A Visit to Blenheim

Blenheim House Attic - Milon Robinson's Signature

Underneath the water damaged portion of the wall, Milon's signature is still visible. The restoration has benefitted some areas of the house more than others. The water damage on this wall may have permanently diminished the visability of signatures here.

Here is a software tracing of the signature pictured in the original photograph.

Milon Robinson Final Muster Roll Cards

In the upper right portion of the muster roll, a note has been made that Milon was taken sick at Fairfax. After the initial ransacking, Blenheim became a makeshift hospital for many of the sick Union soldiers during the war.

Blenheim Attic

This is the attic of Blenheim House. Milon's signature is located in a water-damaged patch of wall next to the window. A replica of the attic now sits in Blenheim's visitor center and proves much easier and safer to access than the original.

Blenheim House, located in Fairfax, Virginia, housed many Union soldiers during the Civil War. The house had been built shortly before the breakout of the conflict. When the Union soldiers pushed into Virginia, the house was looted and all the furniture was taken from the home. By the time Milon came to Blenheim, the house was essentially gutted. The first floor, second floor, and attic are completely covered in graffiti of all sorts.

Restoration of the graffiti continues to this day. Pealing back the paint layer by layer reveals new signatures. A replica of the attic has been placed in the visitor's center. The house as well as the grounds can be viewed for free Tuesday through Saturday.

3610 Old Lee Highway

Fairfax, VA 22030

703 591 0560