Old Fairfax County Jail, Historic prison in Fairfax, United States.
The Old Fairfax County Jail is a two-story prison building in Renaissance Revival style with balanced proportions, classical details, and decorative stonework throughout its facade. Regular window placement, pronounced cornices, and carefully designed exterior surfaces display the style's hallmarks from that era.
The building was constructed in 1885 behind the Fairfax County Court House and held prisoners until 1953 when operations moved to a newer facility. After that transition, the structure remained standing in the historic district.
The building shows how 19th-century ideas about justice and punishment were reflected in its design and role within the community. Its architecture reveals how society expressed its values through the spaces it built for law enforcement.
The building is located within Fairfax Historic District and is visible from the street, making its facade easy to spot when walking through the area. Access and viewing options depend on local policies, so visitors should check ahead about current conditions.
The building housed historical records of free blacks from the early 1800s and temporarily protected Martha Washington's will during the Civil War. This role as a safekeeping place for important documents made it serve purposes beyond ordinary incarceration.
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