Historic Blenheim, Greek Revival estate in Fairfax, United States
Historic Blenheim is a brick residence featuring Greek Revival elements such as prominent columns and balanced proportions throughout its design. The structure displays the classical architectural style typical of its era with carefully crafted details.
The house was built around 1859 and served as a Union Army hospital during the Civil War, when soldiers left over 115 markings on its walls. This occupation transformed it into an unintended record of military presence during the conflict.
The walls here hold drawings, names, and unit markings left by Union soldiers, showing how troops filled their time during occupation. Visitors can see these marks today and get a sense of what daily military life looked like through these casual inscriptions.
The property is open to visitors during regular hours and offers guided tours to examine the soldier markings and learn about the site's role in the war. Plan extra time to fully explore the detailed inscriptions and educational displays throughout the building.
Research teams have worked since 1997 to decode the soldier inscriptions and match them with military records to identify individual men. This ongoing work reveals personal stories that would otherwise remain forgotten.
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