Donating Objects to the Museums

Each museum follows a Collections Policy that includes a Scope of Collections statement in determining what objects to bring into the collection, so that objects can be used and cared for in the most appropriate setting.

Page updated on Jun 21, 2020 at 4:30 PM

Donating Objects to the Museums

Silver CollectionIf you have objects that you may want to donate to Historic Alexandria Museums, please contact the appropriate museum, or contact the curator at Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, who can direct you to the right place.

Each museum follows a Collections Policy that includes a Scope of Collections statement in determining what objects to bring into the collection, so that objects can be used and cared for in the most appropriate setting.

Gifts to the Office of Historic Alexandria’s museums become the property of the City of Alexandria, Virginia. They are held by the Museums in public trust, to be preserved and used as a resource and legacy for future generations of residents, visitors and researchers. Gifts are tax deductible to the full extent of the law; see your tax accountant for more information.

Special Collecting Initiatives

The Office of Historic Alexandria is currently engaged in two new collecting initiatives in 2020, focusing on current events. If you have objects and stories related to these events, please visit these pages to learn more and to share your story, and possibly to propose objects for the collections.


What do the museums collect?

See a brief description of each museum's collections below, and click on the links to learn more about each museum's collecting policies, including their Scope of Collections statements.

Alexandria Archaeology Museum
Alexandria Archaeology Museum collects archaeological materials from professional excavations within the current City limits of Alexandria. The museum may also accept artifacts found on a homeowner's property. Learn more about the Alexandria Archaeology Museum collections and collecting policies.


Alexandria Black History Museum
Alexandria Black History Museum’s (ABHM) collections preserve Alexandria, Virginia’s African American history from 1749 to the present. In addition, the museum collects documents and artifacts relating to a wide range of African and African American history. Learn more about the Alexandria Black History Museum collections and collecting policies.


Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum collects artifacts representing all time periods of Alexandria and the surrounding region’s past, as well as objects relevant for interpreting The Lyceum as a historic site. Learn more about the Alexandria History Museum collections and collecting policies.


Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site
Fort Ward Museum collections objects that broadly interpret the history of the site, the Civil War Defenses of Washington, and local history related to wartime Alexandria. Learn more about the Fort Ward collections and collecting policies.


Freedom House Museum
Alexandria Black History Museum administers collections that may be relevant to the history of the building and the slave trade, and that may be displayed and interpreted at Freedom House Museum. Learn more about the Alexandria Black History Museum collections and collecting policies.


Friendship Firehouse Museum
Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum administers the Friendship Fire Company Collection. The collection includes materials related to Friendship and other Alexandria historic volunteer firefighting companies. Learn more about the Friendship Firehouse collections and the collecting policies of the Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum.


Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum collects objects in accordance with its Historic Furnishings Plan, to authentically furnish the buildings known as Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, to be relevant to the interpretation and understanding of the stated historical period (1785-1810), or to reflect the subsequent history of the two buildings. Learn more about the Gadsby's Tavern Museum collections and collecting policies.


Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum may add objects to the permanent collection that are relevant to the interpretation and understanding of the historic site. Adequate history of the object must be established before it is accepted into the permanent collection. Learn more about the Apothecary archival collections.

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