
The Alexandria Forum

The Alexandria Forum
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.
The Waterfront Revisited: Birth and Rebirth, 1730-2023

October 20, 2023
This day-long symposium will explore the theme of revisiting the history of the Alexandria Waterfront through new research lenses, technologies, excavations, and sources. Presentations will weave together the many strands of historical evidence currently under examination, from deeds to store ledgers, from manifests to material culture, to provide new insights.