4 Most Beautiful Historic Buildings in Manassas

Manassas, Virginia, approximately 15 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., is the location of the first major battle of the Civil War. The First Battle of Bull Run, also known as the Battle of First Manassas, took place on July 21, 1861, near Manassas Junction. Confederate troops established Camp Pickens at Manassas Junction, which today is the Manassas Historic District. Manassas is home to many beautiful historic buildings, including the Railroad Depot, the county courthouse, a plantation mansion, and an old candy factory. Keep reading to learn more about these fantastic historic buildings.

The Manassas Railroad Depot

During the mid-1800s, Manassas Junction was an essential link between two key train lines. The Orange and Alexandria Railroad ran from Washington, D.C., and Alexandria, Virginia, to Lynchburg, Virginia. The Manassas Gap Railroad started in Mount Jackson in the west and intersected with the Orange and Alexandria Railroad at Manassas Junction, allowing for the transport of troops and materials during the Civil War. The area was a significant military encampment for both Confederate and Union troops since it connected the Shenandoah Valley and Richmond to Washington, D.C.

The first train depot was a small log building built in the late 1800s, which was replaced by a brick building in 1904. After a fire destroyed most of the brick building, the railroad company built the historic Manassas Railroad Depot in 1914. The City of Manassas acquired the building in 1997 from the Norfolk Southern Railway and restored it to resemble the 1914 depot, reproducing the original structure’s wood moldings, doors, light fixtures, and clay tile roof.

Today, the Manassas Railroad Depot houses a busy train depot, a railroad museum, and the Historic Manassas Visitor Center. The museum features the James and Marion Payne Memorial Railroad Heritage Gallery, containing photos and memorabilia documenting the railroad’s history. The Historic Manassas Visitor Center is open daily and offers brochures and maps of the area.

The Annual Manassas Heritage Railway Festival takes place every June and features 30-minute train excursions, model railroad displays, and historical exhibits. Visit the Manassas Railroad Depot and Visitor Center at 9431 West St. in Manassas.

Old Manassas Courthouse

The Old Manassas Courthouse is a Romanesque-style building constructed in 1894. The two-story sandstone and brick building features a clock tower and cupola. It became the courthouse of Prince William County in 1897 since it was closer to the railroad station than the original county courthouse in Brentsville.

Over the summer of 1911, the Manassas National Peace Jubilee was a week-long event and Civil War veterans’ reunion at the courthouse. The Jubilee was a significant event, the first to unite Union and Confederate veterans after the war. The Peace Jubilee culminated with a speech by President William Howard Taft. After his speech, President Taft and Virginia Governor William Hodges Mann shook hands to signify national peace and unity. Several years later, in 1915, the county commemorated the Manassas Peace Jubilee with the dedication of a monument featuring two cannons and two anchors with heavy iron chains.

The Old Manassas Courthouse functioned as the Prince William County Courthouse until 1982, and it’s the second-oldest courthouse remaining in Prince William County. The City of Manassas restored the building in 2001, and today it houses several clerical offices. An upstairs courtroom was converted into an elegant hall and is available for rental for receptions and special events. The National Register of Historic Places added the courthouse to its registry in 2004. The Old Manassas Courthouse is located at 9248 Lee Ave. in Manassas.

Liberia House

The two-story brick plantation estate Liberia House is another beautiful historic building in Manassas. Built by the Weir family in 1825, the property was originally a plantation producing grains and vegetables and home to sheep, horses, and cattle. By the mid-1800s, the plantation was one of the largest and most profitable in the area.

During the Civil War, the Weir family evacuated the estate, and the house became headquarters first for Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard and later for Union General Irvin McDowell. Presidents Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln each visited Liberia House during the war. After the war ended, Liberia House never fully operated again as a plantation. But it was a successful dairy farm for many years.

In 1986, the City of Manassas received the Liberia Mansion as a donation from owners I.J. and Hilda Breeden for historic preservation. Today, the Manassas Museum System manages the property, which hosts special events and is available for rental. Visit Liberia House at 8601 Portner Ave. in Manassas.

ARTfactory (Originally Hopkins Candy Factory)

C.S. Hopkins founded the Hopkins Candy Factory in 1900. The factory employed 25 people and produced peanut bars, stick candy, and other confectioneries sold by traveling salespeople. After a fire destroyed the original building in late 1905, Manassas architect Albert Speiden designed the new factory — a four-story brick building built in 1908. The business was highly successful, shipping 5 to 10 tons of candy daily from late 1908 until 1917 when the company sold the building.

Over the following years, the facility housed several other businesses, including the Manassas Feed and Milling Company, whose original advertisements remain on the building’s brick walls today. Subsequent businesses include the Southern States Manassas Cooperative and a tire warehouse operated by Caton and Mae Merchant.

The City of Manassas acquired the property as a donation from the Merchant family in 1998 and later restored the building. Today, the Center for the Arts of Greater Manassas leases the building, which is now a community arts and culture center called ARTfactory. The art center provides classrooms and a performing arts theater. It’s also home to the Caton Merchant Family art gallery, featuring the work of local and regional artists. You can find the ARTfactory at 9419 Battle St. in Manassas.

Koons Woodbridge Buick GMC is happy to serve and support the Manassas community. We hope you enjoy exploring these beautiful historic buildings. Did we leave out any of the key sites in Manassas? Send us a message and tell us which historical places you enjoy visiting in the Manassas area.

Image by felipepelaquim is licensed with Unsplash License

Tags: Historic Buildings, Manassas
Posted in Local | No Comments »