When Temple Hall Farm was established in 1812, the house and farm buildings of the time were likely built with Black enslaved workers. Enslaved workers were held in bondage there for the next 50 years to provide free labor for the property owners.

In 1900, the Virginia state legislature passed a law that required separation of races in public spaces. This included schools, restaurants, hotels, and public transportation—which at that time was primarily the use of trains. This was nicknamed the “Jim Crow” law and sought to perpetuate discrimination against people of color. Many other states, mostly Southern, passed similar laws.

Piscataway Crossing Regional Park is named for a Native American tribe which once lived in the area and thrived from the abundance of the Potomac River.

The Piscataway were one of the tribes encountered by Captain John Smith during his early explorations of the Potomac River. At that time their capital town was in Maryland, across the Potomac River from where Mount Vernon would later be built, and next to Piscataway Creek.

Native Americans occupied the region as early as 10,000 years ago and archeological studies of Piscataway Crossing Regional Park have found evidence of human existence on the land there as early as 8,500 years ago. The land which is now Piscataway Regional Park was likely occupied by Monacan and Algonquian people at different times in history.

This burial ground of enslaved people is tangible evidence of the system of slavery which existed in Virginia until the end of the Civil War when the 13th Amendment to the Constitution banned the practice. These individuals were held in bondage and forced to work the farm which became Bull Run Marina.

ATTENTION: Spring 2025 Girl Scout program dates are currently FULL. We are now taking reservations for Sunday programs for the Fall of 2025. Please email rdoody@nvrpa.org for more information.

NOVA Parks offers a variety of programs designed to help your girl scout achieve a wide range of badges for daisies all the way up to cadets! Badge programs are currently available at three different locations, with more being added all the time! 

For more information and to book your program, contact us at potomac@nvrpa.org or 703-528-5406.

NOVA Parks offers a variety of programs designed to help your girl scout achieve a wide range of badges for daisies all the way up to cadets! Badge programs are currently available at three different locations, with more being added all the time! 

Mt. Zion Historic Church, in conjunction with Aldie Mill Historic Park, offers educational programs for a variety of grade levels that meet Virginia Standards of Learning. 

Aldie Mill's School Programs offer educational programs that meet Virginia Standards of Learning while engaging students of all grade levels.

Tour the grounds of Mt. Defiance on a walking path that explores the property and provides several historic markers detailing the events here.