Leesburg’s historic Union Street School reopens with a public ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 14, 2026, followed by an open house from about 12 to 2 p.m. at 24 Union St. NW. Loudoun County says it invested about $6.2 million restoring the 1884 building, which will house the Loudoun Freedom Center Museum at Union Street. There is no on-site parking, so plan to park at the Courts Complex or the Pennington Garage and take the county shuttle.
Quick summary
- Saturday, November 14, 2026: ribbon cutting at 11 a.m., with a ceremonial signing of the building lease by the Loudoun Freedom Center.
- Open house from about 12 to 2 p.m., with guided tours and storytelling by Union Street School alumni.
- Location: 24 Union St. NW, Leesburg. No on-site parking; a county shuttle runs from the parking area.
- Loudoun County says it invested approximately $6.2 million in the restoration.
A Leesburg school with a story that starts in 1884
Most people walking through downtown Leesburg are looking at the courthouse and the shops along King Street. A few blocks away sits a building with a very different history. According to Loudoun County, the Union Street School was established in 1884 as the Leesburg Training Center and educated African American students during segregation. Over the years it operated under several names and served students from elementary through high school.
The county’s own account is frank about conditions: coal-burning stoves, oil-soaked floors and no fire escape for students in the upstairs classrooms. Parents and community leaders pushed for safer, accredited schools, and civil rights attorney Charles Hamilton Houston, the NAACP’s first general counsel, came to Loudoun County in 1940 to help. The school closed in 1958 after the county opened Douglass High School and a consolidated elementary school in Leesburg. Today the property is listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.
Sixty years of storage, then a $6.2 million restoration
Here is the part most locals do not know: after it closed, Loudoun County Public Schools used the building for storage for about 60 years. The property was transferred to county government in 2019, and in 2021 the Board of Supervisors set up a capital project to restore it.
The county says the roughly $6.2 million covered restored historic windows, flooring and stonework, plus an elevator, restrooms, structural reinforcements and updated fire protection systems. In 2023, supervisors approved a lease with the Loudoun Freedom Center through the county’s Resident Curator Program, which makes the center responsible for day-to-day operation, maintenance and security. Union Street School is the first property in that program. The planned museum will feature interactive exhibits, workforce development and STEM education, community programming, and rentable event and meeting space.
What to know before you go on Saturday
Parking is the part to plan for. The county says there is no on-site parking at the school. The Loudoun County Courts Complex parking is the designated location, and visitors are encouraged to use the Pennington Parking Lot and Garage at 210 Church Street NE. A shuttle circulates from 30 minutes before the ribbon cutting until the open house ends. The county’s event parking map (PDF) has the details. Allow extra time, and check the county’s announcement before you head out in case anything changes.
If you are making a day of it, our Leesburg Historic District guide covers the blocks around the school, and the Leesburg events calendar lists what else is happening in town.
What this means for Leesburg homeowners
For homeowners in and around the historic district, a restored landmark with a museum, classes and event space is a real addition to downtown. It gives residents and visitors another reason to spend a weekend walking the blocks near King Street, and it puts a long-vacant, county-owned building back into public use without the county running it day to day. Projects like this tend to shape how a downtown feels over time, which is something buyers often ask about when they compare towns. For a broader look at the local market, visit our Leesburg real estate page, and if you are curious what your own home might be worth today, try the Leesburg home value tool.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Union Street School ribbon cutting in Leesburg?
Saturday, November 14, 2026. Loudoun County says the ribbon cutting starts at 11 a.m., followed by an open house from about 12 to 2 p.m. with guided tours and storytelling by Union Street School alumni.
Is the Union Street School open house open to the public?
Yes. Loudoun County’s announcement invites community members to the ribbon cutting and open house, alongside members of the Board of Supervisors, Loudoun Freedom Center officials and school alumni. The announcement does not mention tickets or an admission fee.
Where do I park for the Union Street School event?
There is no on-site parking at 24 Union St. NW. The county designates the Loudoun County Courts Complex parking and encourages visitors to use the Pennington Parking Lot and Garage at 210 Church Street NE. A county shuttle circulates from 30 minutes before the ribbon cutting until the open house ends.
How much did the Union Street School restoration cost?
Loudoun County says it invested approximately $6.2 million in the restoration, including restored historic windows, flooring and stonework, an elevator, restrooms, structural reinforcements and updated fire protection systems.
What will the Union Street School become?
It is being leased to the Loudoun Freedom Center, which will operate the Loudoun Freedom Center Museum at Union Street. The county says plans include interactive exhibits, workforce development and STEM education, community programming, and event and meeting space available to rent.
Sources
- Loudoun County, Ribbon Cutting & Open House Set for Nov. 14 for the Loudoun Freedom Center Museum at Union Street (posted October 28, 2026)
- Loudoun County, Union Street School Rehabilitation project page
- Loudoun County, Union Street School event parking (PDF)
Details are as posted by Loudoun County as of October 28, 2026. The $6.2 million figure is the county’s own number.