In the 1950s, the Alexandria Association imagined the Alexandria Forum as an annual showcase for the study of architecture, the related arts, and life in and around Alexandria. The first one was held in 1959 in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation called “Early Architecture of Alexandria and Northern Virginia.”  The Forum explored everything from Period Decorative Arts to the Alexandria Waterfront, with its last session in 2010. The Office of Historic Alexandria is resuming this conference and its mission to share research insights into Alexandria’s rich and complex history.

“Nothing But Independence”: Alexandria and the Revolutionary War

March 21, 2026
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum

The American Revolution in Virginia was more than a war – it was a Revolution of Ideas that continues today. From the creation of the Fairfax Resolves to the hometown of George Washington, Alexandria and this region played a unique role in the birth of the new nation. The Alexandria Forum, in partnership with Emerging Revolutionary War, will share the history of Alexandria and Northern Virginia during this critical time in history, showcasing how these moments in time reverberate through today.

The 2023 symposium explored the theme of revisiting the history of the Alexandria Waterfront through new research lenses, technologies, excavations, and sources. Presentations wove together the many strands of historical evidence currently under examination, from deeds to store ledgers, from manifests to material culture, to provide new insights.

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• Speaker Biographies