What's New

Annual D-Day Commemoration

Market Square; 301 King Street
Sunday, June 2
1-4 p.m.
Free event, no registration required. 

Join the Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy. The event will feature a commemorative ceremony, historical displays, reenactors, 40s music, swing dancing, and children’s activities.

 

 

Presentation of Murray-Dick-Fawcett House Historic Structures Report

Glavé & Holmes Architecture will present the Historic Structures Report (HSR) on the Murray-Dick-Fawcett House via Zoom on Thursday, June 6 at 3 p.m. The Zoom passcode for this virtual presentation is 968677.

The City engaged Glavé & Holmes Architecture (G&H) in 2022 to perform a Historic Structure Report (HSR) to summarize the history and evolution of the Murray-Dick-Fawcett House and document its form, materials, and condition. This would precede the creation of a Comprehensive Plan to develop the property into a destination for public visitation and heritage tourism.

 

 

Archaeological Commission Now Accepting Nominations for Brenman Award

The Alexandria Archaeological Commission (AAC) is now accepting nominations for the Bernard “Ben” Brenman Archaeology in Alexandria Award. The AAC established this award to celebrate the contributions of the late Ben Brenman, who devoted himself to finding, preserving, and sharing Alexandria’s rich and diverse heritage.  

The Brenman Award, established in 2007, is open to businesses, organizations, families, professional preservationists, volunteers, students, and other individuals who have demonstrated work or efforts in archaeological investigation, research, site protection, education, public interpretation, open space design, collections, or conservation. Nomination forms are available at alexandriava.gov/archaeology/ben-brenman-award-for-archaeology or by calling the Alexandria Archaeology Museum at 703.746.4399. The deadline for nominations is Friday, July 5.

 

Lewis Cass White: Preserving the Legacy of Fort Stevens

Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site, 4301 West Braddock Road 
Exhibition Open!

To honor the 160th Anniversary of the Battle of Fort Stevens, learn more about Lewis Cass White and his large collection of almost 200 documents, objects, and photographs related to his Civil War service and post-war mission to preserve the Defenses of Washington. More about the Lewis Cass White Collection online.

Upcoming Events

View the Historic Alexandria Calendar

Community Cookout
Andrew Adkins, 1200 block of Wythe Street 
Wednesday, May 29
6- 7:30 p.m.
Free

Join us for 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, contact Michael Johnson at 703.898.5115, michael.johnson@alexandriava.gov or Officer Bennie Evans at 703.627.0728.

 

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace-Happy Hour
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street
Last Friday of the month May-September (May 31st, June 28th, July 26th, Aug 30th, & Sept 27th)
6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
$20

Join our yoga instructor for an hour long Yoga class on Carlyle’s Magnolia Terrace. Afterwards, enjoy a mocktail with yoga participants and staff. Mocktails will change based on the month and will be announced on our social media! Yoga Happy Hours are a fundraiser for new exhibit cases in the museum and sponsored by the Friends of Carlyle House. For more details, visit the event website here.

 

Civil War Living History Day at Lee-Fendall
Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco Street 
Saturday, June 1
11 a.m.- 3 p.m.
$15/Free for Museum Members

Visit the Lee-Fendall House and learn how it was a Union Army hospital and the site of the first and only successful blood transfusion during the Civil War. Through living history demonstrations, a special house tour, medicinal plants table, and a brass band performance, you will immerse yourself in what it would have been like at the house during the mid-19th century.

Entry is on the hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and advance registration is required. Members, please call or e-mail the museum to reserve your tickets. Questions? Please call the museum at 703-548-1789 or e-mail contact@leefendallhouse.org.

 

Annual D-Day Lecture, “How Patton’s ‘Ghost Army’ Beat Hitler”
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street
Thursday, June 6
7-9 p.m.
$10 per person. Tickets available online.

The Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee welcomes Dr. Kim Bernard Holien, U.S. Army Historian (retired) to share the true story of a top-secret mission in Normandy, France, that paved the way for a successful Allied invasion on “D-Day.” In 2024, more than 80 years after their mission, soldiers of the “Ghost Army” received the highest civilian honor of the United States, the Congressional Gold Medal, for their clever tactics outwitting the enemy in the most unlikely ways. Their tactics were unconventional, including inflatable convoys, sound effects, fake radio shows, and misinformation. A reception will follow the lecture.

 

Traditional Concert Series
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street
Friday, June 7
7:30-9:30 p.m.
$25 per person/$12 ages 12-17 online.

Irish music featuring Brian Conway (fiddle) and Brendan Dolan (piano, flute, and whistle). Doors open at 7 p.m. and the 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, June 8
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.

 

Beyond the Battlefield: A Civil War Walking Tour
Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, June 8
10 a.m.
$15/Free for Museum Members
Tickets can be purchased online.

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. Tour begins at Lee-Fendall House. For more information, please call 703-548-1789 or e-mail contact@leefendallhouse.org.

 

Discovering Alexandria Architecture Walking Tour
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street
Saturday, June 8
10 a.m.
$20 per person, purchase in advance online. 

Alexandria has grown from a small town in the 18th century to a bustling small city in the 21st century. Join us for a tour of Alexandria  as we explore looking at the various Architecture styles that adorn the city streets and make it one of the best places to live and work. 

Reservations are required as space is limited. Please wear comfortable shoes for this 1.5 hour guided tour. Tour begins at Carlyle House,121 N. Fairfax Street. Tour is held rain or shine unless there is severe weather. 

Having trouble registering? Please call 703-549-2997 or email carlyle@nvrpa.org

 

Specialty Tours: Colonial Herbs & Spices
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street
Saturday, June 8
11 a.m. & 2 p.m.
$7 per person, register online. 

Colonists used herbs and spices in all aspects of their lives from cooking to medicinal. Join us in celebrating National Herb and Spice day with our specialty tours focusing on both native and imported herbs and spices that were used in colonial households. 

These special tours will take place at 11am and 2pm. Tours begin at Carlyle House,121 N. Fairfax Street. Registration is recommended but not required. Having trouble registering? Please call 703-549-2997 or email carlyle@nvrpa.org

 

Call for Strikes: American Labor in the 20th Century
Lee-Fendall House Museum, 614 Oronoco Street
Sunday, June 9
2 p.m.
$10 per person/Free for museum members
Tickets can be purchased online.

From deadly mine explosions to wartime strikes, the history of the 20th century American labor movement is full of violence and controversy. Explore the struggle for worker's rights at the home of one of its most powerful spokesmen, John L. Lewis. 

The tour is limited to 12 participants. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Questions? Please call the museum at 703-548-1789 or e-mail contact@leefendallhouse.org.

 

Culture Queen: Juneteenth Jubilee
Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke Street
Friday, June 14
10:30 a.m.
Free. Visit: https://alexlibraryva.org/event/10676400 

Join Grammy nominated performer Culture Queen for an interactive musical storytelling show and honor the meaning of the Juneteenth holiday. All ages. Beatley Central Library Reading Garden.

 

Trivia Nights at Historic Sites: Black History
Lee-Fendall House Museum, 614 Oronoco Street
Friday, June 14
7 p.m.
$12 per person
Tickets can be purchased online.

The Lee-Fendall House Museum and Carlyle House Historic Park have combined their random nerd knowledge to create bi-weekly trivia nights in the beautiful gardens located at Lee-Fendall House. Join us all summer to test your knowledge on all things from pop culture to history! The theme of our June 14th trivia night will be Black History.

Trivia nights are $12 a person which includes 1 drink ticket. Additional drinks can be bought at our cash bar. Teams may have up to 6 members on them. Registration slots are first come, first served, so we recommend paying ahead of time to save your spot. Ages 21 and over only. 

Trivia nights will start on June 14 and take place every other Friday at 7pm from June-August (June 14 & 28, July 12 & 26, August 9 & 23). For more information on how to register call 703-548-1789 or visit www.leefendallhouse.org.

 

Douglass Cemetery Remembrance
1367-1473 Wilkes Street
Saturday, June 15
11a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Free

Sponsored by the Social Responsibility Group (SRG) and Friends of Douglass Cemetery. This annual event honors those buried at Alexandria’s historic African American Cemetery.  Learn about plans for the preservation of this Alexandria landmark. All are welcome.

Program includes speakers and tours of the Cemetery.

Limited seating. Please wear appropriate shoes for uneven terrain.

 

Tavern Game Night
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal Street
Saturday, June 15
7-9 p.m.
$10, Tickets available online.

Taverns in the 18th and 19th century often operated to serve specific demographics and clientele, similarly to the way queer bars and other third-spaces operate today. Enjoy games that bridge the 18th and 21st centuries while learning about the local history of queer bars and clubs. $10 cover charge, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) available for purchase.

 

National Juneteenth Holiday at Market Square
Market Square, 301 King Street
Wednesday, June 19
Begins at 1:30 p.m. with storytelling/Concert at 2 p.m.
Free

Join the Office of Historic Alexandria’s Division of African American History for storytelling and music that celebrate Juneteenth and African American heritage. The Washington Revels Jubilee Voices will present a lively, interactive concert featuring traditional music, dance, and spoken word that celebrates Juneteenth, local stories, history, and the enduring legacy of the African American quest for freedom and equality. This presentation is co-sponsored by Washington Revels and the Office of Historic Alexandria.

 

Juneteenth Celebration
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street
Wednesday, June 19
6-8 p.m.
Free

Carlyle House, a historic house museum, is hosting its annual Juneteenth celebration on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. The event is being presented in collaboration with The Athenaeum, a regional arts organization. The event will be held outside on the lawn of the Carlyle House located in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. Discover the history of Juneteenth through hands-on activities, art, history, and poetry readings at this free event.

 

Bench Dedication at 11 a.m.; Juneteenth Activities begin at Noon.
Charles Houston Recreation Center (CHR), 901 Wythe Street
Saturday, June 22
Free

11:00 am – Noon –   A Civil Rights Appreciation: Saying Their Names. 
This event includes the dedication of a Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial bench sponsored by McArthur Myers at the Charles Houston Recreation Center. 

No parking in the CHR parking lot that day due to Juneteenth activities that begin at Noon.

Noon – 6:00 pm -Juneteenth Activities at the Charles Houston Recreation Center parking lot. Enjoy food and retail vendors, a moon bounce, information tables, music, and performances.

 

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

Plan your Visit

• 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, June 22, 10 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–Fridays, 11 a.m.– 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays & 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.

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact Nicole Quinn at historicalexandria@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4554, Virginia Relay 711.

---

This Week in Alexandria's History

More from This Day in History

On May 30, 1964, Fort Ward Park on West Braddock Road was dedicated, highlighting the City’s first major historic restoration and preservation project–the reconstruction of the Northwest Bastion of the Civil War fort, named for James Harmon Ward, the first U.S. naval officer to die in the Civil War. Originally intended as a visitors' center to the historic site, Fort Ward Museum began receiving donations of Civil War objects from the time it opened. The long-term loan of a nationally recognized private collection owned by Civil War collector and author Dr. Francis A. Lord transformed the visitors' center into a museum.  The core of the permanent collection was acquired in 1972 when the City of Alexandria purchased nearly 600 objects from the Lord collection. Today, the Museum collection features more than 4,000 objects from the Civil War period, including a broad range of military arms and equipment that interprets army life at Fort Ward and objects that highlight the local history of Civil War Alexandria and the Defenses of Washington. Fort Ward is the best preserved of the extensive network of Union forts and batteries known as the Civil War Defenses of Washington.

---

Upcoming Commission and Committee Events

Commissions Supporting Historic Alexandria

• May 29 Historic Restoration and Preservation Committee Training
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street  
  7 p.m.- 8:15 p.m.

• June 4 HARC Advocacy Meeting
  La Madeleine, 500 King Street
  10 a.m.- 12 p.m.

• June 4 ACRP Planning for Benjamin Thomas Remembrance
  Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St.
  3:30-4:30 p.m.

• June 4 Alexandria Community Remembrance Project Steering Committee
  Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St.
  5 p.m.

• June 6 GWBCC Marketing and Public Relations Subcommittee
  Register via Zoom.
  6:30-7:30 p.m.

• June 10 Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee
  Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, Alexandria City Hall, 301 King Street
  7-9 p.m.

• June 12 Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  8 a.m.

• June 17 Sister Cities Committee (SCC) Dundee and Helsingborg 
  Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, Alexandria City Hall, 301 King Street
  7-8 p.m.

• June 17 George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee (GWBCC)
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.

• June 17 Public Records Advisory Commission
  Archives and Records Center, 801 S Payne Street
  7:30 p.m.

• June 18 Historic Alexandria Resources Commission (HARC)
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.

• June 19 Alexandria Archaeological Commission
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.