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 opened April 6, 2024 and 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.

Upcoming Events

Exhibit: "Searching for Truth in the Garden" at Freedom House Museum
Freedom House Museum, 1315 Duke Street
Now until April 15
Free for City of Alexandria residents. $5 per adult, $3 per child (ages 5-12) otherwise.

Gonzaga High School’s groundbreaking research on slavery, “Searching for Truth in the Garden,” found new life at the Freedom House Museum. The traveling exhibition, on view through April 15, delves into the life of Gabriel, a teenager enslaved at Washington Seminary (now Gonzaga) in 1829. Gabriel’s story offers a poignant lens through which to examine the complexities of slavery and its lasting impact.

Douglass Cemetery Drainage and Preservation Updates
Tuesday, April 9
6-7:30 p.m.
Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson St Exhibit Hall
Free

Douglass Cemetery, located at 1421 Wilkes Street, has several preservation issues, including flooding and drainage problems.

The City of Alexandria staff from the Office of Historic Alexandria, Department of Project Implementation, Transportation and Environmental Services, and Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities are working to address these preservation issues. The Social Responsibility Group and the Friends of Douglass Cemetery have dedicated their efforts to raise awareness of the significance of the historic African American cemetery and resolve the preservation issues. The City has developed plans to implement solutions that are respectful and appropriate to the sensitive nature of the site. City Staff will present an update on the plans to mitigate the causes of flooding in addition to other preservation updates.

The meeting will be held at the Lee Center from 6:00-6:45 p.m. NOTE: The meeting will then move to Douglass Cemetery at 6:45 p.m. for an on-site discussion for participants who would like to visit the site. Questions about the project can be submitted in advance at: historicalexandria@alexandriava.gov. The presentation will be posted on the project webpage after the meeting.

For more information on Douglass Cemetery, visit alexandriava.gov/historic-sites/douglass-memorial-cemetery

Beyond the Battlefield: A Civil War Walking Tour
Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco St.
Saturday, April 13
10  a.m.
Tickets are $15 to the general public and free for museum members.
Tickets can be purchased at leefendallhouse.eventbrite.com.

This walking tour shares the stories of soldiers, citizens, and self-liberated African Americans in Civil War Alexandria. It covers the military occupation, the conversion of public and private buildings into hospitals, and emancipation. 

Tickets must be purchased in advance. The tour is limited to 12 participants and lasts approximately an hour and a half. Walking tours take place rain or shine, so please wear appropriate shoes and clothing. For more information, please call 703-548-1789 or e-mail contact@leefendallhouse.org.

Story Time for Little Historians
Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
Saturday, April 13
10-10:45 a.m.
Free event, no registration required.

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. Call 703-746-4356 for more information.

Civil War Hospital Tour
Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco St. 
Saturday, April 13
2 p.m.
Tickets are $10 to the general public and free for museum members. 
Tickets can be purchased at leefendallhouse.eventbrite.com.

Learn how the Lee-Fendall House was confiscated during the Civil War and operated as a Union Army hospital. Explore what life was like in Union-occupied Alexandria, how the Lee-Fendall House witnessed medical history, and how political divisions impacted those living here. 

Members, please call the museum to reserve your ticket. The tour is limited to 12 participants. Please e-mail contact@leefendallhouse.org or call 703-548-1789 with any questions.

Whisky Tasting
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum
Saturday, April 13
5-7 p.m.
$60 per person, pre-register

Join us for an evening of Scotch and camaraderie as whisky enthusiasts lead a guided tasting across the five whisky regions of Scotland. Sample five whiskies from across Scotland while learning about the rich tapestry that is Scotch Whiskey. Hors d’oeuvres will be provided. For non-whisky drinkers, wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be available. Ticket holders will take home with them their very own souvenir Glencairn glass to continue their exploration of the diverse and complex world of Scotch.

Proceeds from the fundraiser aid the Alexandria Sister Cities Committee mission to support the educational and cultural exchanges between Alexandria, VA and her sister cities of Dundee, Scotland and Helsingborg, Sweden. Minimum Age: 21

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.

Gadsby's Tavern Museum Society Spring Fling 2024
Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St.
Saturday, April 20
6:30 p.m.-10:00 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 Cookout
Ewald Park, 4452 Duke Street
Tuesday, April 23
6- 7:30 p.m.
Free

Join us for the first in 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.

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.

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
  Saturdays, March 16 and April 27, 11 a.m.-5 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

In the early Spring of 1907, a number of Alexandria residents came forth with reports of the unusual fecundity of fowls belonging to them, some with their eggs linked, others with their daily egg output suddenly multiplied. On April 10 of that year, it was reported that Mr. John Travers of South Henry Street had the most unusual output of all. One of his hens had laid a huge “triplicate” egg, the size of a goose egg that, when opened revealed three distinct eggs inside. The event was described locally as just “another lusus naturae,” meaning “freak of nature.”

Upcoming Commission and Committee Events

• April 8 Sister Cities Caen Committee Meeting
  7-9 p.m.
  Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, Alexandria City Hall, 301 King Street
• April 10 Historic Restoration and Preservation Committee Meeting
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street 8:15 a.m. -9:30 a.m.
• 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 Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee Lafayette Tour Subcommittee Meeting
  Zoom
  8-9 p.m.