Near Falls Church in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Bailey’s Crossroads
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 7, 2021
1. Bailey’s Crossroads Marker
Inscription.
Bailey’s Crossroads. . In 1837 Hachaliah Bailey (1774-1845) from Westchester County, New York, purchased 526 acres in the northeast quadrant formed by the intersection of Leesburg and Columbia Pikes. Here he built his home, known as "Moray," which was destroyed by fire in 1942. Before moving to Fairfax County Bailey operated a traveling "menagerie" of elephants. His son, Lewis Bailey (1795-1870), introduced the canvas circus tent to the world and owned a traveling circus before settling on this land that he farmed after 1840. During the Civil War Union officers and their families boarded at Moray. All that remains of the original estate is Moray Lane, which led directly to the house.
In 1837 Hachaliah Bailey (1774-1845) from Westchester County, New York, purchased 526 acres in the northeast quadrant formed by the intersection of Leesburg and Columbia Pikes. Here he built his home, known as "Moray," which was destroyed by fire in 1942. Before moving to Fairfax County Bailey operated a traveling "menagerie" of elephants. His son, Lewis Bailey (1795-1870), introduced the canvas circus tent to the world and owned a traveling circus before settling on this land that he farmed after 1840. During the Civil War Union officers and their families boarded at Moray. All that remains of the original estate is Moray Lane, which led directly to the house.
Erected 2000 by Fairfax County History Commission.
Location. 38° 51.246′ N, 77° 7.781′ W. Marker is near Falls Church, Virginia, in Fairfax County. Marker is on Crossroads Center Way, 0.1 miles north of Leesburg Pike (Virginia Route 7), on the left when traveling north. Marker is in the corner of the Crossroads Center parking lot between
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the two shopping center buildings. The shopping center is in the north quadrant of Baley's Crossroads, which is no longer a true crossroads but a cloverleaf interchange now that Leesburg Pike (State Route 7) crosses Columbia Pike (State Route 244) on an overpass. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5800 Crossroads Center Way, Falls Church VA 22041, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . Bailey's Crossroads & Seven Corners History. “Bailey eventually merged his circus with that of P.T. Barnum, which went on to become The Greatest Show on Earth.”
(Submitted on March 18, 2006.)
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 7, 2021
2. Bailey’s Crossroads Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 7, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2006, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 3,613 times since then and 113 times this year. Last updated on October 19, 2006, by Jeremy Prats of Afton, Virginia. Photos:1, 2. submitted on March 7, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
