Old Town Hall was built in 1900 by Joseph E. Willard | Photo by Ajay Suresh
For us? You shouldn’t have. We believe living in Northern Virginia is the greatest gift of all, but our city has also received some wonderful donations. From parks to sculptures and more, check out these four gifts given to the city.
Fairfax
Old Town Hall | In 1900, Joseph E. Willard gifted the newly built Old Town Hall to the citizens of Fairfax. This landmark now houses the Huddleson Library and Fairfax Art League.
Alexandria
The Torpedo Factory | Originally a munitions factory during WWII, this art center is itself a gift of adaptive reuse.
In case you were wondering, a carillon is a set of bells in a tower.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Arlington
Netherlands Carillon | Okay, this gift wasn’t for Arlington specifically — but we’re keeping it safe for the entire nation. In 1954, the Netherlands gifted a 49-bell carillon to the US in gratitude for American aid during WWII.
It’s not too late to get into the holiday spirit with events around Northern Virginia. Tap the button below for a little bit of everything coming up locally.
Prep for post-holiday cleanup chaos with our go-to organization hacks:
🎁 Tuck leftover wrapping paper into this storage container with handy pockets for ribbons + bows.
🌲 Keep ornaments protected in a durable storage box with drawers that hold up 128 pieces.
🎀 Organize holiday decor in these best-selling containers that are transparent so you can easily see what’s inside.
🚪 Prevent your wreath from getting crushed with a specially designed storage bag that keeps its shape intact.
💡 Say goodbye to tangled wires — this storage solution features three spools for easy holiday light organization.
Speaking of big gifts, one Christmas, my grandma gave me a weather balloon with a whopping 30-ft circumference. I couldn’t tell you why — the only air I dreamed of back then was Air Jordan — but sometimes you just have to nod and say “Wow, thanks so much, Grammy.”
Somehow, this gift didn’t make the return flight from Columbus, Ohio to Boston. Ask my mom about that.
}})
}})
