november 2–8, 2026
What's New
FEATURED EVENT
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum 20th Anniversary Open House
105-107 S Fairfax Street
Sunday, November 8
1-5 p.m.
Free
The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum is hosting an open house with free, stationed tours to celebrate 20 years as a City-owned museum. On view for the event will be Edward Stabler’s 1790s daybook and an account and prescription book from the 1860s. Rarely on view, these materials will be part of the museum’s future conservation efforts of archival materials. This family-run pharmacy operated from 1792 until 1933. Upon declaring bankruptcy and closing in 1933, community members purchased the building and its contents, officially opening to visitors as a museum in 1939. They established the Landmarks Society, now known as the Mortar and Pestle Society, to own and operate the museum. After an extensive renovation, the Landmarks Society donated the museum and its contents to the City of Alexandria in November 2006.
Upcoming Events
View the Historic Alexandria Calendar
ACRP Discerning Dinner
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
Thursday, November 5
6-8:30 p.m.
SOLD OUT
Alexandria Historical Society Presents “From Enslavement to Justice” Walking Tour
The tour meets at the corner of Wilkes Street and Hamilton Avenue, 1475–1501 Wilkes Street, Alexandria.
Saturday, November 7
10 a.m.-Noon
Tickets are available through the Alexandria Historical Society website.
Led by independent historian and Alexandria Historical Society Treasurer David Heiby, this tour of the historic Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex explores two-and-a-half centuries of African American history through the stories of 21 individuals. Their lives reflect Alexandria’s long struggle with enslavement, injustice, resistance, and the pursuit of equality. From a chambermaid who witnessed George Washington’s death to a football captain who inherited a city transformed, the tour brings these individuals’ experiences to life through first-person narratives drawn from historical records. Their stories span generations of enslavement, military service, education, civil rights, and the fight for justice.
Participants will visit several burial grounds, including Christ Church, Methodist Protestant, Trinity Methodist, Presbyterian, Union, Penny Hill, and Bethel cemeteries. The tour involves approximately two hours of walking over grass and uneven ground. Comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended. Street parking is available nearby, but there are no restroom facilities within the cemetery complex.
Specialty Tour: Hamilton's BFF & Frenemies
Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal Street
Saturdays, November 7, 14, and 21
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
$15 / person; $12 for Historic Alexandria Members
Purchase Tickets
Inspired by the musical Hamilton, learn how the paths of Washington, Lafayette, Jefferson, Madison, and Burr all intersected with this local tavern. Includes discussion of the issues they faced and how their choices impacted local citizens. Please note tour involves ascending and descending stairs. Arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to tour time to check in. No need to print tickets--your name will be on a list after purchasing.
An Intimate Evening with George Washington
The Duvall House, 305 Cameron Street
Saturday, November 7
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
$150 per person
Purchase Tickets
Join George Washington at the historic Duvall House, where his “coming home” party was held upon his return from the Revolutionary War! The General will talk about his most memorable moments of the War, and answer questions about his life and times. Libations and heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served. Proceeds to benefit the 2027 George Washington Birthday Parade in Alexandria. Dressy casual.
Grown-Up Field Trip: Who Gets Remembered
Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal Street
Saturday, November 7
6 p.m.
$15 / person; $12 for Historic Alexandria Members
Purchase Tickets
Why do we remember some people from history while others are forgotten? Step inside Gadsby’s Tavern Museum for an interactive exploration of the people whose stories have been preserved—and those whose stories are harder to find. Through historic spaces and primary sources, we’ll question who gets remembered, who gets left out, and how those choices shape our understanding of the past. This program is part of Historic Alexandria’s monthly Grown-Up Field Trip series, where adults can feed their curiosity by learning more about Alexandria’s history together.
Future Grown-Up Field Trips include:
December 18, 6:30-8 p.m.: Citizen Firefighter with Friendship Firehouse Museum
The Forces Awaken!
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Thursday, November 12
7-8 p.m.
$15 / person; $12 for Historic Alexandria Members
Purchase Tickets
Join us for "The Forces Awaken!" - An Evening of Philosophic Reveries! A Pageant of Modern Scientifical Recreations & Amusements! Grand Spectacle and Curious Demonstrations Revealing Unseen & Mysterious Forces of the Universe, Will Be on Display Courtesy of: The Professor. Join veteran science educator and historian Dean Howarth (The Natural Philosopher, LLC) for an evening of 19the-century science. Mr. Howarth will conduct experiments from the 19th century, much like ones conducted at Lyceum Hall in Alexandria in the 1840s and 50s. Enjoy astounding and shocking (sometimes literally) demonstrations as you learn about the invisible forces that are all around us. Beer and wine for sale.
ACSCC French Book Club
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
Friday, November 13
7-8 p.m.
Free, but advanced registration required.
Join the Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee and Old Town Books in celebrating French authors and literature! This special collaboration event series is free and open to the public, and is designed to encourage the exploration of Francophone authors and books, especially those in the French diaspora. While buying the book at Old Town Books is not required to attend, doing so helps keep their free literary programming sustainable! Buy your copy of this month's book at their brick-and-mortar shop or online and note "SISTER10" to get 10% off. By attending an Old Town Books event, you are agreeing to their code of conduct.
Specialty Tour: Fort Ward & Civil War Music
Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site, 4301 W. Braddock Road
Saturday, November 14
10-11 a.m.
$15 / person; $12 for Historic Alexandria Members
Purchase Tickets
Come explore music in the Civil War! This one-hour tour will begin inside the museum with the exhibit "Buglers and Brass Bands." Together, we'll dive into how music and musical instruments functioned within the Union Army and the wider culture of the 1860s, complete with sound clips to round out the experience. The tour will then head outside to explore life at Fort Ward in the reconstructed Northwest Bastion, the best preserved of the Union forts that comprised the historic defense system.
Bienvenue Beaujolais
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
Thursday, November 19
7-10 p.m.
$80
Purchase Tickets
Please join the Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee for a special evening of French food and wine! We will enjoy the anticipated 2026 Beaujolais Nouveau and then explore beyond the Beaujolais region to showcase some of the finest French wines. From a crisp bubbly and refreshing white wine to a bold and robust red wine. To complement the wines, we will feature French cuisine, taking a tour through the flavors of France, featuring charcuterie, cheeses, and other delicacies. You will also receive a signature wine-tasting glass. For guests 21 and over.
Alexandria Cider Festival
Saturday, November 21
1–5 p.m.
Lloyd House grounds, 220 N. Washington Street and on Queen Street
$55 November 2–20, and $25 for designated drivers. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $65.
Purchase Tickets
Celebrate Virginia Cider Week with a special tasting event on the grounds of historic Lloyd House and on Queen Street in Old Town Alexandria. The event includes cider tastings, a souvenir cider glass, live music, tavern games, a food truck, and a little history too! This year, for the nation's 250th anniversary, the VA250 Mobile Museum Experience ("Out of Many, One") will be open on Queen Street during the event. Dress for the weather - the event is outdoors! Proceeds from the Cider Festival will benefit the Historic Alexandria Museums. Minimum Age: 21
Support Historic Alexandria
Your gift fuels preservation, education, and programs that bring Alexandria’s past to life. Donations, special revenue, and grants make it possible to expand educational programs, conserve treasured collections, and support our dedicated staff. Your gift today helps preserve Alexandria’s history for generations to come.
Historic Alexandria Museum Hours
Plan your Visit
November 1 brings new hours to the Historic Alexandria Museums. Plan your next visit to your city museums!
Alexandria Archaeology Museum
Tuesdays–Fridays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays, 1 –5 p.m.
Alexandria Black History Museum
Thursdays & Fridays, 11 a.m.– 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays, 1– 5 p.m.
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum
Thursdays & Fridays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays, 1 – 5 p.m.
Fort Ward Museum
Thursdays & Fridays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays, 1 – 5 p.m.
Freedom House
Thursdays & Fridays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays, 1 – 5 p.m.
Friendship Firehouse Museum
Saturday, November 14, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
Thursdays & Fridays, 11 a.m.– 4 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sundays, 1– 5 p.m.
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
Wednesdays–Fridays, 11 a.m.– 4 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sundays, 1 - 5 p.m.
Virginia 250 Passport
Historic Alexandria is proud to join 70 premier historic destinations across Virginia in the launch of the Virginia 250 Passport, a first-of-its-kind statewide tourism journey celebrating America’s 250th. Featured Alexandria museums include Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, and the Alexandria Black History Museum. The passport offers prizes and discounts to encourage families to explore Virginia’s rich history together. Beginning November 11, 2025, free passports will be available at major historic sites and Virginia Welcome Centers. Learn more at VirginiaHistory.org/250Passport.
New Traveling Exhibition: Monday Robinson: A Life of Thorns and Roses – Now open
On October 22nd the traveling exhibition, Monday Robinson: A Life of Thorns and Roses, opened at the Freedom House Museum at 1315 Duke Street in Alexandria, Virginia. This exhibition was created by Belle Grove Plantation located in Middletown, Virginia where it debuted in September of this year.
This exhibit highlights the life of Monday Robinson born in 1778, a man whose story encompassed enslavement, freedom, and later, the enslavement of members of his own family as a means of protection. Monday Robinson: A Life of Thorns and Roses on display at the Freedom House Museum through December 31.
Exhibit included in regular admission, which is always free for Alexandria Residents!
Exhibit: Stories of U.S.: Collections Capture Our History – Now open
A silver coffee pot, a family story, a business letter, or a photograph -- each provide a glimpse into the past. The Office of Historic Alexandria collects these items and memories to reflect our community and preserve the moments that define us. This exhibition, marking the 250th anniversary of the United States, showcases recently acquired objects, many on view for the first time at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum. These pieces provide a powerful, tangible connection to both our local history and national story..
Exhibit: Buglers & Brass Bands: Soldier Musicians in the Civil War - Now open
Fort Ward opened a new exhibit on May 16, 2026 that explores the essential role that music played in the daily life of the Civil War soldier, both in camp and on the battlefield. The exhibit features a variety of musical instruments and sheet music of the period from the Museum’s extensive Civil War collection. The exhibit will be on view through May 2027.
Exhibit: Women in Business: We Were Always Here
Gadsby's Tavern Museum's new exhibit featuring Hannah Griffith, a female coffeehouse operator at this location, is now open! The exhibit is included in regular admission. Visitors will be able to see primary sources up close to explore how women appear (and don’t) in the historical record in the 18th century. In addition to Hannah’s story, visitors will learn about the female business owners on the block around City Hall today, highlighting how women continue to be an important part of Alexandria’s business community. All of the women-owned businesses facing City Hall are included in this exhibit—14 total owned by 17 women! The exhibit will be up through March 2027.
Exhibit: Disease and the Apothecary
Explore how epidemics like Smallpox, Yellow Fever, and Influenza shaped Alexandria’s past and how science and public health saved lives. Included with admission. Free for Alexandria residents! The new exhibit is also available online.
Exhibit: Aboard Ship with the Jack-Tars of the Union Navy
A new exhibition at Fort Ward Museum opened October 2. The exhibit focuses on the U.S. Navy during the Civil War and is being held in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Navy on October 13, 1775. The exhibition will continue through 2026. The exhibit, with pictures of select objects, is also available online.
Explore with Ease – The New Museum Mobility Guide
Historic Alexandria and the Department of Transportation & Environmental Services (T&ES) have launched a colorful, easy-to-use map and guide connecting all of Alexandria’s museums via walking, biking, and transit. The guide also acts as a passport—visit every site and earn a prize! Available at museums, rec centers, public libraries, and more.
Visit our website and follow us on social media to discover new things about your hometown. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/Historic. Admission to City of Alexandria museums is complimentary for city residents.
For reasonable disability accommodation, contact Nicole Quinn at historicalexandria@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4554, Virginia Relay 711.
This Week in Alexandria's History
On November 6, 1944, ground was broken for construction of the Alexandria Health Center in the 500 block of North St. Asaph Street. Before this facility was built, local health department staff worked in basement offices at City Hall. The Health Department moved to the West End in 2004.
Upcoming Commission and Committee Events
Commissions Supporting Historic Alexandria
- November 2 Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
7-9 p.m. - November 3 Public Records Advisory Commission (PRAC)
Archives and Records Center, 801 south Payne street
7:30 p.m. - November 9 Committee of Inquiry
Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
7 p.m. - November 16 George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee (GWBCC)
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
7-9 p.m. - November 17 Historic Alexandria Resources Commission (HARC)
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
7-9 p.m. - November 18 Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission (AHRPC)
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
8-9:15 a.m. - November 18 Alexandria Archaeological Commission (AAC)
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
7-9 p.m. - November 23 Sister Cities Committee (SCC)
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
7-8:30 p.m.