Welcome to Historic Alexandria! With more than 250 years of history and hospitality to its credit, Alexandria offers an array of historic and cultural attractions. Alexandria's many historic homes, churches, businesses and museums allow residents and visitors alike to experience the hand of the past that makes our city the charming and historic town it is today. Visit City of Alexandria museums and historic sites and discover our past, present and future!
This week in Historic Alexandria, attend Recruiting Day at Fort Ward to learn about Civil War reenacting, take part in a free workshop on the new Virginia Slave Name Database, find out how Washington's boyhood home at Ferry Farm was transformed by Lincoln's war at a free archaeology lecture, explore Civil War Sunday, take your little one for a Tavern playdate, check out the current exhibitions at The Lyceum, Fort Ward Museum and Alexandria Black History Museum with Historic Alexandria's weekly e-newsletter!
Want to explore historic Alexandria's Civil War heritage? Download this free iPhone app and take it along as you tour Alexandria! Or find out more about Alexandria history through this comprehensive and convenient app featuring Civil War forts, hospitals, cemeteries, museums and other interesting places. If you want to learn explore more of Virginia's history and attractions, check out the apps at "Mobile Virginia" at the Virginia is for Lovers site.
With centuries of history and hospitality to its credit, Alexandria offers an array of historic and cultural attractions. The city’s many historic homes, churches, businesses and museums allow residents and visitors alike to experience the hands of the past that makes our city the charming and historic town it is today.
Make your child's birthday a historic occasion, with a party at one of several historic museums in Alexandria, including the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary, the Friendship Firehouse, and Gadsby's Tavern.
Welcome to the scavenger hunt of Old Town Alexandria! This two-to-three hour, twenty-block walk, meanders through Old Town with stops at some of the city’s oldest and most historic addresses. Some stops require entrance to museums, so try to begin your scavenger hunt after 10:00, when they open. None of the clues require entering a museum that charges an admission fee. A numbers of stops are private residences; clues to these sites are found on exterior plaques and please be careful not to disturb the residents.
Freedmen's Cemetery served as the burial place for about 1,800 African Americans who fled to Alexandria to escape from bondage during the Civil War. Freedmen's Cemetery was rediscovered in 1987 by City Historian T. Michael Miller. The City Archaeologists researched the possible boundaries of the cemetery. Wesley Pippenger published the names found in the cemetery's record book in 1994, after finding the document in the Virginia Library.
The Historic Alexandria History Center & Museum Store reflects themes from all the Office of Historic Alexandria museums. Discovery Carts give visitors a sneak peek of museums' collections including Friendship Firehouse, Alexandria Archaeology, and the Alexandria Black History Museum. Multiple hands-on activity areas for kids include a Civil War tent, dress-up costumes, and a “please touch” exhibit.
The Alexandria waterfront has an extensive history. While much has been written about various aspects of maritime history and activities on the waterfront, there is not one easy source from which to acquire information.
The Fort Ward Museum enlists the talents and knowledge of reenactors to offer numerous living history programs interpreting Civil War soldier and civilian life. Programs contribute to the public’s understanding of the period and enhance the Museum’s educational mission.
Seven of the city's premier historic sites are owned and operated by the City of Alexandria and fall under the administration of the Office of Historic Alexandria, the department of City government charged with the conservation, interpretation and promotion of these links to the past.
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