May is Historic Preservation Month. This year, Historic Alexandria and its partners are focusing on Equity in Preservation. We invite you to our lectures on the free Black population of Alexandria before the Civil War; the demographic evolution of the District of Columbia, of which Alexandria was once a part; a history of Franklin and Armfield, the notorious slave trading firm that once operated out of what is now the Freedom House Museum; and housing practices in Alexandria from the Civil War until today. You can also join masked and socially-distanced walking tours of Alexandria's historic buildings.

We are excited that the Alexandria Archaeology Museum is now open, in accordance with the Commonwealth’s Forward Virginia Plan. Admission is free and is on a walk-up basis. The Museum will operate at 25% capacity to ensure physical distancing. 

To celebrate Virginia Archaeology Month Alexandria Archaeology released a new video every Friday in October. Learn more about why Alexandria Archeology exists, how archaeologists use technology, and how our staff manage collections big and small. 

Alexandria’s African American history is told through an online StoryMap and can be experienced in-home on your computer or on your smartphone as you walk the trail along the Potomac River. The walking trail lasts about 45 minutes at a leisurely pace. The webpage presents more in-depth information about the stops highlighted in the StoryMap.

Archaeological studies conducted between 1996 and 2007 provided tangible evidence of the cemetery's survival after more than 125 years of neglect and destruction. Of the approximately 1,800 graves once located in the cemetery, more than 500 were identified through archaeological investigations. 

The 20th century African American community known as The Fort is the focus of an effort by the Office of Historic Alexandria to study and preserve the post-Civil War historic resources of Fort Ward Park. Archaeological excavations in the park, historical research, and oral histories highlight our growing knowledge of this community.

An ongoing excavation on Shuter's Hill near the Masonic Memorial is exploring the Mills/Lee/Dulaney plantation, built in 1782. The mansion house burned in 1842, and was replaced by a larger brick house that was used by Union troops during the Civil War. Shuter's Hill also became the site of two Union forts in the Defenses of Washington.

The shoreline of the Potomac River where Alexandria is located today was inhabited for centuries, long before the modern community was founded. When Captain John Smith neared this point in 1608, he met at least two groups of indigenous peoples, who were among the thousands of Native Americans who inhabited the region and enjoyed its rich resources of fish and game. 

As redevelopment takes place along the waterfront, archaeologists are learning more about the city’s maritime past. Learn about the discovery of four 18th-century ships, wharves and warehouses, and the current effort to record the ship timbers with 3D scanning, and consider a generous donation to the Save Our Ships Fund.

Location, hours, directions, and everything you need to know to visit the Alexandria Archaeology Museum. No Admission Charge.
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