Park Authority

CONTACT INFORMATION: Open during regular business hours 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
703-324-8700 TTY 711
12055 Government Center Pkwy.
Fairfax, Virginia 22035
Jai Cole
Executive Director

Colvin Run Mill Historic Site

Take a Turn at the Mill

Explore beautifully wooded and landscaped grounds around historic Colvin Run Mill and General Store.
Picnic, shop, hike, attend special programs and tour the 200-year-old working mill.

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Upcoming Events

Jul
26
Science Meets History - Bubbles!
10:00AM, 26, (6-10 yrs.) Bubbles are a great way to explore science and history. Come to…
Jul
28
Toddler Take Over
10:00AM, 28, (1-4 yrs.) Get moving with your toddler as we explore the park using our…
Aug
03
Mill in Motion
12:00PM, 03, (4-Adult) Explore Colvin Run Mill to see how it operated in 1811. Hear and…
Aug
09
Ice Cream and Games at the Mill
12:30PM, 09, (3-Adult) Enjoy a summer afternoon like the miller's family did in the…
Aug
10
Science Meets History - Spies
1:00PM, 10, (6-10 years) Get ready for a little deception, secret messaging and…
Aug
16
Movie at the Mill - White Rabbit Tea Party
2:00PM, 16, (3-Adult) Bring your child to the mill and celebrate summer with this white…

Cider Making - Press Your Own Cider

(All Ages) Colvin Run Mill, Various times and weekends in October 

  • Use a traditional cider press 
  • Bring approximately 100 apples and sealed containers 
  • Press and carry your own cider (about 2 gallons) 
  • Dress for mess—this is hands-on fun! 
  • Weekday time slots available, call 703-759-2771 for availability 
Schedule Your Time Today! 

Historic Crafts and Trades

Colvin Run Mill, Sunday, October 19, Noon-3 p.m., $10 

  • Watch live demos of 1800s-era crafts 
  • See basket weaving, wood carving, spinning, dyeing, broom making and more 
  • Check out cider making and distilling demos 
  • Tour the historic water-powered mill in action 
  • Visit the general store and miller’s house exhibit 
Discover Hands-On History

Colvin Run Mill is Fairfax County's award-winning, operational, 19th-century water-powered gristmill. The site offers recreational and educational activities for all ages through tours, school programs and special events. Admission to the park is FREE. There are fees for tours, programs and special events.

Colvin Run Mill Grounds are open daily dawn to dusk. You may walk the grounds and see the historic Mill and buildings from the outside.

The Mill is open on weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. To see inside the mill, you must purchase a mill tour or a Mill in Motion ticket. Advance ticket purchase is recommended.
Purchase a ticket or learn more.

The Colvin Run Mill General Store and Historic Miller's House are open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. All grain can now be purchased in the store during those hours. For more information, visit our Colvin Run Mill General Store webpage. The historic house features a free self-guided exhibit.

 


Field Trips

Instructor teaches children about grains around the world.

Scouting

Girl Scout sewing during a scout program

Volunteer

Volunteer sitting at a desk

Programs and Activities

Facilities

Connect

Colvin Run Mill Site History

Colvin Run Mill's Site History web page can be used as a guided walking tour of the park.
Colvin Run Mill's History

Colvin Run Mill, The Smithsonian, and STEM

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum teamed with Colvin Run Mill to create a video about simple machines for the Smithsonian's STEM in 30 project. Simple machines can be found almost anywhere. Let the video take you behind the scenes at both museums, and visit people who work with simple machines every day. 

Video

Colvin Run Mill and National Historic Preservation

Colvin Run Mill is one of the few preserved industrial sites from the 1800s. It is on the National Register of Historic Places, part of a program to support identification, evaluation, and protection of America's historic and cultural resources.

Video

Programs / Activities

Classes and Camps
Events in the Park
Field Trips
Historic Programs and Teas
On Your Own
Schedule Your Own
Scouts
Tours

Facilities

Colvin Run Mill HOME
Colvin Run Mill History
General Store/Recipes
Trails

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Hours and Fees
Contact Us
Park Location
Recipes
Friends of Colvin Run Mill
Heritage Blogs
Park Authority Publications
ResOURces Newsletter
Volunteer
Ask a Historian
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Fairfax Virtual Assistant

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