It became increasingly clear that the form of government originally prescribed by the Virginia Constitution of 1902 was not meeting the needs of those counties which were gradually becoming more urbanized. In its original form, the 1902 Constitution set up a rigid system of county organization and government, and the General Assembly was powerless to comply with the demands of the leaders of Arlington for an improved system.

Each year, we add new artifacts, photographs, and documents that help tell the many stories of life in Arlington.

In 1774, on the advice of his friend George Mason, Washington decided to purchase two adjacent tracts of land in Arlington County. The area was heavily wooded, primarily hickory and oak. The price was 892 pounds or about $7.00 per acre. As a certified land surveyor, Washington planned to run the lines of the tracts and mark the boundaries more visibly. But fate would have it otherwise.