At first glance, Chantilly VA might be written off as one of the many boring residential cities in the Northern Virginia (NOVA) area. However, there are several attractions here that make Chantilly worth a second look. Chantilly also makes a convenient starting point to explore cities such as Alexandria, Leesburg/Waterford, or even Washington D.C.
Sully Historic Site
Sully Historic Site, an old plantation house, was built by Richard Bland Lee, the younger brother of Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee and uncle to Robert E. Lee. Richard Bland Lee was a prominent politician in the Early Republic, so his brother Theoderick often ran the day-to-day operations. Richard Bland Lee fell into debt and eventually sold the house to a relative of his.
Sully had left the Lee Family ownership by the time of the Civil War. The new owners of the house supported the Union; when the War began, the men of the family fled to nearby Alexandria to avoid capture. At some point, J.E.B. Stuart used the house as headquarters. When he and his troops departed, he placed wounded Union prisoners under the owners’ care.
Sully went through a series of owners throughout the years. In 1958, the Federal Aviation Administration bought the house in order to knock it down for the new Dulles Airport. After some protest, legislation was passed to save some of the property from demolition.
Here are some interesting things I learned at Sully Historic Site. I learned that the people who worked at the laundry rendered beef and pork fat, rather than the kitchen staff. In one of the rooms, the Museum commissioned a portrait of one of the enslaved workers using the description of him from his fugitive slave ad.
Keep in mind that Sully Historic Site is only open from Thursdays through Sundays. The grounds are open from 11-4 and the tours are at 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Other Things To Do in Chantilly
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center-This Museum serves as an annex to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C., housing many unique planes such as the Space Shuttle Discovery, the Enola Gay, and the Gemini VII Space Capsule. If you are big on planes this is a must visit, but if you’re not it can be very Dulles.
Ox Hill Battlefield Park-I went to this historic park on a previous trip to NOVA. This Park preserves some of the land where the Battle of Chantilly was fought; while small, there are some signs informing visitors about the history of that Battle.
Parks- There are several small nature parks located in and around Chantilly. Full disclosure I have not been to any of them, but from pictures they look like nice urban oases. In order of closest to furthest from Sully Historic Site: Frying Pan Farm Park, Flatlick Stream Valley Park, Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, & Club Run Stream Valley Park.
Manassas National Battlefield Park-A bit further away from Chantilly is Manassas and the Manassas National Battlefield Park. This historic park commemorates the two Battle of Bull Runs, otherwise known as the Battles of Manassas. As shown in a video from my old channel, the town of Manassas is also worth a visit.
Conclusion
I hope this blog post allows people to give Chantilly a second chance. I enjoyed visiting Sully Historic Site and would have loved to spend more time exploring the other things to do in Chantilly. Chantilly also makes a great starting point for exploring the greater NOVA area. So next time one is looking for a fun day out, consider Chantilly.
Below is my companion YouTube video specifically about visiting Sully Historic Site. Please like and subscribe if you enjoyed, or offer suggestions on how I can improve.
Restaurants
There are many restaurants in Chantilly. I went to the Dolan Uyghur Restaurant on my Chantilly trip. Uyghur cuisine is a mix of Chinese and Middle Eastern flavors. I recommend the Royal Laghman noodles and the Big Plate Chicken. For dessert, check out the nearby Rice Culture, which serves taiyaki and unique soft serve flavors.
If you want more dining options, try some restaurants in the greater NOVA area, such as those listed on my Alexandria blog post. In order from closest to furthest from Sully Historic Site are: Malaysian Kopitiam, Swadi Pakistani Kitchen, Marufuji Japanese Market, Hawk & Griffin, Fettoosh, and El Pike Bolivian Restobar.