Freedom House Museum

1315 Duke Street

The Freedom House Museum is what remains of a large complex dedicated to trafficking thousands of Black men, women, and children from 1828 - 1861. Slavery, race-based laws, and racial terror erased and diminished African American history and contributions from the national narrative. This Museum seeks to reframe white supremacist history.

This Museum honors the lives and experiences of the enslaved and free Black people who lived in and were trafficked through Alexandria. We invite you to visit the museum to learn, reflect, and advocate for change.

The Museum is part of the African American History Division. This division, formed in 2023, will ensure the continued inclusion of Black History in City museums and public programming, as well as advancing the City’s goal of building a welcoming community through equity and inclusion.

Freedom House Closing to Visitors During Front Door Restoration

Effective Monday, May 5

Freedom House Museum will be temporarily closed to visitors beginning Monday, May 5, to allow for the completion of the front façade restoration and installation of new entry doors. The restoration process idepends on the arrival and installation of specialized hardware and we do not anticipate reopening until July.

Restoration Updates Coming Soon.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to preserve and enhance this important historic site.

Help Shape the Future of Alexandria’s Museums: Participate in a Social Impact Study!

Help Shape the Future of Alexandria’s Museums: Participate in a Social Impact Study! The Office of Historic Alexandria is one of forty institutions from across the nation participating in this study.

About the Museum

The City of Alexandria is pleased to announce that the Freedom House Museum at 1315 Duke Street is now open Thursday - Monday, with three new exhibitions showcasing Alexandria’s Black history and the Black experience in America. See hours and how to reserve tickets.

Slave Pen, Price, Birch and Co., 1860s. Andrew Russel, Library of Congress

The Franklin and Armfield Slave Pen at 1315 Duke Street was one of the largest slave trading companies in the country and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

1315 Duke Street, Slave Pen, 1836 Anti-Slavery Society Broadside (LOC)

Read news articles from 2018 to present. The City purchased the property in 2020, in order to preserve and interpret this National Historic Landmark and ensure it is open to the public for future generations.

Slave Market of America broadside by American Anti Slavery Society, 1836 (LOC)

Support the preservation and interpretation of Freedom House, as we share the history of not only the site, but the larger African American story of Alexandria. Join us as we work to share the full history of Alexandria for all.

Freedom House is a part of the African American History Division. Learn more about the other museums, parks and trails, exhibits, programs, and history.

Historic Preservation of 1315 Duke Street

Drawing of front elevation showing proposed changes

The Office of Historic Alexandria has begun the process of rehabilitating the exterior of the Museum. This work is guided by extensive historical documentation of the building and was recommended in the Historic Structures Report and supported by the community in the Comprehensive Plan.

The Historic Structure Report (HSR) for 1315 Duke Street, the Freedom House Museum, was formally presented by SmithGroup on October 28, 2021 and finalized in 2023. Watch a video of the presentation, view the presentation slideshow, read the full report or view a summary.

The Office of Historic Alexandria engaged with the community and stakeholders to create the Comprehensive Plan for the Freedom House Museum at 1315 Duke Street. The Plan will provide a road map for the future use, interpretation, and preservation of the property.

Searching for Truth in the Garden

Gonzaga High School's groundbreaking research on slavery delves into the life of Gabriel, a teenager enslaved at Washington Seminary (now Gonzaga) in 1829. The traveling exhibit, "Searching for Truth in the Garden," was on view at the Freedom House Museum through April 15, 2024, and the panels can be viewed online.

More Information

Contact the Museum

Freedom House Museum
1315 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703.746.4702

Contact the Museum (Alex311)

Social Media

Follow Historic Alexandria on social media and sign up for eNews.

City of Alexandria, VA

Search results cleared

Freedom House Museum