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.

Department Resources

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Upcoming Events

Jul
12
Science Meets History - Spies
2:00PM, 12, (6-10 yrs.) Get ready for a little deception, secret messaging and…
Jul
19
Mill in Motion
12:00PM, 19, (4-Adult) Explore 200-year-old Colvin Run Mill as we grind grain using the…
Jul
25
Drill like a Soldier
2:00PM, 25, (6-Adult) Our Continental Army, formed in 1775, was created from colonial…
Jul
27
Toddler Take Over
10:00AM, 27, (1-4 yrs.) Get moving with your toddler as we explore the park using our…

Experience Fairfax 250 at the Mill—where history comes to life

This spring, step into history at Colvin Run Mill as part of Fairfax 250.

Watch the mill in motion, try hands-on programs and explore the stories that shaped Fairfax County. From traditional skills to after-hours experiences, discover how the past connects to today.
 

Kids Summer Fun at Colvin Run Mill

Celebrate Fairfax 250 with hands-on family programs at Colvin Run Mill. Make ice cream, play historic games, crack secret codes, explore the science of flight and enjoy toddler-friendly discovery in a historic park setting.

  • Ice Cream and Games at the Mill: June 28 and Aug. 8 | 12:30–1:30 p.m. or 2–3 p.m.
  • Toddler Takeover: June 29, July 27 and Aug. 31 | 10–10:45 a.m.
  • Science Meets History: Spies: July 12 | 2–3:30 p.m.
  • Science Meets History: Flight: Aug. 9 | 2–3:30 p.m.
Register for Kids Summer Fun

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. 

Watch the Simple Machines 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.

Watch the Preservation of the Mill 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

Connect

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

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