Freedom House Museum

1315 Duke Street

The Freedom House Museum is what remains of a large complex dedicated to trafficking thousands of Black men, women, and children from 1828 - 1861. Slavery, race-based laws, and racial terror erased and diminished African American history and contributions from the national narrative. This Museum seeks to reframe white supremacist history.

This Museum honors the lives and experiences of the enslaved and free Black people who lived in and were trafficked through Alexandria. We invite you to visit the museum to learn, reflect, and advocate for change.

The Museum is part of the African American History Division. This division, formed in 2023, will ensure the continued inclusion of Black History in City museums and public programming, as well as advancing the City’s goal of building a welcoming community through equity and inclusion.

Freedom House Exhibit 2022, Chris Cruz for Visit Alexandria

Comprehensive Plan: Freedom House Museum

The Office of Historic Alexandria is engaging with the community and stakeholders to create the Comprehensive Plan for the Freedom House Museum at 1315 Duke Street. Learn more about the plan’s progress and be a part of the community engagement process.

About the Museum

The City of Alexandria is pleased to announce that the Freedom House Museum at 1315 Duke Street is now open Thursday - Monday, with three new exhibitions showcasing Alexandria’s Black history and the Black experience in America. See hours and how to reserve tickets.

1315 Duke Street, Slave Pen, 1836 Anti-Slavery Society Broadside (LOC)

Read news articles from 2018 to present. The City purchased the property in 2020, in order to preserve and interpret this National Historic Landmark and ensure it is open to the public for future generations.

Alexandria Slave Pen during the Civil War

Support the preservation and interpretation of Freedom House, as we share the history of not only the site, but the larger African American story of Alexandria. Join us as we work to share the full history of Alexandria for all.

History and Preservation

Slave Pen, Price, Birch and Co., 1860s. Andrew Russel, Library of Congress

The Franklin and Armfield Slave Pen at 1315 Duke Street was one of the largest slave trading companies in the country and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Slave Market of America broadside by American Anti Slavery Society, 1836 (LOC)

The Historic Structures Report (HSR) for 1315 Duke Street, the Freedom House Museum, was formally presented by SmithGroup on October 28, 2021. Watch a video of the presentation, view the presentation slideshow, read the full report or view a summary.

The Office of Historic Alexandria is engaging with the community and stakeholders to create the Comprehensive Plan for the Freedom House Museum at 1315 Duke Street. The Comprehensive Plan will provide a road map for the future use, interpretation, and preservation of the site.

More Information

Contact the Museum

Freedom House Museum
1315 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703.746.4702

Contact the Museum (Alex311)

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City of Alexandria, VA

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Freedom House Museum