Permanent Exhibit

The newly reconfigured Museum proudly displays Reston's 45+ year story in a series of twelve eight-foot high panels, augmented by pictures, objects and videos that help to tell the story of Reston.   Each month our on-line summary will feature one of those panels. A resource booklet is available to Museum members.

From New Town to Our Town

(click images for larger view)

1. A New Town



The picture on the title panel is an aerial view of Heron House, the high rise apartment building on Lake Anne and one of the first structures cpmpleted in the development of Reston. The picture was taken in the late 1990's for Chuck Veatch's book The Nature of Reston. It demonstrates the degree to which Reston's wooded parkland was preserved!

2. The Big Idea: seven goals



In 1961, Robert Simon purchased 6,750 acres and began plans for a "new town" in the Northern Virginia suburbs. Bob Simon's vision fior his community took the form of seven goals:

1. Leisure time
2. Housing for all
3. Diversity
4. Live and work
5. Amenities
6. Beauty
7. Financial success

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3. The Influences: example and inspiration



Born in 1914, Robert E. Simon Jr. grew up in an upper middle class family in Manhattan. At an early age, he was responsible for his family’s real estate business. His Manhattan experiences and extensive European travel shaped his vision for a clustered community.

Specific influences were:
• Radburn, NJ
• Portofina, Italy
• Tapiola, Finland
• Geneva, Switzerland

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4. The Land: an historic landscape



Reston is located in the North-West corner of Fairfax County in the North-Eastern corner of Virginia – 22 miles West of Washington, DC. Dr. Wiehle founded a utopian community on that spot in the late 1880’s. The Bowman family operated a dairy farm and distillery up to 1960.

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5. The Context: a cultural landscape



This panel describes American life in the 1950 and 60’s – the context in which Bob Simon was planning the beginning of a new community in Reston. He sought to change the isolation and segregation of then suburban America.

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6. The Plan: landmark innovation



Simon’s Reston Master Plan is adopted by Fairfax County in 1962 as new zoning called Residential Planned Community.
Features include:
• Clustered Density
• Mixed Use
• Dedicated Open Space

7. The Plan Evolves: corporate era



Gulf Oil assumes development control in 1967, followed by Mobil Oil in 1978, and Terrabrook in 1987. All adhere to Simon’s original master plan.

8. Live, Work & Play



Reston offers housing in various styles to all income groups. Local industry, in place from the beginning, offers jobs in business, government and education. Reston offers 55 miles of pathways, community pools, tennis, ball fields and golf courses.

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9. Live, Work, Play & Serve: new town to our town



Service to the community is an integral part of Reston life. Many volunteer organizations provide that opportunity:
• Reston Association (RA) - Umbrella homeowners group that oversees public space and covenants
• Reston Citizens Assn (RCA) - Forum for community issues
• Reston Community Center (RCA) - Special tax district supports social, cultural aquatic and recreational activities at two locations

10. Nature: living in a park



One seventh of Reston land – 1350 acres – is set aside as permanent open space with stream valleys, lakes, woods and meadows accessible by pathways that meander throughout the community.

11. Town Center: urban live, work & play



Always in the Reston Master Plan, the first phase of Reston Town Center opened in 1990. It embodies city streets, walk-able blocks, and street-level shops integrated with office space and residences.

12. Restonians



Reston residents, now over 63,000, have a strong sense of community in the place and institutions that they helped create. Perhaps the lack of traditional governmental structures have continued the innovative and participatory spirit that keeps the “culture of Reston” alive after 45 years.

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