october 28–november 3, 2024
 

What's New

Poe in Alexandria

Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Wednesday, October 30 and Thursday, October 31
8 p.m., doors open at 7:15 p.m.
$25
Purchase tickets.

Don’t miss an unforgettable evening with America’s earliest master of the macabre - Edgar Allan Poe! Actor David Keltz returns to The Lyceum’s lecture hall to recreate Poe’s visit to Virginia in 1849, shortly before his death. This year’s performance will include short stories, poems, musings, and literary criticism. Mr. Keltz’s performance has been lauded by The Poe House and Museum in Baltimore, The Poe Museum in Richmond, and the Poe National Historic Site in Philadelphia. Reservations strongly recommended. Cash bar (wine and beer) will be available before the show. 

ACRP's Documentary Film Screening

Threads of Resilience Showcase
Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library, 5005 Duke Street
Friday, November 8
12 - 4 p.m.
$15
https://alexfilmfest.com  

Join us at the Alexandria Film Festival for “Resolved: Never Again.” The film documents Alexandria’s dedication to telling the whole truth of this city’s history. 

Veterans Day Tours

Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site, 4301 W. Braddock Road
Saturday, November 9
10 - 11 a.m. 
$15/$12 for Historic Alexandria Members
Purchase tickets.

Tour Fort Ward this Veterans Day weekend and learn about the Defenses of Washington and one veteran’s efforts to preserve its story. This specialty tour includes a walking tour of Fort Ward and its new exhibit, “Lewis Cass White: Preserving the Legacy of Fort Stevens.”

Upcoming Events

View the Historic Alexandria Calendar

Halloween Hunt
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 North Fairfax Street
October 24-31
Sundays 12p.m.-4p.m., Monday-Saturday (closed Wednesday) 10a.m.-4p.m.
$2 per child
Purchase tickets. 

Stop by the Museum Store during open hours (closed Wednesday) from October 24th through 31st to participate in our Halloween Hunt! In this $2 drop-in activity, guests can pick up a worksheet and explore the garden of Carlyle House while learning about Halloween in Alexandria at the turn of the twentieth-century! Find all the newspaper clippings in order to answer the questions on your worksheet and uncover the secret message. Tell a staff member the secret message and receive a special prize*! 

 This fun fall activity is best for young guests and their grownups. No tickets required, just stop in and visit the museum during open hours. Questions? email us at Carlyle@NVRPA.org 

 *so all our friends can play, prizes will not be edible

Evening for Educators - Moss Kendrix Exhibit 
Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
Tuesday, October 29
4:30 - 6 p.m. 
Free

Join Historic Alexandria staff to explore this new Moss Kendrix: Reframing the Black Image exhibit and learn about education resources available for Alexandria Black History Museum. Raffle drawing for all attendees at 5:30 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP to Elizabeth Keaney. Elizabeth.Keaney@AlexandriaVA.gov or  703-746-4735

Hamilton’s BFFs & Frenemies
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 North Royal Street
Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
$15/$12 for Historic Alexandria Members 
Purchase tickets.

During the election season, see how the Founding Fathers and beyond shaped Alexandria and the nation on this tour inspired by the musical. 

Scottish, Irish, and American music with Rakish 
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Friday, November 1
7:30 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.)
$25, $10 Ages 12-17
Purchase tickets. 

Violinist Maura Shawn Scanlin and guitarist Conor Hearn unite to form “Rakish.” The pair gets their namesake from the traditional Irish tune Rakish Paddy, an origin that aptly suits the duo and their shared background in traditional Irish and Scottish music. Learn more about the concert series. 

Secrets of Wilkes Street: A Historic Cemetery Tour Linked to Lee-Fendall
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, November 2
1 - 2:15 p.m. 
$30
Purchase tickets. 

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 historic Lee-Fendall House. This exclusive tour offers a rare opportunity to visit gravesites not typically covered elsewhere, unveiling enthralling 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. Tickets are $30 per person and must be purchased in advance. The tour is limited to 25 participants and lasts approximately one hour. Members receive a $5 discount.

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

Tables of Conscience Dinner
Saturday, November 2
6 p.m.
$125 donation per person
Purchase tickets. 

Back by Popular Demand! A new round of Tables of Conscience book-themed dinners is scheduled to raise money for the 2025 scholarships in the names of Joseph McCoy and Benjamin Thomas. About a week before the dinner, those who reserved spots will receive an email with the name and address of the hosts. Please indicate at registration if you have any food allergies or strong preferences. Hosts will do their best to accommodate guest requests. Each reservation requires a $125 donation per person. The dinner’s discussion book must be purchased separately from a local bookstore. 

Discussion book: In the Pines: A Lynching, A Lie, A Reckoning, by Grace Elizabeth Hale. When she first heard her mother’s story about a thwarted lynching in a small Mississippi town where Hale’s grandfather was the sheriff and seeming hero, the author of In the Pines: A Lynching, A Lie, A Reckoning, was a college student. The family lore inspired Hale, who is white, to focus her graduate studies on “whiteness,” which led to the publication of her earlier book (and a ToC dinner book in 2023), Making Whiteness: The Culture of Segregation in the South 1890-1940. During a visit to her grandmother’s house, Hale discovered a 1947 front page article detailing the lynching of Versie Johnson. The graduate student immediately realized the news account - and family lore - wasn’t true, but she wasn’t sure what to do with the new insight. But after watching her students protest the white supremacists march through Charlottesville in 2017, Hale knew she had to research this piece of racial terror history and tell the truth.

"Philip Fendall II: Anti-Slavery in Antebellum Washington" - Lecture with Madeline Feierstein
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Friday, November 8
7 - 8:15 p.m. 
$10
Purchase tickets. 

While Philip Fendall II was the first child to be born at the Lee-Fendall House and a first cousin of Robert E. Lee, he held anti-slavery views despite his upbringing. Fendall’s prolific political and legal career, however, placed him on both sides of the slavery debate in Antebellum Washington during the rise of the abolitionist movement. This lecture will examine primary source material, in relation to Fendall’s environment, to determine the extent of his anti-slavery sentiments.

Madeline Feierstein is a docent at the Lee-Fendall House Museum in Alexandria, VA. She is a local historian specializing in Civil War military hospitals and prisons. A founding member of the museum's Civil War Research Team, Madeline created its popular Civil War Hospital Tour and leads projects to document the museum's time as a hospital. Madeline is also a full-time middle and high school history teacher in Fairfax County, VA and a current graduate student at Southern New Hampshire University pursuing a Master's in American History. She works with Dave Heiby at Gravestone Stories, leading tours of the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex, highlighting individuals buried there who were connected to or owned the Lee-Fendall House.

Tickets are free for museum members. Members please call at (703) 548-1789 to reserve your tickets. It is highly recommended to book tickets in advance as space is limited.

Story Time for Little Historians
Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
Saturday, November 9
10 a.m.- 10:45 a.m. 
Free

Dynamic storytellers use books written by and about African American people and other communities of color to engage with ages 5-8.

Memorial Dedication Ceremony in honor of Mr. Robert “Old Folks” Dawkins
Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe Street
Saturday, November 9
2 p.m., Reception at 1 p.m. 
Free

Join us as we celebrate the Legacy of Mr. Robert “Old Folks” Dawkins with a Memorial Unveiling Dedication. For further information please contact Julian Haley at 571-217-9951 or aaahalloffame13@gmail.com. Presented by the Office of Historic Alexandria, The Alexandria African American Hall of Fame, and the Department of Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Activities.

Lecture: Scots in Servitude
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Thursday, November 14
7 p.m. 
Free, but a $10 donation is requested at the door. 
Pre-register.

The Alexandria Sister Cities Committee presents Dr. Jimmie McClellan, Professor of History and Dean Emeritus, Northern Virginia Community College at The Lyceum. Please join us as Dr. McClellan gives a historical lecture titled “Scots in Servitude.” This lecture is part of the City’s ALX275 campaign commemorating the City of Alexandria’s 275th anniversary (1479 - 2024). Scots played a significant role in the city’s founding. More than three hundred thousand Scottish emigrants arrived in the English colonies of North America before the American Revolution. Few of them could afford to pay the costs of transportation across the sea. The question is ‘How did they pay for the passage?’ and the answer is that most sold themselves into, or were forced into, a state of temporary servitude. This lecture explains the types and nature of the various forms of servitude inflicted upon Scottish and Scots-Irish immigrants to Virginia and Alexandria. Space is limited, so please register in advance. 

Tables of Conscience Dinner
Saturday, November 16
6 p.m.
$125 donation per person
Purchase tickets. 

Back by Popular Demand! A new round of Tables of Conscience book-themed dinners is scheduled to raise money for the 2025 scholarships in the names of Joseph McCoy and Benjamin Thomas. About a week before the dinner, those who reserved spots will receive an email with the name and address of the hosts. Please indicate at registration if you have any food allergies or strong preferences. Hosts will do their best to accommodate guest requests. Each reservation requires a $125 donation per person. The dinner’s discussion book must be purchased separately from a local bookstore. 

Discussion book: The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy: and the Path to a Shared American Future, by Robert P. Jones. The roots of white supremacy reach back to the 15th century according to author Robert P. Jones, who is also founder and president of the Public Religion Research Institute. This book explores the connection of past injustices and massacres perpetrated against native and Black Americans, while also examining current attempts to repair these historic wrongs. 

Bienvenue Beaujolais
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
Thursday, November 21
7 p.m.
$70 
Purchase tickets.

Join us for an evening of indulgence as we tour the diverse and delicious regions of France. The Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee has curated a special food and wine tasting experience that will delight your taste buds and transport you to the heart of France. We will enjoy the anticipated 2024 Beaujolais Nouveau and then explore beyond the Beaujolais region to showcase some of the finest French wines. To complement the wines, we will feature French cuisine, taking a tour through the flavors of France, featuring charcuterie, cheeses, and other delicacies. You will also receive a signature wine-tasting glass. For guests 21 and over. 

Meaningful Conversations: African-American History
Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
Thursday, November 21
7 - 8 p.m. 
Free

Join us as we resume our meaningful conversations that explore and celebrate the diversity of cultures and peoples in our area, address the attitudes and behaviors that still divide us, and seek remedies grounded in the recognition that we are one interconnected, interdependent human family. The November 21, 2024 discussion will focus on Protecting African American History.

Alexandria Cider Festival
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
Saturday, November 23
1 - 5 p.m.
Tickets $50 in advance August 1 - October 31, $55 November 1-22, and $25 for designated drivers.
Purchase tickets.

Celebrate Virginia Cider Week with a special tasting event on the grounds of historic Lloyd House in Old Town Alexandria. Event ticket includes cider tastings, a souvenir glass, live music, tavern games, access to a food truck, and a little history too! Online sales end at 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 22. After that, tickets can be purchased at the door for $65. Dress for the weather - the event is outdoors! Festival will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. Proceeds from the Cider Festival will benefit the Historic Alexandria Museums.  

A Musical Celebration of Lafayette
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Sunday, November 24
3 p.m. 
$20
Purchase tickets.

In 1824, American Revolutionary War hero Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette visited the United States of America for a Grand Tour of all 24 states. For 13 months, Americans across the country celebrated Lafayette with ceremonies, balls, dignitary visits, parades, and concerts. The sounds of military wind bands greeted the Hero of Two Worlds nearly everywhere he went. On November 24, 2024, the period-instrument wind band Music of the Regiment will commemorate the 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s visit to Alexandria with a concert. The program, featuring works by Francis Johnson, anonymous women composing under the alias “A Lady…”, and others, will transport audiences to the sound world of Lafayette’s Grand Tour with grand marches, dance tunes, and America’s earliest patriotic airs performed on the instruments of Lafayette’s time. www.musicoftheregiment.com 

Support Historic Alexandria

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
  Saturdays, 11 a.m. –  5 p.m., Sundays, 1 – 5 p.m.

  Freedom House is open on weekends only through early January. Group visits available by special appointment.

• Friendship Firehouse Museum
  Saturday, November 9, 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–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 October 28, 1947, the submarine U.S.S. Sea Robin docked in Alexandria and received thousands of local visitors. The sub, a Balao-class submarine, was named for the reddish brown, spiny-finned fish that uses its pectoral fins to actually walk along the seafloor. Sea Robin was constructed in 1944 at Kittery, Maine, and served in the South Pacific during World War II. Peacetime service brought Sea Robin to SubRon 6, the submarine port based at Balboa in the Panama Canal Zone. Just five months before arriving in Alexandria, the submarine set out on a simulated war patrol around the South American continent, becoming the first U.S. sub to round Cape Horn. 

Upcoming Commission and Committee Events

Commissions Supporting Historic Alexandria

• November 4 Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee
  Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, City Hall 
  7-9 p.m.

• November 13 Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission (AHRPC)  
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street 
  8-9:15 a.m.  

• November 18 George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.

• November 18 Alexandria Sister City Committee Dundee and Helsingborg
  Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, City Hall 
  7-8:30 p.m.

• November 18 Public Records Advisory Commission (PRAC)
  Archives and Records Center, 801 S. Payne Street
  7:30 p.m.

• November 19 Historic Alexandria Resources Commission (HARC)
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.

• November 20 Alexandria Archaeological Commission (AAC)  
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.