Long before Columbia Pike was paved for automobiles, the land was crossed by trails made by large game and later used by Native peoples. These routes followed the high ground, giving travelers a wide view of the landscape and a measure of safety.

As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain, we reflect upon the stories and places that have shaped its history. Arlington, a community with deep roots in the American narrative, has witnessed some significant moments that contributed to the story of our nation.

When the Virginia Convention met in July 1775, just months after the Revolutionary War started at Lexington and Concord, its first action was to pass a law to raise a defensive force. The new law called for creating a militia, made up of ordinary citizen-soldiers along with regular Continental troops.