1965 Map of Falls Church

About this map

The Potomac River carves a dramatic boundary through this mid-century landscape, separating the wooded Maryland hills of Montgomery County from the rapidly suburbanizing terrain of Fairfax County. Along the river's northern bank, the historic Chesapeake and Ohio Canal is meticulously detailed with its series of engineering works, including Lock 19 through Lock 7. This river corridor also hosts the massive U.S. Naval Reservation and the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters, contrasting with the nearby Great Falls National Park. To the south, the expansion of the D.C. suburbs is evident in the dense residential networks of McLean and Falls Church. Local heritage is preserved in landmarks like Swinks Mill and an Abandoned Gold Mine, while the W & O D Trail marks the path of former rail transit through the growing communities of Pimmit Hills and Idylwood.