Mount Marshall Overlooks sits at an elevation of 2,850 ft (868 m) and looks southeast onto the Piedmont region of Virginia. The land around Mount Marshall was once part of a land grant known as the Manor of Leeds belonging to Thomas, 6th Lord of Fairfax. After Fairfax died, the land went to his heirs, who sold it to speculators. The speculator who purchased this land was John Marshall, still well known today for his long tenure as a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Marshall held this position from 1801 to 1835, during which time he made many decisions supporting federalism and made a lasting impact on the judicial branch of government.