As someone who grew up walking these same streets, I can tell you—it’s easy to forget just how much history sits under our feet in downtown Leesburg.
On Saturday, March 7, local historian Rich Gillespie will lead a two-hour walking tour titled “Leesburg, Loudoun and the American Revolution.” The tour begins at 10 a.m. at the parking lot of the Thomas Balch Library, right in the heart of town.
This isn’t just a history lecture. It’s a chance to stand where the story happened.
Loudoun Before It Was Loudoun
In the 1770s, when tensions with Britain were boiling over, Loudoun County was still young. It had only been established in 1757 by Virginia’s House of Burgesses. Back then, this area was considered the “Southern Back Country”—a frontier of sorts.
Settlers came not only from Tidewater Virginia but down from Pennsylvania, bringing different traditions, religions, and political ideas. That mix shaped how people here responded as the American Revolution unfolded.
Gillespie will walk participants through that turbulent decade, explaining how national events played out right here in Leesburg. The buildings and streets we pass every day were once the backdrop for debates about independence, loyalty, and survival.
What to Expect
The tour runs about two hours and will be entirely outdoors. Organizers recommend good walking shoes, warm clothes, and a bottle of water. Early March weather can be unpredictable, and you’ll want to be comfortable.
Only 50 spots are available, and pre-registration is required. To sign up, call 703-737-7195, email balchlib@leesburgva.gov, or register online through the town. If you can’t make this one, the tour will be offered again in fall 2026.
A Familiar Voice in Local History
Many longtime residents will recognize Gillespie as a veteran history teacher in Loudoun County. He also serves as Historian Emeritus for the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area Association. His tours are known for connecting the dots between the sweeping events we read about in textbooks and the specific corners of Loudoun where those events took shape.
If you’ve ever wondered what Leesburg looked like when revolution was more than a word in a book, this is your chance to find out.
Sometimes preserving history isn’t about grand monuments. It’s about slowing down, looking closely, and remembering that this “new” and fast-growing county was once a rough-edged frontier trying to decide its future.
And in many ways, that still feels familiar.
