Great Falls in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Old Road To The West

Photographed by Craig Swain, July 20, 2007

1. Old Road To The West Marker

Inscription. Colvin Run Road is a remnant of an 18th-century wagon road from the Shenandoah Valley to Alexandria that probably originated as an Indian path. George Washington passed by here in 1753 and 1754 en route to persuade the French on the Ohio River to withdraw from English territory. In 1755, during the French and Indian War, a brigade of Maj. Gen. Edward Braddock’s army traveled the road on its ill-fated march to Fort Duquesne. The road was incorporated into Middle Turnpike before 1840. A century later, the moving and straightening of the Leesburg Pike reduced Colvin Run Road to a byway.

Erected 1999 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number E-112.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • War, French and Indian. In addition, it is included in the Braddock’s Road and Maj. Gen. Edward Braddock, the Former U.S. Presidents: #01 George Washington, the George Washington Slept Here, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1753.

Location. 38° 58.211′ N, 77° 17.634′ W. Marker is in Great

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Falls, Virginia, in Fairfax County. It is on Colvin Run Road (Virginia Route 743) east of Robindale Road, on the right when traveling west. Located inside the Colvin Run Mill Park, laying between the Leesburg Pike (Route 7) and Colvin Run Road (Route 743). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10017 Colvin Run Road, Great Falls VA 22066, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds 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 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: War of 1812 (here, next to this marker); Colvin Run Mill (within shouting distance of

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 20, 2022

2. Old Road To The West Marker

this marker); Outbuildings (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ghost Lines (about 400 feet away); The Miller's House (about 500 feet away); Formal Garden (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Colvin Run Mill (about 600 feet away); In Memory of Mack S. "Jack" Crippen, Jr. (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Great Falls.

Also see . . .
1. Colvin Run Park. (Submitted on July 24, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Colvin Run is a Historic Mechanical Landmark. (Submitted on July 24, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
3. Detailed Mechanical Description of the Mill. (PDF) The American Society of Mechanical Engineers produced this detailed study of the mill. (Submitted on July 24, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Marker in the Colvin Mill Parking Lot image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, July 20, 2007

3. Marker in the Colvin Mill Parking Lot

This is a photo of the marker prior to an additional interpretive sign being installed adjacent to it.

Colvin Run Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, July 20, 2007

4. Colvin Run Road

The modern road bed follows the historic path at this point. Near the intersection of this road and the Leesburg Pike, the old road bed turns directly east and crosses Difficult Run inside Stream Valley Park.

Colvin Run Mill image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, February 9, 2007

5. Colvin Run Mill

The park includes several historic structures including a general store.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,019 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 24, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on May 21, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 24, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.