Occoquan

Located in Northern Virginia, Occoquan is not featured on many tourist maps. This is a grave mistake, for the town of Occoquan has many delights and surprises throughout its town limits. The character of this town is charming, historic, and eerie (there are daily ghost tours here) all at once. If you are trying to experience an authentic Virginia town versus a tourist Virginia town, come to Occoquan.

Tucked on the Occoquan River, this suburb of Alexandria is easy to find. Occoquan comes from the native Dogue Indian tribe, which means “at the end of the water” roughly. During the 18th century, it was from here that trade, goods, and shipments were sent to the markets in D.C, Alexandria, and beyond. Previously, the native Americans knew this spot of the river to be full of fish and easy to canoe. This town has always been bustling; before 1800, this town had shops, businesses, postal office, trade, restaurants, taverns, and diverse architecture and residents. It was here that Merchant’s Mill, America’s first automated grist system, came into use. From the Merchant’s Mill, grain was processed and shipped to the West Indies. The mill does not completely stand today as most of it was devastated by a fire 175 years later. Now, the remaining section is the Occoquan Historic Office, which is useful in pointing travelers to nearby historical sites and for arranging ghost tours.

It is here that General Wade Hampton and his confederate forces weathered out the brutal winter of 1862, and it was through this town that almost all correspondence between the north and the south was collected and sorted. On the corner of Union and Commerce streets, visitors today are standing in the very spot where General Hamilton spent most of his winter days.

Although Occoquan enjoyed prominence throughout most of its history; it is only beginning to regain the same stature now. In more recent history, Occoquan has experienced a devastating fire (1919, and it destroyed the entire town), a major route diverting traffic away and a major railroad bypassing the town (both leading to decline of the town’s industries), and Hurricane Agnes in 1972, which destroyed the town all over again. Despite these setbacks, the residents of Occoquan have done a tremendous job recuperating from these losses, and the Occoquan town and residential artists’ community today is indeed very lively and vibrant. The new Figaro Gallery in Occoquan is proof of the renissance, featuring artworks from the 16th up to modern day. If you are looking for unique, one-of-a-kind decorations, gifts, jewelry, or antiques, this is a fine town to peruse.

Occoquan is rejuvenated and this reflects in its activities, eateries, and lodging options. You can check out activities in the town and region by visiting our “Things to Do” options on our homepage, and you can find places to eat and sleep under our “Places to Eat” and “Places to Stay” options also featured on the homepage.



Virginia Tourists Guide - Occoquan, Virginia