Bluemont in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Trolleys Come to Ballston
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CIA Occupies the Building

Trolleys Come to Ballston Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 4, 2020

1. Trolleys Come to Ballston Marker

Inscription. Trolleys Come to Ballston The Washington, Arlington & Falls Church Railway (WA&FC) established an interurban electric trolley along the present route of Fairfax Drive in 1896. The WA&FC's Fairfax trolley line ran through this site to Clarendon (about one mile to the east), where it branched to serve both Rosslyn and downtown Washington, D.C. This site gained prominence in 1911, when the WA&FC built a compound here containing the Lacey rail yard, an electrical substation and a building that housed a car barn, the company's general offices, and a repair shop.

In 1912, the Washington and Old Dominion Railway, a competing interurban electric trolley company, constructed a branch that connected Georgetown, Rosslyn, Ballston, Falls Church, Vienna, Leesburg and Loudoun County. This line crossed the west end of Ballston near this site and further encouraged Ballston's development and other communities along its route. Despite early success, the trolleys in Northern Virginia were unable to survive competition with each other and the automobile, and ceased operations in the 1930s and 1940s.

CIA Occupies the Building In November

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1963, the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) moved into the upper five floors and penthouse of the Blue Goose. The building housed the Office of Training, Office of Medical Services, and Operations School, which offered a variety of classes. CIA employees also called the building "Big Blue U." Thee U.S. Bureau of Public Roads ocupied the first three floors. The elevators were programmed to stop at the fourth floor, where CIA guards would check employees' badges before permitting access to the CIA offices.

The CIA continued to occupy the Blue Goose after moving the classes to other locations. The last CIA office to use the building was the Joint Publications Research Service, part of the Foreign Broadcast Information Service, which moved out in late 1987.

Erected by Marymount University.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Railroad series list. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1963.

Location. 38° 52.956′ N, 77° 7.007′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County.

CIA Occupies the Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 4, 2020

2. CIA Occupies the Building Marker

It is in Bluemont. It can be reached from North Glebe Road (Virginia Route 120) just north of Fairfax Drive ( Route 237), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 North Glebe Road, Arlington VA 22201, 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 walking distance of this marker: Glebe Road & Ballston / Marymount University (here, next to this marker); Arlington County in 1921 / John M. Walton, Architect (a few steps from this marker); Ballston Metro / The Blue Goose (within shouting

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 4, 2020

3. Trolleys Come to Ballston Marker

distance of this marker); Lacey Car Barn (within shouting distance of this marker); The Blue Goose (within shouting distance of this marker); Peck Chevrolet (approx. 0.2 miles away); Health & Welfare (approx. 0.2 miles away); Urban Development (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 4, 2020

4. CIA Occupies the Building Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 1,282 times since then and 59 times this year. Last updated on April 28, 2026, by Bernard H. Berne of Arlington, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 4, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

Trolleys Come to Ballston⎯⎯⎯CIA Occupies the Building

Trolleys Come to Ballston
⎯⎯⎯
CIA Occupies the Building