Our Mission

Art Born from History

The prison was, for much of its history, an agricultural work camp. Intended to be self-sufficient, the prison developed extensive agricultural operations: cultivated fields; pastureland; an orchard/cannery; a poultry farm; hog ranch; slaughterhouse; dairy; blacksmith shop, and a sawmill. Along with all of these functions, it also contained feed, hay, and storage barns.

By the late 1980s, the prison was known more for its over-crowding and disorganization than for President Roosevelt’s rehabilitation program, becoming representative of the nation’s difficulties with correctional facilities. Federal legislation enacted in 1997 required the prison to be closed by December 31, 2001, with the last prisoner leaving in November of 2001. In 2002 the land was sold to Fairfax County for $4.2 million dollars, with the understanding that the land was to be used for open space, parkland, or recreation use.

A group of community leaders proposed a plan to transform a 55-acre portion of the former prison facility into a cultural arts center. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the rezoning in July of 2004, and the Workhouse Arts Center was born. A year later, the site was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places. After several years of planning, adaptive reuse and rehabilitation of the historic buildings, the Workhouse Arts Center opened to the public in September 2008.