may 11–17, 2026

What's New

FEATURED EVENT

Civil War Concert at Fort Ward

Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site, 4301 West Braddock Rd., Alexandria 
Saturday, May 16
11 a.m. - Noon 
Suggested donation is $2 per person or $5 per family.

Celebrate Armed Forces Day by enjoying a special outdoor concert of Civil War-era music on the lawn of Fort Ward Museum. The 8th Green Machine Regiment Band, a historical ensemble sponsored by George Mason University, will perform a variety of popular songs of the Civil War on authentic 19th-century instruments. The concert, sponsored by the Friends of Fort Ward, is weather dependent.

Attendees can also learn more about the essential role of music during this pivotal period of American history in Fort Ward Museum’s newly opened exhibit, “Buglers & Brass Bands: Soldier Musicians in the Civil War.”  A variety of musical instruments and sheet music from the Museum’s extensive Civil War collection will be featured. 

Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site is located at 4301 West Braddock Road in Alexandria.  Fort Ward is the best preserved of the Union forts that comprised the Civil War Defenses of Washington. 

New Exhibit: Civil War Music  – Opening Saturday, May 16

Fort Ward Museum (4301 W Braddock Rd.) in Alexandria will open a new exhibit, “Buglers & Brass Bands: Soldier Musicians in the Civil War.”  The exhibit will explore the essential role that music played in the daily life of the Civil War soldier, both in camp and on the battlefield. The exhibit features a variety of musical instruments and sheet music of the period from the Museum’s extensive Civil War collection. The exhibit will be on view through May 2027.

Upcoming Events

View the Historic Alexandria Calendar                                                                                                                                                      

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 6 p.m.
Saturdays: 9 a.m. & 10:15 a.m. 
$10 a class
Purchase Tickets

Join our friends at Carlyle House for an hour-long gentle flow Yoga Class on Carlyle House’s Magnolia Terrace. Please bring water, a towel, and a yoga mat. Wear comfortable yoga wear. Class may be canceled due to inclement weather, you will receive an email if class is canceled. Tickets are non-refundable unless class is cancelled by the museum.
 

Historic Happy Hours 
O’Connell’s Irish Pub, 112 King Street
Thursday, May 14
5 - 7:30 p.m.
10% of proceeds from the evening will go towards supporting the 250th commemorations. 

Unwind in Old Town at Historic Happy Hours while connecting with the work of Historic Alexandria as we mark the nation’s 250th! Historic Alexandria staff will share recent research during the event. 

For more information, visit Alexandriava.gov/America250.
 

Walking Tour:  Public Memory along Old Town Alexandria’s Waterfront
Meet at the foot of King by the Fitzgerald Warehouse (Formerly Starbucks), 100 S. Union
Saturday, May 16
10 -11 a.m.
Free

Author and Local Historian Jay Roberts will lead a unique walking tour along the central part of Alexandria's waterfront.  He will discuss public memory, both lost and new.

Jay is the author of the 2013 book, “River to Rails : a Guidebook to Historical Markers in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.”  More than a dozen years later, 8 different historical markers have been removed in the central part of the waterfront. At the same time, new ones have been added.

This tour will last about an hour and is easy flat walking for less than a mile. The event is free and open to the public. No registration or RSVP is required. Hope to see you there!
 

Discovering Alexandria Architecture Walking Tour - SOLD OUT
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street
Saturday, May 16
10 - 11:30 a.m.
$20
Join Waiting List 

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. The tour is held rain or shine unless there is severe weather.  
 

Preservation Tours: Lost Buildings of Alexandria Urban Renewal
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street
Saturdays in May (16th & 23rd)
10 a.m. - Noon
$20
Purchase Tickets

In honor of National Preservation Month, join Carlyle House on a tour of “Lost Alexandria.” Urban renewal projects across the country took place starting in the 1950s, where government and private initiatives aimed at addressing urban decay, upgrading infrastructure, and revitalizing city neighborhoods. In the 1960s, the Gadsby Commercial Urban Renewal Project changed and demolished portions of multiple blocks including the 300-500 block of King Street. 

During May’s Preservation Tours, tour guides will lead groups through the south side of the 300-500 blocks of King Street and parts of the 100 blocks of N. Fairfax, N. Royal, & N. Pitt Streets to discuss what had been here, why they were destroyed, and how that impacted Alexandria.
 

Specialty Tour: Peeling Back the Layers–Behind the Scenes
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N Royal Street
Saturdays - May 16, 23, 30
11 a.m. 
$15 per person, Historic Alexandria Members: $12/person 
Purchase tickets. 

Explore Gadsby's Tavern Museum top to bottom, including spaces rarely opened to the public, and understand how the buildings have changed over time. Wear comfortable shoes and bring your camera! Please note this tour involves ascending and descending multiple sets of stairs, including into the rarely on view fourth floor, complete with historic graffiti! 
 

Alexandria Women’s History Walk
Alexandria Visitor Center (Ramsay House), 221 King Street
Saturday, May 16
Noon - 2 p.m.
Free and open to all
RSVP online

As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, Alexandria Celebrates Women! If you have wondered how women helped put our city on the map, now is your chance to learn about them.

Join Alexandria Celebrates Women Vice President Gayle Converse on a three-mile trek through the city, while making brief outdoor stops at historic sites associated with women to discuss Alexandria’s heroines of the past and the history of each site. Participants are welcome to join all or any portion of the Walk.

Selected historic sites include the Ramsay House, the Carlyle House, City Hall, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, the Kate Waller Barret House, and others.

The Walk begins at the William and Ann Ramsay House (now the Alexandria Visitor’s Center) at 221 King Street in Old Town. Comfortable shoes and water are recommended.
 

Girl Scout Day: Investigators and Detectives 
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street
Saturday, May 16
Noon - 3 p.m.
$12 per scout, $6 per tag-a-long (non-scout sibling)
To register and pay for this special program, scout leaders should email carlyle@nvrpa.org or call 703-549-2997.

Come learn about being a detective and investigator during our special Girl Scout Day Program! Scouts will learn about fingerprinting, forensics, and solving puzzles. This program requires 1.5 to 2 hours to complete. Groups do not need to arrive at 12 p.m. However, it is required that scout groups arrive by 1:30 p.m. to have enough time to complete all activities. The Adventure Program will assist in obtaining the following badges: Daisy and Brownies: Cybersecurity Investigators and STEM Career Exploration, Juniors: Detectives and STEM Career Exploration.

It is recommended that participants bring a bag of some type to carry crafts and handouts from the program. This program is outdoors and will take place rain or shine. Please dress for the weather and wear appropriate walking shoes. 
 

Civil War Living History Day
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, May 16
2 - 4 p.m.
$15 
Reserve tickets

Civil War Living History Day will explore the lives and losses of soldiers at the Grosvenor Branch Hospital. This program is sure to educate all ages through activities, mini-lectures, and stations, immersing them in local and national history by inviting participants to assume the role of historical figures.
 

Carlyle House: Self Guided Sundays
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street
Sunday, May 17
Noon - 3 p.m.
$5 per person (children 5 and under are free)

On the third Sunday of every month, explore the first floor of Carlyle House at your own pace. Docents will be available throughout the house if you have questions. Tickets can only be purchased the day of in the museum shop.
 

Specialty Tours: Preservation of Carlyle House
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street
Saturday, May 23
1:30 - 3 p.m.
$8 per person
Reserve Tickets (10 openings remaining)

In the 19th century, James Green made renovations to John Carlyle’s stone mansion to bring it up-to-date. When NOVA Parks purchased Carlyle House in 1970, the decision was made to bring it back to Carlyle’s 18th century mansion. Join experts in an in depth exploration of the changes the architects made using photographs and artifacts. 
 

They Lived Here Too: Work and Slavery at Lee-Fendall 
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, May 23
11 a.m. - Noon
$15 
Reserve tickets

Learn about the enslaved and free African Americans who lived and worked in the home throughout its years as a private residence. Hear the stories of their experiences and their contributions to the site and its history.
 

Yellow Fever: Impact on American History 
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, May 23
2-3 p.m. 
$15 
Reserve tickets

Visit the Lee-Fendall House on Saturday, May 23rd for a fascinating lecture presented by Dr. Mary Dianne Murphy, Lee-Fendall Board of Directors member. This presentation will discuss the Yellow Fever and throughout American History.
 

Lecture: Shipwreck on the Potomac: Disaster in Pursuit of Lincoln’s Killer
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street
Wednesday, May 27
7 p.m. 
Admission is $5 for non-members and free for members. 
Learn more

The Alexandria Historical Society will host author Karen E. Stone for a lecture on her book, Shipwreck on the Potomac: Disaster in Pursuit of Lincoln’s Killer. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and light refreshments will be available. 

Stone’s talk will explore the little-remembered Black Diamond disaster of April 1865, a tragic Potomac River collision that occurred during the pursuit of John Wilkes Booth following Lincoln’s assassination.

The Alexandria Historical Society promotes the history of Alexandria, Virginia, through lectures, tours, publications, and public programs that connect the community with the city’s past. 
 

Specialty Tour: Women in Medicine 
The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 South Fairfax Street
Friday, May 29
5 - 6 p.m. 
$15 per person, Historic Alexandria Members: $12/person
Purchase tickets

While men often take the spotlight, women have always shaped the practice of medicine. This tour will explore many objects in the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum used by women from the late 18th through early 20th centuries, as well as the women's influence on medicine in Alexandria and the wider world during this period. 

Please note the tour involves ascending and descending stairs. 

City of Alexandria to Host Sails on the Potomac and ALX Jazz Fest, June 12-14

Sails on the Potomac is a free community event from June 12 to 14. You can view and tour historic tall ships, including the Gazela, Kalmar Nyckel, Providence, and Sultana. Join us for family activities, art, and history as we recognize Alexandria’s role in the birth of our nation. 

Ship Tours and Tickets 

You can tour the ships for free while they are docked in Alexandria. Everyone, (including children) needs a free timed ticket. Reserve your tickets online in advance at alexandriava.gov/Sails250.  

A walk-up line will be available, but entry is not guaranteed without a ticket. 

Experience ALX Jazz Fest During Sails on the Potomac 

As part of Sails on the Potomac, the annual ALX Jazz Fest will celebrate its 48th year! Three days of music kicks off on Friday, June 12 at noon.  Admission to the Festival is free!

Celebrate three days of live music at the Alexandria Waterfront as the ALX Jazz Fest expands for its 48th year as part of Sails on the Potomac. 

Volunteer at the EventShip Tours and Tickets 

We will be hosting thousands of people this weekend and need your help! Sign up to volunteer to receive more information and select volunteer shifts.  

Historic Alexandria is encouraging residents and businesses to show their local 250th spirit by adorning their gardens with Alexandria’s very own America250 garden flag and joining the citywide Plant for America250 initiative. 

Purchase Alexandria’s America250 garden flag online in the Historic Alexandria Shop.    

The Plant for America250 initiative, promoted by the City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Beautification Commission, encourages residents and businesses to plant native species in patriotic colors as a way to honor America’s milestone anniversary while supporting a more resilient and sustainable future.

Learn more about Plant for America250 here: https://www.alexandriava.gov/America250#PlantforAmerica250

Support Historic Alexandria

Your gift fuels preservation, education, and programs that bring Alexandria’s past to life. Donations, special revenue, and grants make it possible to expand educational programs, conserve treasured collections, and support our dedicated staff. Your gift today helps preserve Alexandria’s history for generations to come.

Historic Alexandria Museum Hours

Plan your Visit

Alexandria Archaeology Museum 
Tuesdays–Fridays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays, 1 –5 p.m.

Alexandria Black History Museum
Thursdays & 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 & Fridays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays, 1 – 5 p.m.

Fort Ward Museum 
Thursdays & Fridays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays, 1 – 5 p.m.

Freedom House 
Thursdays & Fridays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays, 1 – 5 p.m.

Friendship Firehouse Museum
Saturday, May 16, 11 a.m. –  5 p.m.  

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
Thursdays & 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.

Virginia 250 Passport

Historic Alexandria is proud to join 70 premier historic destinations across Virginia in the launch of the Virginia 250 Passport, a first-of-its-kind statewide tourism journey celebrating America’s 250th. Featured Alexandria museums include Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, and the Alexandria Black History Museum. The passport offers prizes and discounts to encourage families to explore Virginia’s rich history together. Beginning November 11, 2025, free passports will be available at major historic sites and Virginia Welcome Centers. Learn more at VirginiaHistory.org/250Passport.

New Exhibit: Women in Business: We Were Always Here  – Now open

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N Royal Street
Visit the Historic Alexandria website or see below for museum hours. 
Included with cost of admission
Adults: $5, Children (ages 5-12): $3, Children four and under are free with a paying adult. Admission is free for City of Alexandria residents. 

Gadsby’s new exhibit featuring Hannah Griffith, a female coffeehouse operator at this location, is now open! The exhibit is included in regular admission. 

Visitors will be able to see primary sources up close to explore how women appear (and don’t) in the historical record in the 18th century. In addition to Hannah’s story, visitors will learn about the female business owners on the block around City Hall today, highlighting how women continue to be an important part of Alexandria’s business community. All of the women-owned businesses facing City Hall are included in this exhibit—14 total owned by 17 women! 

The exhibit will be up through March 2027.

Exhibit: “Disease and the Apothecary” – Now open

Explore how epidemics like Smallpox, Yellow Fever, and Influenza shaped Alexandria’s past and how science and public health saved lives. Included with admission. Free for Alexandria residents! The new exhibit is also available online. 

Exhibit: Union Navy Exhibition at Fort Ward Museum 

A new exhibition, “Aboard Ship with the Jack-Tars of the Union Navy,” opened October 2 at the City of Alexandria’s Fort Ward Museum. The exhibit focuses on the U.S. Navy during the Civil War and is being held in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Navy on October 13, 1775. The exhibition will continue through 2026. The exhibit, with pictures of select objects, is also available online.   

Explore with Ease – The New Museum Mobility Guide

Historic Alexandria and the Department of Transportation & Environmental Services (T&ES) have launched a colorful, easy-to-use map and guide connecting all of Alexandria’s museums via walking, biking, and transit. The guide also acts as a passport—visit every site and earn a prize! Available at museums, rec centers, public libraries, and more. 

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 20, 1809 the “Long Bridge,” built just north of Alexandria opened, connecting Virginia with the new capital city of Washington, D.C. across the Potomac River. During this time, Alexandria’s 18th-century isolation and dependence on waterways for regional travel was being reduced as new highways were extended from Alexandria’s dead-end street grid southward from Henry Street across Great Hunting Creek to Richmond, and northward from North Washington Street to Washington, D.C. along what is now Powhatan Street.

Upcoming Commission and Committee Events

Commissions Supporting Historic Alexandria
 

• May 11 Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.

• May 12 Alexandria Community Remembrance Project Committee of Inquiry
  Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
  7-8:30 p.m.

• May 13 Alexandria Community Remembrance Project Steering Committee
  Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
  5:30 p.m.

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

• May 18 George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee (GWBCC)
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-8:30 p.m.

• May 19 Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.

• May 20 Alexandria Archaeological Commission
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7 p.m.

• May 26 Alexandria Sister Cities Committee - Dundee, Scotland and Helsingborg, Sweden
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-8:30 p.m.