Minor's Hill facts for kids
Minor's Hill is a special place in Arlington County, Virginia. It's the highest point there, reaching 459 feet (about 139 meters) above sea level. This hill is named after George Minor, who lived there during the time of the American Revolutionary War.
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Where is Minor's Hill?
Minor's Hill sits right on the edge of Arlington County and Fairfax County, Virginia. It looks like a cone, but its top is wide and flat. The very highest spot is in Arlington.
A local stream called Four Mile Run flows along the south and southwest sides of the hill. Nearby, you'll find Mount Daniel to the west, Mackey's Hill to the north, and Upton's Hill to the east. From Minor's Hill, you can look down on the City of Falls Church, which is about 1.4 miles south.
Sometimes, people call it Minor Hill or Minors' Hill. During the American Civil War, soldiers often wrote about it as "Miner's Hill" in their letters and newspapers.
History of Minor's Hill
Early Times and Settlers
Long before Europeans arrived, Native Americans in Northern Virginia knew Minor's Hill well. They used an important trail that went around the north and east sides of the hill. This trail connected the Little Falls of the Potomac River to what is now the center of Falls Church.
English settlers started Falls Church in 1732. They picked this spot because it was about a day's horseback ride from the Potomac River. Later, the Minor family settled on the hill, and that's how it got its name. Before them, the hill didn't have a formal name.
The War of 1812
In 1814, during the War of 1812, British forces attacked Washington, D.C. Colonel Minor of Minor's Hill, with his 700-man Virginia Militia, was called to defend the city. However, due to mix-ups, they weren't sent to the main battle, and many didn't even have weapons.
As the battle got worse, government officials, including President Madison and his wife Dolley, left the city. Important supplies, like gunpowder from the Washington Navy Yard, were moved across bridges into Virginia for safety. Colonel Minor sent a small guard to protect these supplies in Falls Church.
British troops burned Washington, D.C. The fires lit up the night sky, even reaching Falls Church. A young person who had fled from Alexandria later remembered seeing the city burn, saying, "At first I thought the world was on fire. Such a flame I have never seen since."
The Civil War Years
Minor's Hill played a big part in the American Civil War. This war was very tough for Falls Church and Minor's Hill. Both Union and Confederate armies moved through the area often. Local people found themselves caught between the two sides, unsure who was in charge.
The Minor family supported the Confederate Army. Colonel Minor, who was about 80 at the time, left his home for safety. When Union troops took over his home, they found his old War of 1812 orders.
In September 1862, after a major battle, the Union Army moved its forces closer to Washington to protect the capital. Seven Union regiments set up camps on Minor's Hill. These camps grew into busy, temporary towns.
During the war, Union soldiers built a tall observation tower on Minor's Hill. They also used hot-air balloons to get a better view of Confederate movements. Many old photos and drawings show this tower, military parades, and the army camps. One special full-color drawing shows Camp Owen, with about 100 tents and wooden huts built by the soldiers. These huts were made from wood taken from nearby farms, which was hard on the farmers.
By 1863, Minor's Hill was connected to the military telegraph network. This allowed quick communication with other forts and Washington, D.C. Later that year, the camps closed, and the soldiers moved to other parts of the war.
Minor's Hill Today
After the Civil War, people in Falls Church and Minor's Hill rebuilt their lives. By 1891, a newspaper reporter visited and described Falls Church as "neat and tidy." From Minor's Hill, he could see a "bird's-eye view" of Falls Church. He could also see the Washington Monument and a seminary in Alexandria. In winter, when the leaves were gone, people could even see the Soldier's Home in Washington, D.C. Today, these views are blocked by trees.
The reporter also found the ruins of George Minor's old brick mansion. His family had lost a lot during the war, and others now owned the land.
Until the 1940s, the hill remained mostly farmland. In the 1950s and 1960s, many new homes were built, and the entire hill became a neighborhood. A public park on Williamsburg Boulevard helps remember the hill's name and history.
Images for kids
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An illustration of Minor's Hill in 1814 during the War of 1812
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Minor's Hill in 2018, showing its mostly flat summit.
