NOVA with Trent / The Arlington edition

History & hidden gems
in Arlington.

Historic earthworks, archival research and the people behind Arlington House.

Sources checked 2026-10-19. Check the official links for current hours and availability.

Ball-Sellers House in Arlington, September 2012. Slowking4 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · License. Wikimedia resized display copy; display cropping may vary. Source license retained.

Choose a place to explore.

These selected destinations have source-verified coordinates. Pins identify places, not trail routes, parking permission or accessibility. Other entries retain their official access and address links.

Fort C.F. Smith ParkRead the guide entry →Location source · checked 2026-10-18

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Arlington

Fort C.F. Smith Park

Fort CF Smith Park, 2411 24th Street N, Arlington VA

Go for

Fort C.F. Smith Park at 2411 24th Street North combines preserved Civil War earthworks with a short network of mixed-surface paths, a meadow and wildlife habitat.

Before you go

The county’s walking-tour material helps explain features that can otherwise look like ordinary changes in the ground. Check the visitor-center opening days separately from park access. This is a compact history-and-nature outing, and staying on designated paths protects the surviving fort remains.

Sources checked 2026-10-22.

Arlington

Arlington House and the lives around it

Arlington House, Arlington National Cemetery VA

Go for

The National Park Service’s Arlington House visit includes the house, museum and quarters interpreting people enslaved there. It sits within Arlington National Cemetery, so cemetery entry procedures are part of planning the visit even though the NPS buildings are free to enter.

Before you go

Check current access and accessibility information before traveling. Allow time for the wider interpretation rather than treating the house only as a scenic overlook or a single-person biography.

Sources checked 2026-10-19.

Arlington

Charlie Clark Center for Local History

Arlington Central Library, 1015 N Quincy Street, Arlington, VA

Go for

Local-history research, archival material and staff help on Central Library’s first floor.

Before you go

Prepare a focused question and arrange archival access in advance, as some material is stored off-site. School Board minutes are temporarily unavailable during construction; the Quincy Street entrance is also closed for upgrades.

Sources checked 2026-10-19.

Arlington

Ball-Sellers House in Glencarlyn

Ball Sellers House, 5620 3rd St S, Arlington VA

Go for

A guided look at an eighteenth-century farmhouse and the lives of its occupants in Glencarlyn.

Before you go

The Historical Society lists free Saturday tours, April–October, 1–4 p.m. There is no electricity or air conditioning; heavy rain, temperatures below 50°F or above 90°F can affect opening.

Sources checked 2026-10-19.

Arlington

Black Heritage Museum of Arlington

Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, 3045 B Columbia Pike, Arlington VA

Go for

Exhibitions and interpretation of local African American history at 3045-B Columbia Pike.

Before you go

Admission is free, with limited Thursday and Saturday public hours and appointment options. Elevator access is available; contact the museum ahead for additional assistance or interpretation.

Sources checked 2026-10-19.

Arlington

Arlington Historical Museum at Hume School

Arlington Historical Museum, 1805 S Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington VA

Go for

Local-history exhibits and a recreated schoolroom inside the 1891 Hume School.

Before you go

Admission and parking are free at 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road. Confirm the weekend opening time directly: the operator’s page and footer give conflicting Saturday hours.

Sources checked 2026-10-19.

Arlington

National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial

National 911 Pentagon Memorial, Arlington VA

Go for

A place to remember those killed at the Pentagon and aboard Flight 77, with individual memorials and interpretive design.

Before you go

Use the visitor FAQ to plan the pedestrian approach. Ordinary Pentagon parking is restricted; Metro is recommended. Photography rules differ inside the memorial and along the approach, and a memorial visit does not include a Pentagon tour.

Sources checked 2026-10-19.

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