Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 06/19/2008
NRHP Listing Date 09/18/2008
NRHP Reference Number 08000910
The Glencarlyn Historic District, platted in 1887 as Carlin Springs, was the first planned residential subdivision in Arlington County and a commuter suburb of Washington D.C. Built on land previously owned and cultivated by farmer John Ball, Glencarlyn was established by General Samuel S. Burdett, a Congressman from Missouri, and William W. Curtis, who was president of the board of trustees of the public schools of the District of Columbia. The Carlin Springs Cooperative Association oversaw development of the community. That association’s descendant, the Glencarlyn Community Association is one of the oldest continually operating community associations in the country. As Glencarlyn developed slowly, and its greatest period of development occurred between 1946 and 1958, the neighborhood has a significant concentration of post-World War II architecture. This includes a one-room log structure, high-style Queen Anne buildings, bungalows, and Cape Cods of the early 20th century, examples of the Modern Movement such as ranch houses and split-foyers, and late 20th-century interpretations of historic styles. The Glencarlyn Historic District’s architectural diversity encapsulates the development of Arlington County from circa 1742 to the present.
Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Updated: April 24, 2023
