Fairfax County's 250th LEGO Exhibit Opens At Tysons Corner Center

TYSONS, VA — Fairfax County's 250-year history is now on display one brick at a time.

County leaders, Visit Fairfax, Tysons Corner Center and members of the Northern Virginia LEGO Users Group (NOVA-LUG) gathered Wednesday afternoon to unveil an interactive LEGO exhibit celebrating Fairfax County's 250th anniversary. The display, located near the LEGO Store on Level 1 of Tysons Corner Center, features custom-built recreations of landmarks, neighborhoods and community scenes from each of the county's nine magisterial districts.

The installation is part of Fairfax County's participation in the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission, a statewide effort commemorating the nation's semiquincentennial and Virginia's central role in the founding of the United States. Fairfax County's celebration highlights the county's Revolutionary-era history while also showcasing its modern communities and future.

On Wednesday, visitors explored dozens of LEGO creations depicting recognizable Fairfax County destinations, including the Historic Fairfax County Courthouse, Great Falls, Mount Vernon, and Tysons Corner Center. Smaller "slice of life" scenes capture everyday experiences and local traditions throughout the county.

Exhibit Will Continue To Evolve

Unlike a traditional museum exhibit, organizers said the display will change throughout the remainder of 2026.

"This isn't how it's going to look all year," NOVA-LUG President Tanner Johnson told attendees. "At different points in the year, we'll pull some things out and bring new things in to celebrate the holiday season. ... People that are visiting it a second or a third time will find new things to see and be excited about."

Seasonal neighborhood scenes and decorations will replace some of the smaller displays during Halloween, Thanksgiving and the winter holidays while the larger landmark models remain in place. The exhibit is scheduled to remain on display through early January 2027.

Johnson said NOVA-LUG, a volunteer LEGO user group founded in 2024, has nearly 40 members, with more than 20 contributing to the project over several months.

"We were contacted by the county in January," Johnson said. "The building happened over March, April, May, June," with some models taking more than a month to complete.

In all, the exhibit currently includes roughly 30 separate displays, with at least one major landmark representing each magisterial district.

Bringing Fairfax County's Story To Life

Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik (D) said the exhibit offers residents and visitors a creative way to experience Fairfax County's history.

"I think there's no better way to celebrate the 250 years of our country and to really show that here in this modern building in the heart of Tysons," Palchik said. "LEGOS are for everyone."

Tammy Mannarino, secretary of the Fairfax County VA250 Commission and vice chair of the Fairfax County History Commission, said the exhibit reflects the county's goal of celebrating its past, present and future.

"When we celebrate a big-number birthday for a family member, we don't just celebrate the day of their birth. We celebrate their entire lives," Mannarino said. "That's what we're doing in this community... celebrating the entire life of the county — the past, present and the future."

In an interview following the ceremony, Mannarino said the display also serves as an invitation for people to visit the places represented in LEGO form.

"It was an excellent way to showcase our historic and natural resources, explore Fairfax County, get people excited about visiting these places and maybe building their own LEGO creations at the same time," she said.

Mannarino added that the Board of Supervisors directed the commission to ensure the county's 250th anniversary programming reaches every part of Fairfax County while highlighting its history, current attractions and future.

Tourism And Community Connections

Visit Fairfax President and CEO Barry Biggar said Tysons Corner Center was an ideal location because of the millions of annual visitors who pass through the mall.

"I cannot think of a better place to have this," Biggar said. "When you consider in excess of 20 million people come through this place every year, you can be assured hundreds of thousands will see your work."

Johnson said the collaboration reflects NOVA-LUG's broader mission of building community through LEGO.

"We are a community of builders, and we're a community that is focused on being a safe and developing place for people," he said. "Communities are going to make you better and make our community, our county better, and our country better."

The Fairfax County LEGO exhibit is free to view during Tysons Corner Center's regular mall hours. Visitors can also find information about NOVA-LUG at the display and explore additional Fairfax County VA250 events through the county's anniversary program.