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Historic Alexandria

With more than 200 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!
Page updated on May 16, 2025 at 2:30 PM

Historic Alexandria

  • Historic Alexandria (Home)
  • City Museums
    • Alexandria Archaeology Museum
    • Alexandria Black History Museum
    • Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum
    • Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site
    • Freedom House Museum
    • Friendship Firehouse Museum
    • Gadsby's Tavern Museum
    • Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
  • Visit Other Historic Sites
    • African American Heritage Park
    • Alexandria Union Station
    • Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial
    • Lloyd House
    • Murray-Dick-Fawcett House
    • More Historic Attractions in Alexandria
  • African American History Division
  • Alexandria Archaeology
  • Alexandria Community Remembrance Project
  • Alexandria Oral History Center
  • Archives & Records Center
  • Commissions Supporting Historic Alexandria
  • Educational Resources
  • Historic Alexandria Administration
  • History of Alexandria
    • Conducting Your Own Historic Research
    • African American History
    • Women's History
    • Discovering the Decades
    • Historic Alexandria Quarterly
    • Out of the Attic
  • Historic Preservation
  • Museum Store
  • News Releases
  • Plan your Visit
  • Rentals and Private Events
  • Self-Guided Tours
  • Stay Connected
  • Support Historic Alexandria
    • Make a Gift
    • Become a Member
    • Join a Commission
    • Volunteer and Career Opportunities

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Welcome to Historic Alexandria

Many of the city's premier historic sites 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. These sites bring Alexandria's varied and storied history to life. Additionally, Alexandria has many  more historic sites which are open to the public and tell a significant part of the city's historical tale.

The Office of Historic Alexandria is accredited by the American Alliance of Museum and is  a member of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

Museum Social Impact in Practice!

Help Shape the Future of Alexandria’s Museums: Participate in a Social Impact Study!

Help Shape the Future of Alexandria’s Museums: Participate in a Social Impact Study! The Office of Historic Alexandria is one of forty institutions from across the nation participating in this study.
This Week Banner

This Week in Historic Alexandria

This week in Historic Alexandria, enjoy the many exhibits, public programs and special events offered by our city’s great museums and historic sites!  This e-newsletter is updated each week on this webpage, or sign up for an eNews account to have it delivered to your in-box.

This Day in History calendar and text search

This Day in History

What happened in Alexandria on today's date, or tomorrow, or on your birthday? Search here to find out. 

As we honor Alexandria's 275th Anniversary, take a journey with us to the past as we revisit pivotal moments in our city's history through a series of short videos.

Family on a tour at Gadsby's Tavern Museum

Make a Gift

The history of Alexandria is the nation’s history.  Historic Alexandria strives to understand and educate about this past as we as a community look to the future. With your gift, you become a part of this history and help us preserve, share, and save the past for future generations.

Plan Your Visit

  • Alexandria Archaeology Museum (Open Tuesday-Sunday)

  • Alexandria Black History Museum (Open Thursday-Sunday)
  • Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum (Open Thursday-Sunday)

  • Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site (Open Thursday-Sunday)

  • Freedom House Museum (Closed during renovation of façade.)
  • Friendship Firehouse Museum (Open Saturdays, March 29, April 19, May 17, June 14, July 19)
  • Gadsby's Tavern Museum (Open Thursday-Tuesday Spring-Summer; Thurs-Sunday Fall-Winter)
  • Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum (Open Wednesday-Monday Spring-Summer; Wednesday-Sunday Fall-Winter)
Historic postcard

Plan Your Visit

Here is all the information you need to plan a visit to the Historic Alexandria museums - address and phone numbers, hours, admission fees, special programs, directions and more. The Historic Alexandria museums are free for City of Alexandria residents.

Resources for Federal Government Employees Impacted by Workforce Reductions

2023-07-17_city_hall_stock-7.jpg

The City of Alexandria is committed to supporting those who may be impacted by recent and pending federal government actions, including workforce reductions. Learn more about these resources by visiting our Resources for Federal Government Employees Impacted by Workforce Reductions webpage.

Alexandria Pride on rainbow colored arrow

LGBTQ+ History in Alexandria

LGBTQ+ History is American History. Alexandria was the first locality in Virginia to extend protections to gays and lesbians through its human rights ordinance. Learn more about LGBTQ+ history in Alexandria.

Upcoming Events

Join us for the events below, and check our calendar for more from Historic Alexandria.

An archaeologist and summer camper record soil color, using a Munsell Color Chart

Alexandria Archaeology Summer Camp

Alexandria Archaeology Summer Camp will take place June 23-27, 2025 at the Shuter's Hill Site in Alexandria. Learn more about the camp and how to register.
Fiddle player on stage at Lyceum

Traditional Music at The Lyceum

Next concerts: May 16, May 20, June 20
In the 19th century, traveling singers and musicians including groups from Hungary, Austria, Spain, England, and Ireland also performed at Lyceum Hall. In keeping with that tradition, join us at The Lyceum for periodic traditional music concerts.

New Episodes

Spite House video still

Join City Historian on WTOP's "Matt About Town"

Join Alexandria's City Historian Dan Lee and WTOP's Matt Kaufax as they visit historic sites in Old Town Alexandria. View the latest episodes:
March 11, 2025: The Legend of Alexandria’s Goosepigs Comes Back to Life
February 25, 2025: New digital tool allows you to track down Alexandria’s historical markers

Exhibit: Moss H. Kendrix: Reframing the Black Image

Moss H. Kendrix: Reframing the Black Image Exhibit

Moss Kendrix Collection

"Moss H. Kendrix: Reframing the Black Image" is a new exhibit at the Alexandria Black History Museum. Celebrating the life and pioneering work of Kendrix, "The Father of Black P.R.," this exhibition showcases his groundbreaking campaigns and enduring influence on consumer culture.

Become Involved

Birds Eye View of Alexandria, Charles Magnus1863 (Library of Congress)

Make a Gift

Celebrate the power and impact of community philanthropy by supporting Historic Alexandria! Every donation helps us preserve and tell the stories that make Alexandria what it is today.

FVFEA members and Fire Chief Corey Smedley help to move the hose reel

Become a Member

Become a Member of Alexandria’s historic sites and museums. Come to special events, receive newsletters, get discounts on Museum Shop merchandise, and support history.

A group of volunteers with over 20 years of service.

Volunteer and Career Opportunities

The Office of Historic Alexandria is always looking for passionate, talented individuals who want to join us in preserving and sharing Alexandria’s past to enrich the present and inspire the future.

Shop Online at The Alexandria Store

Museum Stores

Purchase event tickets, donate to your favorite museum, become a member, and buy selected merchandise online at The Alexandria Shop. Your purchases online or at our shops support programming at Historic Alexandria's museums.

Ball Room set for event with tables

Rentals and Private Events

Six Historic Alexandria properties are available for rentals and private events. The properties can accommodate from 15 to 160 people, for a range of events including parties, weddings and meetings.

Alexandria Archaeological Commission at City Council Meeting

Commissions

City commissions play an active role in preserving Alexandria’s history. Commission members must be Alexandria city residents and are appointed by the Alexandria City Council.

Alexandria pillar inscribed with the names of Alexandria lynching victims Joseph McCoy and Benjamin Thomas

Alexandria Community Remembrance Project

Since 2019, the Alexandria Community Remembrance Project (ACRP) has been dedicated to helping Alexandria understand its history, including incidents of racial injustice and terror, because recognizing the truth is necessary to establish a welcoming and just community for all.

Historic Alexandria Educational Resources

Educational Resources in Historic Alexandria

Learners of all ages can explore Alexandria’s history through online and on-site offerings. Historic Alexandria offers educators the opportunity to reinforce their teaching with hands-on experiences, field trips, kits, and online resources.

Two people speaking into recording microphones

The Alexandria Oral History Center

The Alexandria Oral History Center is a community-driven collaboration to document and preserve the memories and stories of Alexandria. The Center provides residents with oral history trainings and resources to conduct oral history interviews and community history projects.

Celebrate America 250

Alexandria VA250 logo on square white background

America 250

In 2026, the United States will commemorate the semiquincentennial of the Revolution. Join us as we celebrate and commemorate America’s Story in Alexandria.

Lafayette portrait from National Portrait Gallery

Lafayette in Alexandria

Lafayette returned to Alexandria on October 16, 1824; an occasion marked with a grand parade and celebration. Join us as we celebrate the 200th anniversary of Lafayette's visit.

Fairfax Resolves Graphic

Fairfax Resolves

British colonists in Virginia wrote radical and influential words that forged the path to revolution. The City of Alexandria commemorated the Fairfax Resolves on July 18, 2024. Watch a video and view a photo gallery of the program.

Learn about Alexandria's Past

Lyceum Hall Hospital

The History of Alexandria, Virginia

Read a brief history of Alexandria and find more about our history on the Historic Alexandria website and elsewhere on the internet.

Stonegate Tools 44AX166

Indigenous Peoples, Virginia Indians, and Alexandria

For thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans and the founding of Alexandria in 1749, Indians seasonally lived in and traveled through the lands that would become the City of Alexandria.

Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections

Conducting Your Own Historic Research

Do you have questions about the history of your property, genealogy, or local history? The Library's Local History/Special Collections division is the the best place to start your research. Then check the Topical Guide to see which other Resources may be useful in your search.

Out of the Attic article, Alexandria Times

Out of the Attic Archives

“Out of the Attic” has appeared in the Alexandria Times newspaper since 2007. Each week, the column focuses on the story behind an historic image or an aspect of Alexandria's history. Search the archive.

Fort Ward Drum

Museum Collections

The City museums are stewards of more than 30,000 objects, in addition to more than two million archaeological artifacts and 25,000 archival documents. View online collections and learn about the collections of each of the Historic Alexandria museums.

Guests attend a lecture in 2018

Watch Lectures Online

Learn more about Alexandria’s history through select recordings of Historic Alexandria’s public lecture series. These lectures were presented virtually, via zoom, and are listed here by date.

Domestic Slave Trade sign

Self-Guided Tours

Enjoy a variety of walking and bike tours, listen to podcasts, go on a scavenger hunt, or learn about Wayfinding Signs and the African American Heritage Trail.

Wayfinding Sign: Shuter's Hill

Wayfinding in Alexandria: Exploring Old Town

The City of Alexandria’s wayfinding signage system helps people find their way around the city. Take a look at the new map and history panel “mini-kiosks” in Old Town, from the Masonic Temple on Shuter's Hill to the waterfront. Read the full text of the history panels here.

cover of GIS StoryMap for AAHT North Route

African American Heritage Trail

Alexandria’s African American history is told through online StoryMaps and can be experienced in-home on your computer or on your smartphone as you walk the trail along the Potomac River. The South Waterfront Route is new in 2023.

Murray Dick Fawcett roof replacement with scaffolding in place, August 2021

Historic Preservation

City of Alexandria is committed to honoring its historic legacy through preservation, planning, interpretation, public outreach, and programming.

Ship discovered at the Hotel Indigo Site, January 2016

Ships and Other Nautical Discoveries

As redevelopment took place along the north waterfront, archaeologists had the opportunity to learn more about the city’s maritime past. Learn what's happening with ship preservation.

Parker Gray Science Class photo

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.

Historic Alexandria Museums

Alexandria Archaeology Museum 2019

Alexandria Archaeology Museum

Alexandria Archaeology Museum visitors learn how the City's archaeologists, volunteers and students work with residents and developers to study and manage archaeological resources important to the community's past.

Alexandria Black History Museum

Alexandria Black History Museum

Alexandria Black History Museum enriches the lives of Alexandria's residents and visitors, fosters tolerance and understanding among all cultures, and stimulates appreciation of the diversity of the African American experience.

Alexandria's History Museum at The Lyceum (exterior)

Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum

The Lyceum, itself a witness to nearly two centuries of local history, today serves as a gateway for Alexandria's visitors.

Fort Ward's restored north bastion, with canons

Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site

Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site is the best preserved of the system of Union forts and batteries built to protect Washington, DC during the American Civil War (1861-1865).

Freedom House Museum with historic marker (credit, R. Kennedy for Visit Alexandria)

Freedom House Museum

The Freedom House Museum at 1315 Duke Street is open with three new exhibitions showcasing Alexandria’s Black history and the Black experience in America.

Newly restored pumper in museum, painted yellow and blue

Friendship Firehouse Museum

Friendship Firehouse Museum, the oldest standing firehouse open as a museum in Alexandria, was originally home to the first volunteer fire company in town. Today, the exhibits of historic equipment and vehicles inspire visitors.

Gadsby's Tavern Museum exterior

Gadsby's Tavern Museum

Gadsby's Tavern Museum consists of the ca. 1785 tavern and the 1792 City Hotel. Named for John Gadsby who operated them from 1796 to 1808, explore these buildings where Washington, Jefferson and ordinary travelers came to eat, drink, sleep, and influence history.

Glass Bottles on display a the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, one of the oldest pharmacies in the nation, sold everything from medicines to household goods from 1793 to 1933. Visitors can tour the historic shop and manufacturing room and view original products left behind.

More City of Alexandria Historic Sites

  • Alexandria African American Heritage Park
  • Alexandria Union Station (historic train station)
  • Archives and Records Center (by appointment)
  • Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial
  • Lloyd House (administrative offices; garden open)
  • Murray-Dick-Fawcett House (garden open)

Alexandria also has many fine museums and historic sites that are not City-owned. Find information on these historic attractions.

For Girl Scouts

Green and gold logo

Scout and Family Programming in Historic Alexandria

Did you know Historic Alexandria offers Girl Scout programs, including overnights for Juniors and Cadettes as well as day activities for Daisy and Brownie scouts? In addition - NEW this year – “Media Remake with Moss Kendrix at the Alexandria Black History Museum." Girls learn about the life and career of revolutionary marketing and PR pioneer Moss Kendrix and the women who worked with him to change the image of African Americans in 20th century media.

Comprehensive Plans

MDF architectural drawing with building phases

Comprehensive Plan: Murray-Dick-Fawcett House

Read the report and view the presentation on the Comprehensive Plan.
Report cover with image of 1315 Duke

Comprehensive Plan: Freedom House Museum

The Office of Historic Alexandria engaged with the community and stakeholders to create the Comprehensive Plan for the Freedom House Museum at 1315 Duke Street. The final plan was presented in April, 2024.
GIS map of Alexandria with dot marking sign locations

Alexandria Historical Sign Finder

View the new interactive map designed for exploring historic interpretation signs throughout the City
American Alliance of Museums - Accredited Museum (Logo)

City of Alexandria’s Museum System Awarded Reaccreditation from American Alliance of Museums

The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) announced that the City of Alexandria’s Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) museum system was reaccredited at the February 2023 meeting of AAM’s Accreditation Commission. Accredited status from the Alliance is the highest national recognition achievable by an American museum.
Fort Ward Park Entrance Sign at Braddock Road

Fort Ward Park and Museum Area Management Plan

Learn about the Fort Ward Park and Museum Area Management Plan and how it is being implemented. Learn the history of the African American community known as The Fort, and what is being done to preserve and interpret its historic resources during park improvements.
Douglass Cemetery Entrance, October 2021

Douglass Memorial Cemetery

View the Preservation Plan, research, and documentation for the Douglass Memorial Cemetery.

About Historic Alexandria

Contact Historic Alexandria Administration

Gretchen M. Bulova, Director
The Lloyd House
220 N. Washington Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.746.4554

Contact us through Alex311 or view the Historic Alexandria Administration page.

Social Media and Newsletters

Stay Connected with Historic Alexandria 

Historic Alexandria

Click on Stay Connected, above, to see the social media presence for each of our museums.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Newsletters

Sign up for with Alexandria eNews to see these newsletters in your inbox.

  • This Week in Historic Alexandria (weekly)
  • Alexandria Community Remembrance Project Newsletter (monthly) 

 

  • Archaeology
  • Historic Alexandria
  • Historic Preservation
  • Historic Sites
  • Tourism
Contact Us
Alex311 | 703.746.4311
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Visitor Information

VisitAlexandriaVA.com

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Alexandria City Hall
301 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

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© 1995–2023 City of Alexandria, VA and others.
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