For the better part of a century, the grounds of Lorton Prison, one of the most beautiful parcels of land in Fairfax County, was restricted and, to an extent, hidden from public view. The prison facility closed in 2001 and the following year it was part of a 2,440-acre land purchase by Fairfax County from the federal government. Pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the federal government entered into a legally binding Memorandum of Agreement with Fairfax County and other interested parties to preserve the historically significant buildings and structures on the Campus in a manner that favors adaptive reuse. Today, the property is referred to as "Laurel Hill," in commemoration of the 18th century structure on the site, which served as the home of revolutionary war patriot William Lindsay.
