Alexandria’s African American History includes a vibrant free black population dating to the 18th century, one of the largest domestic slave trading operations, and early actions in the Civil Rights movement.  

Learn about the history of Black education in Alexandria, from 1793 to 2023.

Alexandria was originally founded as a port on the Potomac River. Research and ongoing archaeological work is revealing more about the City’s maritime past.

Learn about how Alexandria responded when British forces arrived off the shore of Alexandria just after the burning of Washington in August of 1814. 

The Confessions of John Trust is an epic story from 1866 that has it all: adventure, romance, a long-lost twin, hypnotism, and murder. It combines the Tale of the Female Stranger, the real-life murder of William Seaver, and features actual Alexandria locations.

Alexandria has a long history of residents who moved here from Central and South America. Beginning in the 1980s, a large community from El Salvador settled in the neighborhood we now call “Chirilagua,” after the city in El Salvador of the same name.

Learn more about the many historic cemeteries within the City of Alexandria. 

Learn about the history of preservation in Alexandria. 

Learn about Alexandria’s immigrant community, through Oral Histories.

In Alexandria, there is documentation of the lynching of two individuals, Benjamin Thomas and Joseph McCoy. Learn about their stories and the times in which they lived. 

Throughout the centuries, women have made significant contributions to Alexandria. Find stories about some of the women in our community.

Read transcriptions of more than 200 interviews conducted with long-time City residents.