Kingstowne near Alexandria in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Olander Banks, Sr. and Margaret Lomax Banks

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 3, 2024
1. Olander Banks, Sr. and Margaret Lomax Banks Marker
This site is preserved in perpetuity as a park, thanks to the generosity of Olander Banks, Sr. who dedicated it to the memory of his wife, Margaret Lomax Banks.
Olander Banks Sr. and Margaret Lomax Banks purchased this property in 1957. It was then an open gravel lot. Mrs. Banks suggested to her husband that they build a home at this site. Here they built the 27-room home where they raised their nine children, and for over four decades, they made it a peaceful oasis for family and friends.
In the face of intense surrounding development, Olander Banks, Sr. was inspired to be "One with the Dream" and share the family estate with Fairfax County. The Fairfax County Park Authority established the Olander Banks, Sr. and Margaret Lomax Banks Community Park in August 2001. Through his giving spirit and faith, Olander Banks, Sr. has ensured that this will remain a special place for future generations to enjoy.
Erected 2005 by Fairfax County Park Authority.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is August 2001.
Location. 38° 45.41′ N, 77° 8.484′ W. Marker is near Alexandria, Virginia, in Fairfax County. It is in Kingstowne. It is on Old Telegraph Road 0.2 miles north of Hayfield Road (Virginia Route 635), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7458 Towchester Ct, Alexandria VA 22315, 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, and in the Mid-Atlantic. 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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Carrolltown (approx. Ό mile away); Laurel Grove Colored School and Church (approx. 1.1 miles away); Potters Hill (approx. 1½ miles away); The Spy with the Glass Eye
![Olander Banks, Sr. and Margaret Lomax Banks Marker [Reverse]. Click for full size. Olander Banks, Sr. and Margaret Lomax Banks Marker [Reverse] image. Click for full size.](Photos7/787/Photo787618.jpg?53202452900PM)
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 3, 2024
2. Olander Banks, Sr. and Margaret Lomax Banks Marker [Reverse]
Community Park
"A Special Place for Future Generations to Enjoy"
Fairfax County Park Authority
Established August 2001

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 3, 2024
3. Olander Banks, Sr. and Margaret Lomax Banks Marker

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 3, 2024
4. Olander Banks, Sr. and Margaret Lomax Banks Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 609 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 3, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.