sites.

* Join the Historic Preservation Foundation to help support special projects, sit with us for an oral history.

* Donate your Prince William County artifact to our collections. Your efforts today will help us preserve Prince William County’s history for future generations. See contact information here.

During May, we also have the following events:

Williams-Dawe House Hardhat Tours – Saturday, May 11

Join us on Saturday, May 11, for a hard hat tour of the Williams-Dawe House, the oldest residential structure preserved in the town of Brentsville that was home to many Prince William County Clerks. Come explore the history of the building and the people that lived there. Also learn the modern story of the building’s ongoing restoration work. This is a rare opportunity to see preservation in action! Space is limited, and advance tickets are recommended. Tours are available starting at 11 am, 1 pm and 3pm. For ages 13+. Advance tickets are suggested. Purchase tickets here.

Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park Tours – Starting May 11 through October

Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park staff and volunteers will provide guided FREE tours all summer long, and into October, of this hallowed ground that contains camps, cemeteries and battlefields. Learn about Camp Jones and the battles that took place in 1862 and 1863. Tours begin at 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm and depart from the parking lot on Iron Brigade Unit Avenue. Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Insect repellent is encouraged. For ages 5+. No pets allowed. For all dates, click here.

Walking Tours of Historic Prince William Towns: Dumfries – Friday, May 17

Join local historians once a month this summer for a special walking tour of historic towns in Prince William County. For May, visit two of historic Dumfries’ cemeteries for a walking tour: Dumfries Public Cemetery and Dumfries Slave and African American Cemetery, and learn about county history through the stories of the people buried there. Tours are FREE and take place from 7-8 pm. All ages welcome. Tour will meet in front of Dumfries Elementary School located at 3990 Cameron St., Dumfries, VA 22026. Call 703-792-1731 for more information.

For more Historic Preservation events and programs, click here to view the full event calendar.