Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum

In 1839, a group of gentlemen calling themselves The Alexandria Lyceum joined with the Alexandria Library Company to build a grand hall to provide a place for lectures, scientific experiments and quiet reading.

Page updated on Dec 23, 2020 at 10:54 AM

Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum

The Alexandria Lyceum was founded in 1838, by a group of well-educated local men with an interest in improving public educational and cultural opportunities throughout the community. In 1839, the group joined with the Alexandria Library to construct a new home for both organizations, the building known today simply as The Lyceum. This historic site has also served as a Civil War hospital ward, a private residence, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Nation’s first Bicentennial Visitor’s Center. Today, as the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, the site offers exhibitions, public programs, a museum store, and facility rentals.

Nina Tisara and guests touring Witnessing Worship exhibit
Nina Tisara and guests touring Witnessing Worship. Courtesy Steven Halperson/Tisara Photo.

Closed for Renovations

Starting November 2, the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum has closed for interior painting, carpet replacement, and other maintenance projects. We apologize for the inconvenience but look forward to welcoming you back when work is completed! In the meantime, we hope you enjoy our online exhibit, “Witnessing Worship: A Photographic Study of Faith in Alexandria” at Alexandriava.gov and our series of “Witnessing Worship” videos featuring exhibit photographer Nina Tisara on our YouTube channel “HistoricAlexVa” 

Museum Closures

The museums are closed and public programs are cancelled until further notice. 

Covid-19 Operation Guidelines  

The Office of Historic Alexandria established the following guidelines to ensure consistent operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff will regularly re-evaluate them based on safety and available staffing levels and as the region moves through Phase 3 of the Forward Virginia plan. Includes guidelines for guided tours, volunteers, rentals, public programs and events, and on-site research and collections use by the public.

Covid-19 Operation Guidelines

Status Update for Historic Alexandria



STAY CONNECTED!

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Virtual Tour

Visit the  first and  second floors of the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum on Google 360 virtual tours.

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Winter in Alexandria Activity Portal

While our lives today look different than generations past, winter still brings a common feeling of change. Even this year, when COVID 19 is changing much of what we do, colder days, longer nights, and holiday.

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Witnessing Worship: A Photographic Study of Faith in Alexandria

In 1985, photographer Nina Tisara documented fifty worship groups throughout the City of Alexandria. The 106 images provide a portrait of Alexandria’s worship community at that time. Tisara sought to document “the breadth, variety, and vitality of worship in the city.” She came to call her project Converging Paths because the experience led her to conclude that, despite the many different paths worship takes, “we are all kin.” This  online exhibition provides a sampling of the photographs.

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Streaming Events at The Lyceum

Because of COVID-19, the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum is not able to host concerts, lectures, or other events on site until further notice. We are, however, hosting live-streaming events on Zoom, YouTube, and Facebook Live. Currently scheduled streaming events include concerts from WMPA and a series of lectures by local Alexandria historians.

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#HistoricALX2U

Miss visiting your favorite Historic Alexandria sites? Looking for some fun historic activities to share with your kids at home? Let our staff bring history virtually to you! 

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The Legacy of George Floyd: Documenting Alexandria’s Response

Peaceful vigils, protests and other events took place in Alexandria during the first week in June, following the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd. Recognizing the importance of this moment in history, the Office of Historic Alexandria invites the community to share signs, t-shirts, flyers, photographs, journals, personal stories, and artifacts that document local vigils and protests. 

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Chronicling the Pandemic: Alexandria’s Story

As we experience this unprecedented time in the history of our town and the world, the Office of Historic Alexandria is embarking on a project to record our City’s response by conducting oral histories and collecting select memories, objects and documents from across the Alexandria community.

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Artifact Anecdotes: George Washington in The Collection

George Washington is represented in the Alexandria History Museum''s collection with items created to commemorate, and celebrate, his life and achievements. Learn about the sampler and two other artifacts from the 19th century that show how he was greatly admired at home, nationally, and abroad.

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Plan Your Visit to The Lyceum

Location, hours, directions, and everything you need to know to visit Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum.
Parking and Trolley Map

Museum and Office Hours

Museum Hours
The Museum is closed for renovation.               
Public programs are cancelled until further notice.     

Closed
New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas

Office Hours
Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment only.

Email the Museum

Email Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum  

Event Tickets

To purchase tickets to events sponsored by the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum , and to shop online, visit  The Alexandria Shop. 

Performance Calendar

Learn about events from groups renting the the lecture hall, for  concerts, lectures and meetings open to the public.

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