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  • Live

    Make the most of Alexandria's outstanding quality of life with information and services of interest to residents.

    • Be Prepared

      Are you ready? Find resources and information to help residents, businesses and visitors to prepare for all types of emergencies, and to stay safe.

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      Historic Alexandria is a treasure trove of early structures, artifacts, and records that creates a unique way of life for its citizens and provides enjoyment for thousands of people who visit this special community every year. The City continues to add resources to its collection of local and nationally designated historic districts.

      • Alexandria History
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      • Payments
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      Did you know that ACPS is one of the most diverse school systems in the country? Our students come from more than 80 different countries, speak more than 60 languages, and represent a myriad of ethnic and cultural groups. The Alexandria Library is an educational, user-oriented service institution providing free public access to recorded knowledge and ideas.

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      The City provides public assistance as a safety net for individuals and families, including help with homelessness prevention, food, rent, utilities, medical coverage and prescriptions, job training and placement assistance, and much more.

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      The City of Alexandria does not operate any public utilities. The following companies are the primary providers of their respective service:

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    Whether you live here or are just visiting, Alexandria is a great place to shop, dine, take in the arts, get outdoors, and just have fun.

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      If you are looking for small-town charm and big-city amenities, Alexandria is the place to find them. Alexandria has a fascinating history, and many of its historic buildings are still preserved today. The City's many historic homes, churches, businesses, and museums allow residents and visitors alike to experience the past that makes it the charming town it is today.

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      Alexandria is a desirable location to live, work and play. The City owns many of the premier historic sites in Alexandria and it is charged with the conservation, interpretation and promotion of these links to the past.

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      Alexandria is an active community that offers more than 900 acres of parks and dedicated public space, and a wide variety of neighborhood and recreation centers, pools, dog parks, farmers' markets, waterfront activities and more.

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  • Services

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    • Parks & Recreation

      Alexandria is an active community that offers more than 900 acres of parks and dedicated public space, and a wide variety of neighborhood and recreation centers, pools, dog parks, farmers' markets, waterfront activities and more.

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      The City administers various housing-related programs and services.

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      Alexandria is committed to ensuring our residents thrive through physical, mental, and social health.

      • Aging & Adult Services
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      • Environmental Health
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      Agencies and programs that help maintain our safety and overall quality of life. These links contain information about the City of Alexandria's law enforcement agencies and public safety organizations, courts and judicial system.

      • Fire Department
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      The City collects car and real estate taxes, maintains tax relief programs and assesses property values. Taxes can be paid in a variety of ways including online, by phone and by mail.

      • Payments
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    • Social Services

      The City provides public assistance as a safety net for individuals and families, including help with homelessness prevention, food, rent, utilities, medical coverage and prescriptions, job training and placement assistance, and much more.

      • Aging & Adult Services
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      Find information on the City's refuse, recycling and yard waste collection programs.

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      Information on how to get to and through the City of Alexandria, including walking, biking, bus, rail, air, ridesharing, and more.

      • Bicycling in Alexandria
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      • Street Maps
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  • Business

    Ideally located just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., Alexandria is nationally recognized as one of the best places to live and do business on the east coast. Learn how we can help you start or relocate your business in Alexandria, and access resources for existing businesses and commuters.

    • Business Resources

      The City provides services and resources to help existing businesses expand within the City and promotes recruiting new businesses in Alexandria.

      • Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP)
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      Alexandria offers wide range of job opportunities and services. Work for City government or City Public Schools, find out about an internship opportunity or learn about workforce development and career training options.

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      Find out whether a permit is required, the type of permit needed, fees involved, and what requirements are necessary for the activity you want to engage in Alexandria.

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    Learn more about Alexandria's accountable, effective, and well-managed government.

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      The Alexandria City Council is composed of a Mayor and six Council members who are elected at-large for three-year terms. The Mayor, who is chosen on a separate ballot, presides over meetings of the Council and serves as the ceremonial head of government.

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In Memoriam 2023: Benjamin Thomas August 8, 1899

The City of Alexandria invites the community to remember the 1899 lynching of Benjamin Thomas at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. The event begins in front of 401 N. St. Asaph Street with an unveiling of a new historic marker that tells the story of Benjamin Thomas. From there participants will be invited to solemnly follow the trail of terror the mob took down St. Asaph Street to King Street and then to the intersection with Fairfax Street where we will lay a wreath in Thomas' honor.
Page updated on September 7, 2023 at 1:16 PM

Cultural History

  • About Historic Alexandria
  • Alexandria Community Remembrance Project
    • Public Programs
    • Committee Meetings
    • Equal Justice Initiative
    • In Memoriam: Benjamin Thomas
    • In Memoriam: Joseph McCoy
  • African American History Division
  • African American History
  • Hispanic Heritage
  • Indigenous Peoples
  • Women's History
  • Alexandria Oral History Center
  • Commissions Supporting Historic Alexandria
  • News Releases
  • Stay Connected
  • Support Historic Alexandria

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In Memoriam: Benjamin Thomas August 8, 1899

Wreath in memory of Benjamin Thomas, lynched on August 8, 1899 (2020)

On August 8, 1899, a lynch mob hunted down, tortured, and killed 16-year-old Benjamin Thomas, an African American boy and native Alexandrian. Thomas was arrested on Monday, August 7, 1899, for allegedly assaulting a white girl, but this was never proven. That night, Black community leaders warned police and the mayor that another lynching might occur, similar to the lynching of Joseph McCoy two years earlier on April 23, 1897. When the authorities refused their entreaties, the African American Alexandrians tried to protect Thomas themselves, standing guard near where he was being held. The police arrested them, and the next morning, they were, tried, fined and sent to the chain gang. The next night, somewhere between 500 and 2000 Alexandrians took Benjamin Thomas from the city jail on St. Asaph Street, dragged him over cobblestones for half-a-mile to the corner of King and Fairfax Streets where they hanged and shot the young man.

Read the July ACRP Newsletter  to find out how the lynching of Benjamin Thomas was linked to slavery.

The Remembrance Ceremony

The Remembrance Ceremony took place on Tuesday August 8 at 6 - 7:30 p.m. 

Participants were invited to join us at 6 p.m. in front of 401 N. St. Asaph Street for the unveiling of a new historic marker that tells the story of Benjamin Thomas along with a brief history of the jail that was located on the site from 1827-1967. Participants were then invited to solemnly walk the half-mile trail the lynch mob took down St. Asaph Street to King Street and then to the intersection with Fairfax Street. Upon arriving at the site of the lynching of Benjamin Thomas we held a wreath-laying ceremony.

  • Remembering Benjamin Thomas: The Program
  • Acknowledgement Statement
  • Remarks from Sheriff Casey

Photo Gallery

Thomas wreath with ribbon.
The 2023 wreath.
Trail Sign: City Jail, a site of racial terror
A new sign is being installed at the site of the old Jail.
Text on purple background, A-frame signboard.
Sign board.
signing remembrance book
A participant signs the remembrance book.
pinning on a purple ribbon
five people at the jail site
Rev. Driskell, Mahmoud Koroma, Korey London, ACRP Coordinator Tiffany Pache and ACRP Steering Committee Member RaAlim Shabazz.
Four officials at the site of the old jail
Sheriff Sean Casey, City Manager Jim Parajon, Vice-Mayor Amy Jackson, Director of the Office of Historic Alexandria Gretchen Bulova.
Unveiling the trail sign at the site of the old jail
ACRP Co-Chair Audrey Davis and Walter Steimel, Jr. unveil the new historic marker.
Unveiling the trail sign at the site of the old jail
ACRP Co-Chair Audrey Davis and Walter Steimel, Jr. unveil the new historic marker.
Student speaking at the site of the jail
Mahmoud Abu Koroma, Alexandria City High School Student, reads Benjamin Thomas' narrative.
Speaker in front of red door at site of jail
Reverend Professor Quardricos B. Driskell, Beulah Baptist Church and ACRP Steering Committee Member MCs.
Procession with wreath
Steering Committee Member McArthur Myers and Drummer Korey London lead the procession.
Procession with wreath passing house with flag.
Students with signs, white quotes on purple background
Students from ACHS with signs carried in the procession.
sign with quote carried in procession
sign with quote
sign with quote carried in procession
sign with quote carried in procession
The procession passes by a student holding a sign
sign with quote carried in procession
drummer in procession
Mahmoud Koroma followed by drummer Korey London and Rev. Driskell.
drummer in front of City Hall
Drummer Korey London followed by Rev. Driskell.
Sheriff Casey places wreath at corner of Fairfax Street
Sheriff Sean Casey places the wreath at the corner of Fairfax and King Street.
Jean Kelleher speaking
Jean Kelleher, Assistant City Manager, Director of the Office of Human Rights, leads participants in an Acknowledgement Statement.
Speaker at corner of King and Fairfax
Reverend Dr. Taft Quincey Heatley, Shiloh Baptist Church provides closing remarks.
Audrey Davis and others with wreath, Fairfax and King
Descendants of Benjamin Thomas with ACRP Co-Chair Audrey Davis and Steering Committee Member McArthur Myers.
End of ceremony at dusk
of
Grid View Close Modal
Thomas wreath with ribbon.
The 2023 wreath.
Trail Sign: City Jail, a site of racial terror
A new sign is being installed at the site of the old Jail.
Text on purple background, A-frame signboard.
Sign board.
signing remembrance book
A participant signs the remembrance book.
pinning on a purple ribbon
five people at the jail site
Rev. Driskell, Mahmoud Koroma, Korey London, ACRP Coordinator Tiffany Pache and ACRP Steering Committee Member RaAlim Shabazz.
Four officials at the site of the old jail
Sheriff Sean Casey, City Manager Jim Parajon, Vice-Mayor Amy Jackson, Director of the Office of Historic Alexandria Gretchen Bulova.
Unveiling the trail sign at the site of the old jail
ACRP Co-Chair Audrey Davis and Walter Steimel, Jr. unveil the new historic marker.
Unveiling the trail sign at the site of the old jail
ACRP Co-Chair Audrey Davis and Walter Steimel, Jr. unveil the new historic marker.
Student speaking at the site of the jail
Mahmoud Abu Koroma, Alexandria City High School Student, reads Benjamin Thomas' narrative.
Speaker in front of red door at site of jail
Reverend Professor Quardricos B. Driskell, Beulah Baptist Church and ACRP Steering Committee Member MCs.
Procession with wreath
Steering Committee Member McArthur Myers and Drummer Korey London lead the procession.
Procession with wreath passing house with flag.
Students with signs, white quotes on purple background
Students from ACHS with signs carried in the procession.
sign with quote carried in procession
sign with quote
sign with quote carried in procession
sign with quote carried in procession
The procession passes by a student holding a sign
sign with quote carried in procession
drummer in procession
Mahmoud Koroma followed by drummer Korey London and Rev. Driskell.
drummer in front of City Hall
Drummer Korey London followed by Rev. Driskell.
Sheriff Casey places wreath at corner of Fairfax Street
Sheriff Sean Casey places the wreath at the corner of Fairfax and King Street.
Jean Kelleher speaking
Jean Kelleher, Assistant City Manager, Director of the Office of Human Rights, leads participants in an Acknowledgement Statement.
Speaker at corner of King and Fairfax
Reverend Dr. Taft Quincey Heatley, Shiloh Baptist Church provides closing remarks.
Audrey Davis and others with wreath, Fairfax and King
Descendants of Benjamin Thomas with ACRP Co-Chair Audrey Davis and Steering Committee Member McArthur Myers.
End of ceremony at dusk
Trail Sign: City Jail, a site of racial terror

Illumination of City Hall and the Lamp Post

Illumination of City Hall, Thomas Memorial 2022

City Hall and the Lamp Post where Benjamin Thomas was lynched will be bathed in purple light, the color of mourning, beginning Aug. 4 and running through the morning of Aug. 9. The George Washington Masonic Memorial, which can be seen from many areas in Alexandria, will also don a purple hue in memory of Benjamin Thomas.

The Lynching of Benjamin Thomas: A Narrative

Map of the events of August 8, 1899

Around midnight on August 8,1899, a 16-year-old African American teenager named Benjamin Thomas was lynched in Alexandria, Virginia. A white terror mob comprised of Alexandria citizens attacked the city jail on St. Asaph Street, and Benjamin Thomas was dragged half a mile to the southwest corner of King and Fairfax streets, opposite Market Square. The full account of this hate crime was methodically researched by the 13-member Research Committee of the Alexandria Community Remembrance Project.

The Lynching of Benjamin Thomas, August 8, 1899

Map of the events of August 8, 1899 

In the News

‘Steeped in Racial Oppression’ in Alexandria: Ceremony unveils marker in honor of lynching victim Benjamin Thomas. Jeanne Theismann, Alexandria Gazette Packet, August 10, 2023

Alexandria Community Remembrance Project (ACRP)

ACRP is a city-wide initiative dedicated to helping Alexandria understand its history of racial terror hate crimes. ACRP conducts research, education, programs, and events that remember Joseph McCoy and Benjamin Thomas and explores the long-term impacts upon Alexandria’s African American community. Working with the Equal Justice Initiative Remembrance Project, ACRP will receive a steel pillar that memorializes McCoy and Thomas and with it will create a permanent space for remembrance in Alexandria City. The work of ACRP is an effort to establish a welcoming community bound by equity and inclusion for all people.

Benjamin Thomas and Joseph McCoy are the only two documented Alexandria lynchings so far. McCoy was lynched on April 23, 1897. This year is the 125th anniversary of that event. It was commemorated on that date.

Past Memorials for Benjamin Thomas

View previous In Memoriam pages.

  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020

Also see In Memoriam pages for Joseph McCoy.

Read the ACRP Newsletter.

  • Black History
  • Historic Alexandria
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