Fairfax Station was constructed in 1852 along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, formed in 1848 as the only rail line connecting Alexandria, then a major port, with central Virginia. Irish immigrants, African-American slaves, and freemen built the railroad and station, and the influx of largely Catholic workers led to the establishment of nearby Saint Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church in 1860. The station played a critical role during the American Civil War, but it was destroyed as Federals retreated from the area in 1862 after the Battle of Second Manassas. New buildings were constructed near the original site in 1873, 1891, and 1903. Fairfax Station's importance faded by the 1950s, and today the tracks once served by the station are owned by Norfolk Southern Railway. The building faced possible demolition in 1973, prompting the formation of Friends of Fairfax Station to save the structure and operate it as a museum. With support from local partners and Fairfax County, a replica of the 1903 station was constructed in the late 1980s, incorporating about 20 percent of the original station. A trail on the property, created through a five-year project by Eagle Scout candidates and hundreds of hours of work, extends the length of the property to provide a walking path away from street traffic and allow visitors and residents to enjoy the neighborhood's beauty and history.
