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Historical Milestones

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Arlington’s recorded history goes back over four hundred years. Scroll down to learn more about some of the historical milestones that shaped the county.

  • 1608

     

    John Smith

    Captain John Smith travels up the Potomac River to Arlington.
    https://arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/16

  • Thomas, Lord Fairfax

    Thomas, the 6th Lord Fairfax inherits the land of the Northern Neck Proprietary which included Arlington. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/lord-fairfax

     

    1719

  • 1750

     

    Ball-Sellers House

    Farmer John Ball builds the Ball-Sellers House, which is currently the oldest structure in Arlington.
    https://arlhist.org/ball-sellers-house/

  • Residence Act

    Congress approves a 100-square-mile area of land, including portions of present-day Arlington, to be used as the capital of the United States.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Residence_Act

     

    1790

  • 1797

     

    Chain Bridge

    The first bridge to cross the Potomac River in this vicinity was built near Little Falls, as part of a road connecting Georgetown and Virginia farms. After being destroyed twice by floods, it was replaced by a higher suspension bridge, popularly known as the “Chain Bridge.”

  • District of Columbia

    February 27, 1801: Congress formally placed the District of Columbia under the control of the United States Congress through the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801. This act organized the territory into two counties: Washington County to the north and east of the Potomac River, and Alexandria County to the west and south. The existing charters of Georgetown and Alexandria were left in place.

     

    1801

  • 1802

     

    George Washington Parke Custis

    George Washington Parke Custis, step-grandson of President George Washington, names his estate “Arlington.” https://www.nps.gov/arho/learn/historyculture/george-custis.htm

  • Saving the Declaration of Independence

    Anticipating a British attack on Washington during the War of 1812, Secretary of State James Monroe orders the evacuation of the Declaration of Independence and other key documents from the capital city. The documents are temporarily hidden in linen bags, in the grist mill at Pimmit Run.

    Tools Tools

    1814

  • 1831

     

    Robert E. Lee

    Mary Anna Randolph Custis marries Robert E. Lee and they live on the Arlington estate.
    https://www.nps.gov/arho/index.htm

  • Alexandria County Retrocession

    Alexandria County (Arlington) is retroceded to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
    https://www.alexandriava.gov/sites/default/files/2023-12/AAHT-3-Retrocession.pdf

     

    1847

  • 1861

     

    Virginia Secession Convention

    Virginia holds a vote on secession from the Union. Despite this, Arlington remains under Union control for most of the Civil War. https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/virginia-convention-of-1861/

  • Arlington National Cemetery

    Arlington National Cemetery is created on the former location of Lee’s Arlington estate. The cemetery is the final resting place for hundreds of thousands of veterans and fallen military from every war that the United States fought. https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/History-of-Arlington-National-Cemetery

     

    1864

  • 1870

     

    Alexandria Separated

    The City of Alexandria is separated from Alexandria County.

  • Crandall Mackey

    Screenshot

    Commonwealth’s Attorney Crandall Mackey leads a series of raids to “clean up” Rosslyn and rid the area of its illegal speakeasies, gambling halls, and brothels.

     

    1904

  • 1918

     

    Spanish Flu

    The Spanish Flu pandemic hits Arlington. Due to a lack of sanitation, the disease became the worst pandemic in American history. https://arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/192

  • Alexandria County Renamed

    Alexandria County is officially renamed Arlington County.
    https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Topics/Welcome-Kit/History-of-Arlington

     

    1920

  • 1920

     

    Dr. Charles Drew

    African-American physician Charles Drew and his family moved to 2505 First St. South in Arlington. His pioneering research in the field of blood transfusions eventually led to the creation of the American Red Cross Blood Bank.

  • Washington-Lee High School

     Washington-Lee High School opens with roughly 600 students. Today, it is known as Washington-Liberty, and its student population exceeds 2,200.

     

    1925

  • 1933

     

    Arlington Hospital

    Five women’s clubs launch the community service project that will grow to become Arlington Hospital (now Virginia Hospital Center). A 100-bed facility is completed 11 years later.

  • Colonial Village

    Construction begins on Colonial Village, one of the nation’s first garden-apartment complexes and the first large-scale rental project approved by the Federal Housing Administration for mortgage insurance.

     

    1935

  • 1943

     

    The Pentagon

    The Pentagon, the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, is completed.
    https://arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/68

  • Parkington Shopping Center

    A woman poses for a photo with a car in front of Hecht’s in Parkington.

    Builders break ground on the Parkington Shopping Center (now Ballston Common Mall). Anchored by a Hecht Co., the retail center stands as the first mall in the nation to boast an attached parking garage.

     

    1950

  • 1956

     

    AHS Founded

    The Arlington Historical Society is founded. The organization mounted a successful campaign to save the Hume School and use it for a local museum.

  • Stratford Junior High School De-Segregation

    Stratford Junior High becomes the first school in Arlington County to integrate its student body.

     

    1959

  • 1960

     

    Drug Store Sit-ins

    African-American student Dion Diamond is confronted during a sit-in at the Cherrydale Drug Fair.

  • Judith Brewers

    Judith Brewer (nee Livers) becomes the first female battalion chief for Clarendon Station #4.
    https://arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/152

     

    1974

  • 1975

     

    Little Saigon

    Vietnamese immigrants open grocery stores and restaurants in Clarendon, earning it the nickname “Little Saigon.”

  • WMATA Metro

    WMATA opens the Metro system with multiple stops in Arlington despite protests from locals over the construction of I-66. https://arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/238

     

    1976

  • 1981

     

    Marine Marathon

    The first Marine Corps Marathon kicks off at the Iwo Jima Memorial.

  • Air Florida Flight 90 Crash

    Air Florida Flight 90 crashes into the 14th Street Bridge. Icy conditions and inexperience were among the factors that resulted in the tragic accident. Out of the seventy-four passengers and five crew members on board, only four passengers and one crew member survived.
    https://arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/164

     

    1983

  • 1997

     

    Jay Fisette

    Jay Fisette wins a seat on the Arlington County Board becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to office in Virginia. https://arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/158

  • 9/11 attacks

    A plane crashes into the side of the Pentagon during the terrorist attacks on 9/11. https://arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/108

     

    2001

  • 2002

     

    Shooting Rampage

    Snipers John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo terrorize the D.C. area in a shooting rampage that leaves 10 people dead and three critically injured. Arlington resident Linda Franklin, an FBI analyst, is among the victims.

  • Arlington Population Reaches 200,000

    Arlington County’s population hits 200,000.

     

    2005

  • 2006

     

    MedStar Capitals Iceplex

    Keller Capitals Iceplex, now MedStar Capitals Iceplex, opens in Ballston. It is the only Washington professional sports team facility in Arlington as well as the highest ice rink above street level in the United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MedStar_Capitals

  • First Latina School Board Member

    Winning election to the School Board in 2008 made Dr. Violand-Sánchez the first Latina to serve in local elected office in Arlington.  https://arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/207

     

    2008

  • 2010

     

    Snowmageddon

    The blizzard known as “Snowmageddon” blankets Arlington County in nearly 18 inches of snow. Virginia Hospital Center sees a 10 percent increase in its birth rate nine months later.

  • Amazon Headquarters

    Amazon opens its second headquarters in Crystal City.

     

    2023

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Arlington Historical Society
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Arlington, Virginia 22210-3402

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