Rosslyn, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rosslyn
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An aerial view of Rosslyn in September 2018
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| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  Virginia |
| County |  Arlington |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 12,314 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
22209
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| Area code(s) | 703 |
| Website | www.rosslynva.org |
Rosslyn (/ˈrɒzlɪn/ ROZ-lin) is a busy area in Northern Virginia. It's part of Arlington County, Virginia. You can find it in the northeast corner of the county. Rosslyn is just north of Arlington National Cemetery. It's also right across the Potomac River from Georgetown and Foggy Bottom in Washington, D.C..
Rosslyn includes the neighborhoods of North Rosslyn and Radnor/Ft. Myer Heights. It's located east of Court House, another busy Arlington neighborhood. The county calls Rosslyn an "urban village". It has many tall buildings, called skyscrapers, in its business area. This makes Rosslyn look even more like a big city than nearby Washington, D.C.
Some important places in Rosslyn include the WJLA television station. This station is part of the ABC network. It's located in the Rosslyn Twin Towers. The former Key Bridge Marriott was also here, which was Marriott International's longest-running hotel. You can also visit the United States Marine Corps War Memorial. The Netherlands Carillon and Freedom Park offer amazing views. From these spots, you can see the Washington Monument and other famous landmarks in Washington, D.C.
Contents
Exploring Rosslyn's Past
During Virginia's colonial period, Rosslyn's riverbank had a special spot. It was a landing for Awbrey's ferry. This ferry carried people back and forth to Georgetown. A small community grew near the shore. It became known as Ross Lynn, named after a local farm.
In the 1830s and 1840s, the Aqueduct Bridge was built. It connected Georgetown and Rosslyn. When it was finished in 1843, this bridge carried the Alexandria Canal. This canal moved boats from the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Georgetown to the port of Alexandria, Virginia.
After the American Civil War in the 1860s, the area near the bridge changed. It became known for its gambling places and saloons. Over time, people wanted to improve Rosslyn. In the early 1900s, new electric trolleys arrived. This made the area more appealing for real estate. Developers and reformers worked to clean up Rosslyn. They formed a group called the "Good Citizen's League". They chose Captain Crandal Mackey to help fight problems. On May 30, 1904, Mackey and a group of citizens took action. They worked to close down the gambling houses and saloons.
For many years, Rosslyn was mostly known for its pawnshops and used car dealerships. The Aqueduct Bridge was replaced in 1923. The new bridge was called the Francis Scott Key Memorial Bridge.
In 1964, the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge opened. It connected Interstate 66 (I-66) between Washington, D.C., and Rosslyn. Soon after, Rosslyn started to grow rapidly. Many tall office buildings and hotels were built. New homes also appeared on the edges of the area. Arlington County made Rosslyn's main streets wider. This was to handle more motor vehicle traffic. A system of skywalks was built for people to walk above the busy streets. However, not many shops opened along these skywalks. So, few people used them. Now, the Arlington County government plans to remove some of these skywalks.
In the 1970s, during the Watergate scandal, important information was shared. A person named W. Mark Felt met with a reporter, Bob Woodward. They met late at night in an underground parking garage in Rosslyn.
In 1977, the Metrorail's Blue Line reached Rosslyn. Later, the Blue Line and the Orange Line were extended. They now serve the suburbs of Northern Virginia from the Rosslyn station. In the early 1980s, I-66 was also extended through Rosslyn. These transportation improvements brought even more tall buildings to Rosslyn.
In 2013, a group suggested building a gondola lift. This lift would connect Georgetown and Rosslyn. It was seen as another way to travel between the two areas. Washington, D.C., and Arlington County have been studying this idea since 2016.
Rosslyn's Economy and Businesses
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The main offices of USA Today newspaper used to be in Rosslyn. The company, Gannett Company, and the newspaper were in two tall silver buildings. These buildings were built in the early 1980s. They are located at 1000 and 1100 Wilson Boulevard. Gannett moved its offices to Fairfax County in 2002. In the same year, WJLA-TV, "ABC 7", an ABC-affiliated TV station, moved into the space USA Today used to have.
Several U.S. government agencies have offices in Rosslyn. These include the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. Also, the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security are here. The Department of State also has several offices in Rosslyn.
Many non-profit groups are also based in Rosslyn. One example is the American Institute in Taiwan.
As of 2010, Rosslyn has about 8.1 million square feet (750,000 square meters) of office space. It also has 6,365 homes. Some of the tallest condominium buildings in the Washington metropolitan area are in Rosslyn. These include Waterview Tower, River Place, and Turnberry Tower.
Construction of 1812 N Moore in Rosslyn started in 2010. In 2013, it became the tallest building in the Washington metropolitan area. In 2017, the international food company Nestlé S.A. announced it would move its U.S. headquarters to this building.
To make Rosslyn easier to walk around, plans are in place. The elevated walkways and other unique city features might be removed or changed. Some traffic lanes might also be removed or changed.
Arts, Culture, and Learning in Rosslyn
Fun Events and Festivals
The Arlington County Government runs the Rosslyn Spectrum Theater. It has 367 seats for shows. Rosslyn hosts five film festivals each year. The Washington D.C. Independent Film Festival happens in March. It shows independent films from all over the world. In 2011, Rosslyn showed over 30 films. It also had classes and workshops for people interested in movies.
The Annual NoVa International Jewish Film Festival is held each spring. The Rosslyn Outdoor Film Festival shows popular movies for free. You can watch them in Gateway Park on Friday evenings during spring and summer. Slapsticon is a four-day film festival in July. It shows silent films, sometimes with live music. The Rosebud Film & Video Festival is a one-day event in November. It features original films and videos made by local artists. The Rosslyn Jazz Festival started in 1991. In 2006, about 10,000 people came to enjoy the music. The annual US FreedomWalk Festival began in 2000. It brings walkers from around the world each fall. They enjoy a weekend of walks in Rosslyn and nearby areas.
Education Opportunities
Rosslyn is part of Arlington Public School. This is the public school district for Arlington County, Virginia.
The Art Institute of Washington is located on North Fort Myer Drive. Rosslyn is also a place where some of the University of Virginia's business programs are held. These include programs from the McIntire School of Commerce and the Darden School of Business.
Museums and Interesting Places
The Marine Corps War Memorial in Rosslyn is visited by over one million people every year. Many visitors come to see the Sunset Parades. These parades are performed by the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. They happen on Tuesday evenings during the summer. Crowds also gather at the Memorial on the 4th of July. They come to watch the national fireworks show.
The Netherlands Carillon in Rosslyn is a set of 50 bells. They are housed in a 12-story tower. This tower is located between Arlington National Cemetery and the Marine Corps War Memorial. The carillon was a gift from the Netherlands to the U.S. It was given to thank the U.S. for its help during World War II. It first had 49 bells. A 50th bell was added in 1995. This was to celebrate 50 years since the Netherlands was freed. Each spring, thousands of tulips from the Netherlands are planted around the tower. During the summer, musicians play concerts on the bells. The tower is sometimes open to the public. From there, you can see the national monuments in Washington, D.C. You can also see the Marine Corps War Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
Getting Around Rosslyn
Rosslyn is a major transportation center. It has connections for both subway and highway systems. Several important roads meet here. These include U.S. Route 29 (which includes the Frances Scott Key Bridge), Virginia State Route 110, and the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Interstate 66 (I-66) also passes through Rosslyn. U.S. Route 50 connects with all these roads in and near Rosslyn. The Washington Metro's Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines all stop at the Rosslyn Metro station.
There are 14 Metrobus lines that serve Rosslyn. Georgetown University also runs a shuttle bus. A DC Circulator bus route connects Rosslyn with Georgetown and Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. Two private bus companies offer trips between the Rosslyn Metro Station and New York City. Vamoose Bus goes to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan. Tripper Bus goes to the Macy's flagship store on 34th Street.
Trails for Walking and Biking
Rosslyn has many trails for biking and walking. These trails connect Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. The paved Custis Trail goes through Rosslyn along Interstate 66. If you go southeast on the Custis Trail, you can reach the paved Mount Vernon Trail. This trail goes along the Virginia side of the Potomac River. It leads to Alexandria and Mount Vernon. You can also find the unpaved Potomac Heritage Trail nearby. This trail goes upstream along the riverbank.
If you head west on the Custis Trail, you can get to the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Trail. This trail is about 45 miles (72 km) long and goes through Northern Virginia. You can also cross the Francis Scott Key Bridge at the end of Lynn Street. On the other side, you can find the unpaved C&O Canal towpath or the paved Capital Crescent Trail in Washington.
If you go south on North Lynn Street, you can cross U.S. Route 50. Then you can walk through the grounds of the Marine Corps War Memorial. From there, a paved trail goes along the wall of Arlington National Cemetery. This trail connects to Memorial Drive. A sidewalk and paved path along Memorial Drive connect to the Mount Vernon Trail. They also connect to the wide sidewalk of the Arlington Memorial Bridge. This bridge crosses the Potomac River into Washington.
