Marker Logo
THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Fairfax in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
REMOVED
SEE LOCATION SECTION
 

Monument to John Q. Marr

 
 
Marr Monument Inscription image. Click for full size.
Photographed by J. J. Prats, October 14, 2006
1. Marr Monument Inscription
Inscription. This stone marks the scene of the opening conflict of the war of 1861–1865, when John Q. Marr, Captain of the Warrenton Rifles, who was the first soldier killed in action, fell 800 ft. S. 46 W. Mag. of this spot, June 1st, 1861.
 
Erected 1904 by Marr Camp, CW.
 
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is June 1, 1861.
 
Location. Memorial has been permanently removed. It was located near 38° 50.771′ N, 77° 18.412′ W. Memorial was in Fairfax, Virginia, in Fairfax County. It was at the intersection of Main Street (Virginia Route 236) and Chain Bridge Road ( Route 123), on the left when traveling west on Main Street. It is in front of the old Fairfax County Courthouse. Touch for map. Memorial was at or near this postal address: 4010 Chain Bridge Rd, Fairfax VA 22030, United States of America.

We have been informed that this memorial is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Paid Advertisement
Click or scan to see
this page online


Regionally, this memorial was in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It was also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Fairfax Court House (a few steps from this marker); Fairfax County Memorial To Those Who Died In Service To Our Country (a few steps from this marker); World War II and Korean Conflict Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Vietnam War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Revolutionary War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); World War I Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairfax.
 
Another marker is no longer nearby. Fairfax County Courthouse (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
 
More about this memorial. This marker was on the grounds of the old Fairfax County Courthouse, which is legally an exclave of Fairfax County, completely surrounded by the (independent) City of Fairfax.
 
Also see . . .
1. Skirmish at Fairfax Court House, June 1, 1861
The Marr Monument image. Click for full size.
Photographed by J. J. Prats, October 14, 2006
2. The Marr Monument
. (Submitted on October 15, 2006.)
2. John Quincy Marr. Wikipedia (Submitted on June 28, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.) 
 
Additional commentary.
1. Monument removed.
This John Quincy Marr monument was removed on Nov. 5th and will be transferred to the Stuart Mosby Historical Society.
Source: Article about removal of monument.
    — Submitted November 7, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.

2. About the location of the monument
This monument and other monuments, memorials and markers on the grounds of the courthouse have the distinction of being in a legal enclave of Fairfax County within the independent City of Fairfax. The City of Fairfax, while not part of surrounding Fairfax County, serves as the county's seat.
    — Submitted January 9, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
 
Monument and the Old Fairfax County Courthouse image. Click for full size.
Photographed by J. J. Prats, October 14, 2006
3. Monument and the Old Fairfax County Courthouse
12 Pounder Boat Howitzer image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 31, 2014
4. 12 Pounder Boat Howitzer
beside the John Quincy Marr Monument
John Q. Marr image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Wikipedia
5. John Q. Marr
12 Pounder Boat Howitzer image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 31, 2014
6. 12 Pounder Boat Howitzer
One of two north facing Naval cannons
12 pounder Boat Howitzer, 1856, J.A.D. image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 31, 2014
7. 12 pounder Boat Howitzer, 1856, J.A.D.
Missing Cannonballs image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 31, 2014
8. Missing Cannonballs
"The cannon balls were removed for safety reasons after even welding them together didn't deter local students from rolling them down Main Street late at night." -- Stephen Wolfsberger
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on January 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 15, 2006, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 9,125 times since then and 94 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3. submitted on October 15, 2006, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.   4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on June 28, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.
m=620

CeraNet Cloud Computing sponsors the Historical Marker Database.
This website earns income from purchases you make after using our links to Amazon.com. We appreciate your support.
Paid Advertisement
Jun. 20, 2026