Bailey's Crossroads

With a mixture of residents and businesses, Bailey's Crossroads is a thriving, prosperous community. Bailey's Crossroads is located in the Mason District of Fairfax County, Virginia.

Bailey's Crossroads is located on what is now called Leesburg Pike. In pre-Columbian America Leesburg Pike was a buffalo trail and an Indian trail. The trail lead from the Potomac River to the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the colonial era, the land here was part of the original Fairfax land grant. That land was parceled out over time, and as a result George Washington owned land which now is occupied by the Skyline complex of condominiums. In 1809, Bailey's truly became a crossroads with the construction of the Washington Graveled Turnpike which is now know as Columbia Pike.

The name Bailey derives itself from New York entrepreneur Hachaliah Bailey, of Barnum & Bailey fame, who purchased land at the crossroads in the mid 19th century. He used the land as a place to house and display America's first elephant.

During the Civil War, Bailey's Crossroads changed hands several times and as a result nearby homes were used to garrison Confederate and Federal troops. Union President Abraham Lincoln ordered a large military review here after the Union defeat at the Battle of Bull Run.

In 1913, the Alexandria Water Company built a reservoir named Lake Barcroft near here. (Barcroft Park is nearby in Arlington County.) By the second world war, the area had transformed into a bedroom community for Washington DC. By the 1950's the Seven Corners Shopping Center was considered a model of the American future by many. As a result, in 1953 US President Dwight D. Eisenhower brought Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to the Seven Corners at Bailey's Crossroads. A few years later, the shopping center was enclosed and became Northern Virginia's first shopping mall.

The Skyline complex appeared in the early 1970s and is now home to Skyline Square, Skyline Plaza, Skyline House and more condominiums.

Schools located in or near Bailey's Crossroads include

• Bailey's, Beech Tree Elementary School,
• Belvedere Elementary School,
• Glen Forest Elementary School,
• Graham Road Elementary School,
• Parklawn Elementary School,
• Sleepy Hollow Elementary School,
• Timber Lane Elementary School,
  
• Westlawn Elementary School,
  
• Gasgow Middle School,
  
• and JEB Stuart High School.

Bailey's Crossroads Revitalization Corporation is a group of individuals who want to help achieve a better community by involving themselves in activities such as traffic enhancements, streetscape, and residential landscaping. For more information about condos or real estate near Baileys Crossroads, please contact Will Nesbitt of Condo Alexandria.

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Barcroft Park and Fields

Barcroft Park is 65 acres of highly-maintained family oriented recreational facilities. Barcroft supports a variety of sports and family activities. Barcroft is the home for several baseball leagues as there are 5 baseball diamonds with bleachers here. Four of these fields are for youth; one is for one adults. There is a batting cage to support the baseball community.

Barcroft has a a lighted rectangular playing field for sports like soccer, football or rugby. This field has a synthetic surface, concession stand, restrooms, and goals. Other sports are also supported by:

• a basketball court;
  
• two new tennis courts (opened in 2007);
• a volleyball court;
• a handball court;
• and horseshoe pit.
  

At this location, Barcroft Sports and Fitness Center has a gymnasium to support several indoor sports. The gymnasium has everything needed for a boxer to train. This includes a boxing room with speed and punching bags, sparring ring, and floor exercise area. The gym can also host basketball, floor hockey, and indoor soccer. Onsite, there are a variety of classes such as

• aerobics,
  
• boxing/kick boxing,
  
• and gymnastics.

For the benefit of picnickers and visitors the park has three water fountains, a rental picnic shelter, picnic tables, charcoal grills. There is also a paved path throughout the park to walk, jog or bike. That path has a bridge, and stream.

Hours for the park are sunrise to on half hour after sunset except on lighted facilities. The facilities are open Tuesday, Thursday and weekends.

4200 South Four Mile Run Drive
Arlington, VA 22204
(703) 228-0700

Park Map (PDF)

Fort Ward Park and Museum

Commander James S. Ward, well known as a scholar and an authority on tactics and gunnery, was the first Union naval officer mortally wounded after the outbreak of the Civil War. Ward well known because, among other accomplishments, he was instrumental in establishing the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Union commanders understood that a Confederate blockade of the Potomac was a serious threat to the main supply line for Washington, D.C. As a result, a flotilla of seven navy vessels under the command of James Ward were dispatched to protect the waterway for shipping. In the earliest days of the war, that flotilla was involved in an action to support the strategic redeployment of a small Federal force at Mathias Point. During this action a Confederate sniper shot Ward and he died shortly thereafter.

One of these forts was named after Commander Ward, and today Fort Ward is the best preserved of this fort system. During the war, Fort Ward was the fifth largest fort defending the Capitol and thus deterred Confederate forces who never attacked its earthen walls. The Union Army abandoned the Fort in December 1865, and shortly thereafter, any salvageable materials were sold at auction.

The land is now owned by the City of Alexandria. During the time of the war, the fort was a dusty (at times muddy) place, stripped of vegetation and armed with cannons. Today, it is a manicured oasis of greenery in the city of Alexandria.

On the grounds of old Fort Ward, Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site serves as a park, educational center and cultural remembrance for those who served here. The museum has exhibits on general Civil War topics as well as interpretive programs specific to Fort Ward and Alexandria during the Union occupation. Fort Ward can be entered at 4301 West Braddock in Alexandria, Virginia.

The Fort is located relatively close to Inova Alexandria Hospital and Episcopal High School. The surrounding area is a mixture of very high end housing, middle class housing and is located not far from Skyline and the condos near I-395. [back to top]