What's New

This July marks 275 years since Alexandria’s founding in 1749. The City of Alexandria will be celebrating with events from April through September. Visit the ALX275 webpage to stay on top of all the festivities and learning opportunities this year. 

Buried Ships of Robinson Landing Windowfront Exhibit - NOW OPEN!
Archaeology on the Waterfront
Robinson Landing Gallery, Corner of the Strand and Pioneer Mill Way
Exhibit is designed to be viewed from the sidewalk through the end of the year. 

The scale models of the three Robinson Landing ships will be on view in the new “Buried Ships of Robinson Landing” windowfront exhibit, in the Robinson Landing Gallery. In 2018, archaeologists excavated the three historic vessels from the Robinson Landing Site, on the same block as the new exhibit. The scale models show what these ships may have looked like in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Archaeologists will join City officials to speak on the exhibit’s debut. Learn more about Archaeology at Robinson Terminal South. 

Visit alexandriava.gov/archaeology for more information or call Alexandria Archaeology at 703.746.4399.

Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum in April WETA Arts!

The Lyceum will be in the April episode of WETA Arts, which features a day in the life of Felicia Curry as she prepared to perform in a cabaret tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. with internationally renowned baritone Aaron Reeder. Some of the filming for this “day in the life of” feature took place at the Lyceum where Felicia performed for Metrostage.  

You can watch this episode live Monday, April 15 at 9:30 p.m. on WETA PBS and 8:30 p.m. on WETA Metro. Visit WETA Arts | WETA for full schedule/listings. Stream full episodes on the free PBS App and on weta.org; see video segments on YouTube (@wetapbs) starting April 16.  

Upcoming Events

Lecture: The Brutal Truth of 1315 Duke Street Revealed: The 1837 Case of Dorcas Allen
Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum Thursday
April 18
7-8 p.m.
$15 per person, $12 for volunteers and members of Historic Alexandria, purchase in advance

Learn about Dorcas Allen, a woman living with her husband and four children as a free Black woman in Washington D.C. who was enslaved by James Birch, imprisoned in Alexandria, and tried for the murder of her two youngest children. A jury acquitted her by reason of insanity and, with John Quincy Adams’ assistance, she regained her freedom. This is a story of African American agency in the most desperate of circumstances...when an enslaved mother feels death is better for her children than life in bondage. Proceeds from the event support Freedom House Museum.

The lecture for tonight will be led by Dr. Alison Mann, who serves as the Historian at the National Museum of American Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State as a subject matter expert in the field of diplomatic history, 19th-century American history, public history, and education. Before joining the museum, she was Assistant Professor of History at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA, teaching courses in public history, multicultural America, and early American history. She has also taught diplomatic history and the history of American slavery and abolitionism at the University of New Hampshire and Franklin Pierce University and worked as a Park Ranger for Boston African American National Historic Site. She holds an MA and Ph.D. from the University of New Hampshire, and a BA from Rutgers University.

Garden Day Tours
Carlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax St. 
Saturday, April 20
11 a.m.-3 p.m. 
Free, suggested $5 donation towards garden restoration

Join us for open house style tours of the garden at Carlyle House as part of the Historic Garden Week in Virginia.  Experts will be on hand to answer questions about working within the confines of a historic garden in an ever changing climate.  Tours are continuous throughout the day.  No reservations are required.

Gadsby's Tavern Museum Society Spring Fling 2024
Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St.
Saturday, April 20
6:30 p.m.-10 p.m.
Tickets available online

GTMS invites you to a jazz concert featuring music by Yvette Spears Jazz Quorum which will be accompanied by savory and sweet offerings from the Gadsby’s Tavern Restaurant, an open bar, and a Spring Showers Silent Auction full of a wide variety of interesting items and memorable experiences.  We will also have a live auction of some items by Celebrity Auctioneer Danny Smith. 

Proceeds from the $150 per person Tickets and the $1,200 Table Sponsorships (with special benefits for corporate sponsors) will support the GTMS Endowment, which helps to ensure the future of Alexandria’s 18th century historic gem.  (You’ll be listening to music and dining in the Ballroom where George Washington danced, and Thomas Jefferson held his inaugural dinner.)

This year’s Spring Showers Silent Auction offers another excellent selection of fascinating items and unique experiences. So far, we have items, gift certificates, and gift baskets given by generous merchants such as Sara Campbell, Balducci's, Blackwall Hitch, Salon Monte, Ace Hardware, and the Market Square Shop plus Rubini, King's, Today’s Cargo Jewelers. Organizations and individuals are offering marvelous experiences such as one-night stay at the Alexandrian Hotel, Twilight Polo VIP pass, private gourmet dinners in Old Town homes, and plus tickets to Tall Ship Providence, the Little Theatre of Alexandria, Arena Stage, DC United, and Nationals games. Check in on our growing online list of donors.

Our Spring Fling 2024 webpage provides more information and opportunity to buy tickets or table sponsorships. Last year, this event sold out and some of our Sponsorships have already been snapped up, so avoid disappointment and make your plans and purchases this week.

Joseph McCoy Remembrance Event
Penny Hill Cemetery, 700 block of S. Payne Street
Tuesday, April 23
5 p.m.
Free

The 2024 Joseph McCoy Remembrance event will be held April 23 at Penny Hill Cemetery on the 700 block of S. Payne Street. Joseph McCoy was lynched on April 23, 1897. Join us for a wreath laying and remarks during this powerful ceremony at the burial site for Mr. McCoy. Parking available on S. Payne Street and at Nannie J. Lee Center.

Community Cookouts:
Ewald Park, 4452 Duke Street
Tuesday, April 23
6- 7:30 p.m.
Free

Brent Place, 375 S. Reynolds Street
Tuesday, April 30 6-7:30 p.m.
Free

Ruby Tucker Center at 322 Tancil Court
Tuesday, May 7 6-7:30 p.m.
Free

Join us for  a series of Community Cookouts in 2024! A great time for neighbors and families to come together and connect with community resources. There will be free food, face painting and activities, games for the kids and giveaways. For more information, email Michael Johnson or call 703.898.5115; or email Officer Bennie Evans or call 703.627.0728

Spring2Action - Moss Kendrix
April 24

Donate to support the Moss Kendrix exhibition, coming June 2024. Many of these pieces will be seen by the public for the first time! Visit www.spring2action.org.

Historic Cemetery Tour 
Saturday, April 27 1 p.m. 
Tickets are $20 per person and must be purchased in advance on Lee-Fendall's Eventbrite page: leefendallhouse.eventbrite.com

Tickets are $20 per person and must be purchased in advance.

Embark on an extraordinary walking tour through the historic Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex. Immerse yourself in the captivating lives of remarkable individuals laid to rest here who share a profound connection to the landmark Lee-Fendall House. This exclusive tour offers a rare opportunity to visit gravesites not typically covered elsewhere, unveiling tales of duels, cavalry battles, encounters with the Marquis de Lafayette, and many other intriguing narratives.

By participating in this unique tour, you not only immerse yourself in riveting history but also contribute to a meaningful cause. All proceeds from the tour will directly benefit the preservation and maintenance of the cherished Lee-Fendall House.The tour is limited to 25 participants and lasts approximately one hour. Members receive a $5 discount. All proceeds from the tour will directly benefit the preservation and maintenance of the Lee-Fendall House.

Tours start at the intersection of Hamilton & Wilkes Street, Alexandria. Parking is available on Hamilton Ave. 

Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee Spring Jazz Fête
Lloyd House, 220 North Washington Street
Saturday, May 4
4-7 p.m.
$55 / $22 for ages 17 & under
Tickets available online. 

Join the Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee in the Lloyd House Garden for a spectacular afternoon celebrating the rich cultural exchange between France & America through the universal language of jazz! Dance to a live Jazz Band and immerse yourself in the world of jazz with Smithsonian lecturer Paul Glenshaw, co-director of the upcoming documentary “Jazz in Paris.” Indulge in exquisite French crêpes paired with sparkling wines and ciders from our “Crêpes and Bubbles Bar.” Scavenger hunt, games and an auction to benefit Alexandria - Caen Exchange Students. Tickets are $55 / $22 for children 17 and under.

La Musique de la Garde Nationale Parisienne
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St.
Tuesday, May 7
7-9 p.m.
$20 per person
Tickets available online. 

Enjoy a lecture and concert of music from Lafayette’s lifetime performed on early 19th -century instruments.

Historic Alexandria receives City operational funding to support its mission; however, these resources do not cover the full scope of the department’s strategic goals and projects. Donations, special revenue, and grant funding help supplement staff, conservation work, and educational programs. Please consider making a gift today.

Traditional Music Series Concert
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St.
Thursday, May 9
7-9 p.m.
$25/$12 Ages 12-17 at ticketstripe.com/magillandmurray

Traditional Music Series concert, featuring Andrew Finn Magill (fiddle) & Alan Murray (vocals, bouzouki, and guitar). For twenty years violinist/fiddler and composer Andrew Finn Magill has been pursuing parallel careers in traditional Irish music, Brazilian choro, jazz and American fiddle and he has performed with everyone from grammy-nominees Trio Brasileiro to Rising Appalachia.  He has been featured on PBS, NPR, TEDx and MTV-U. Guitarist, bouzouki player and singer Alan Murray hails from Glasgow, Scotland, where he grew up playing the whistle and later guitar. Eventually moving to New York City, he has established himself as an in-demand performer and teacher on the Irish music scene. He has played and toured around the world with many of the finest traditional musicians and acts today, including Niall and Cillian Vallely, Eileen Ivers, Colin Farrell, Paul Brock, Battlefield Band, and FourWinds. Doors open at 7 p.m., concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Free snacks; cash bar for beer, wine, and a specialty cocktail.

Story Time for Little Historians
Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
Saturday, May 11
10-10:45 a.m.
Free event, no registration required. Call 703-746-4356 for more information. 

This FREE, fun, and educational story time is geared to children ages 5-8 years old and features stories related to Black History. The program uses books written by and about African American people and other communities of color to educate and inspire our youngest visitors. Along with the book reading, Museum Staff provides historical context and local community connections. Story time will be held in the Museum’s Parker-Gray Gallery. 

Specialty Tour: Peeling Back the Layers
Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St.
Every Sunday in May, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
$15/OHA Members $12
Tickets available online. 

Explore the 18th century buildings, including spaces rarely opened to the public. From graffiti in the attic to clues in the basement about the building's construction date, learn to "read" a building and its changes through time.  Wear comfortable shoes, be prepared for stairs, and bring your camera! The tour begins in the shop of Gadsby’s Tavern Museum.

Historic Alexandria Museum Hours

• Alexandria Archaeology Museum
  Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays, 1-5 p.m.
• Alexandria Black History Museum
  Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays, 1-5 p.m.
• Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum
  Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays, 1-5 p.m.
• Fort Ward Museum
  Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays, 1-5 p.m.
• Freedom House Museum
  Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays and Mondays, 1-5 p.m.
• Friendship Firehouse Museum
  Saturday, April 27, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
  Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays through Tuesdays, 1-5 p.m.
• Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
  Wednesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays and Mondays 1-5 p.m.

Visit our website and follow us on social media to discover new things about your hometown. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/Historic. Admission to City of Alexandria museums is complimentary for city residents.

This Week in Alexandria's History

On April 15, 1791, the first boundary stone of the District of Columbia was laid at Jones Point in Alexandria. During a ceremony, the Alexandria Masonic Lodge set the stone at the south corner of the boundary of the new federal district. 

Upcoming Commission and Committee Events

• April 15 George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee Meeting
  7-9 p.m.
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
• April 15 Alexandria Sister Cities Committee
  7-8 p.m.
  Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, Alexandria City Hall, 301 King Street
• April 15 Public Records Advisory Commission
  7:30 p.m.
  Archives and Records Center, 801 S Payne Street
• April 16 Historic Alexandria Resources Commission (HARC)
  7-9 p.m.
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
• April 17 Alexandria Archaeological Commission
  7-9 p.m.
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
• April 18 ACRP McCoy Remembrance Planning Meeting
  12-1 p.m.
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
• April 18 Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee Lafayette Tour Subcommittee Meeting
  Zoom
  8-9 p.m.