The Story
Falls Church is located 10 miles from Washington DC. Let's go into its rich history!
Native Peoples and Their Land
For thousands of years, native peoples lived in the Falls Church vicinity including a tribe called the Dogue. They were aligned with the Powhatan Confederacy. Their chief was Pocahontas' father.
European Colonists
In 1699, the first known European structure was built in the area. It was a log cabin called "Big Chimneys".
Africans In Virginia
Free men, women of color, and African slaves were part of the Village of Falls Church as early as the mid-1700s.
The Falls Church and Community
Most Virginia colonists were members of the Church of England. In 1724, the first church in the area was established, followed in 1734 by a second church near the Potomac River Falls, soon known as “The Falls Church.” George Mason and George Washington were named to the vestry. The church was the center of local life and served as a Revolutionary War recruiting station. In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read from its steps.
