91-years of prison history, including events of the women’s suffrage movement

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OUR HISTORY

During the early 20th century Progressive Era, officials in the District of Columbia directed the establishment of “a new kind of prison,” an experiment in corrections that was to be humane and economical. More than 2,000 acres of Fairfax County farmland near the Occoquan River community of Lorton became the “Workhouse,” an institution without fences, bars, guard towers or cellblocks. Prisoners were to be treated fairly, learn useful trades and make the facility self-supporting. Through 91 years as the District’s correctional facility (1910-2001), the Workhouse gained early visibility by holding suffragists Lucy Burns, Dora Lewis and dozens more. The treatment of the suffragists while at the Occoquan Workhouse in 1917 would play a pivotal role in the fight to pass the 19th Amendment.

Learn more
Sepia-toned photograph of the Female Quarters Work House in Occoquan, Virginia, showing a long, single-story building with a flagpole and American flag, trees, a well-maintained lawn, and a walkway leading to the entrance.
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EXPLORE OUR PAST

Collections (Coming soon)
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Education (Coming soon)
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exhibitions (Coming soon)
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Resources (Coming soon)

UPCOMNG EVENTS

UPCOMNG EVENTS

Events Calendar
Congressman Walkinshaw's WHM Event
Mar 23
Lucy Burns Museum
Congressman Walkinshaw's WHM Event
Lucy Burns Museum

Join us for a conversation surrounding voting rights and the SAVE Act, and the effects that this would have on women, minorities, and rural communities. Following the panel discussion, attendees will have a chance to visit the Lorton Prison Museum and the Lucy Burns Gallery.

Lucy Burns Museum
Learning at Lunch
Mar 27
Lucy Burns Museum
Learning at Lunch
Lucy Burns Museum

Join author and professor emeritus Alice Reagan this Women’s History Month for an insightful exploration of the Women’s Workhouse - its conditions, role in the legal system, and the documented experiences of the women held there.

Lucy Burns Museum
Historic Campus Walking Tour
Apr 2
Lucy Burns Museum
Historic Campus Walking Tour
Lucy Burns Museum

Walking tour of the historic former prison site that is the Workhouse Art Center campus.

Lucy Burns Museum
Historic Campus Walking Tour
Apr 11
Lucy Burns Museum
Historic Campus Walking Tour
Lucy Burns Museum

Explore the fascinating history and artistic transformation of the former Lorton prison during a Campus Walking Tour at Workhouse Arts Center. This guided tour offers a closer look at the site's historic architecture, its evolution into a thriving arts hub, and the artists who call it home.

Lucy Burns Museum
Historic Campus Walking Tour
Apr 16
Lucy Burns Museum
Historic Campus Walking Tour
Lucy Burns Museum

Walking tour of the historic former prison site that is the Workhouse Art Center campus.

Lucy Burns Museum
Learning at Lunch
Apr 17
Lucy Burns Museum
Learning at Lunch
Lucy Burns Museum

Join guest curator Randy Welch as he explores the ethical considerations involved in interpreting historical events and other insights he has on the Liddy exhibit.

Lucy Burns Museum
Learning at Lunch
May 15
Lucy Burns Museum
Learning at Lunch
Lucy Burns Museum

From inside prison, Randy Via shares honest, unfiltered conversations about daily life behind bars, prison culture, personal growth, accountability, and survival on the Red Onion Randy Podcast.

Lucy Burns Museum
Group of ten people standing in front of a sign celebrating the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, with additional historical information displayed on the wall and a statue of Lady Justice to the right.

KEEP OUR

HISTORY ALIVE

Love local history? Become a Museum Docent! Share the fascinating story of the former Lorton Prison and its transformation into the Workhouse Arts Center. Help visitors step back in time and discover a powerful piece of our nation’s past.

Become a Docent

Visit the Museum

June – August
Thursday 11 am - 6 pm
Friday 11 am - 6 pm
Saturday 11 am - 6 pm
Sunday Noon-5 pm 

September – May
Friday 11 am - 6 pm
Saturday 11 am - 6 pm
Sunday Noon-5 pm

Holiday Closures
New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve (half day), Christmas Day

Contact Us

Phone:
703-584-2972 (Office) | 703-584-2917 (Front Desk)

Location: Building W-2 (South East corner of the quad)

Admission:  Free, main galleries


Guided Cellblock Tour: $5 per person, $3 for veterans/active duty and youth 12 years and younger, and under 5 are free.
Cellblock tours are offered on rolling basis when there is a docent onsite. Please call if you’d like to confirm docent availability.

Group Tours

Group tours are available for a fee.

Group Tour Guidelines

Group Tour Request Form

Support the Workhouse Arts Center

The Workhouse Arts Center, a project of the Workhouse Arts Foundation, raises funds to fuel inspiration and provide engaging, multidisciplinary community arts experiences for more than 100,000 visitors every year. Make a tax-deductible contribution to support Workhouse and its programs today!

Workhouse Arts Foundation is grateful for the support of the following partners:

Join & Give
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