Historic Alexandria Announces Publication of City Hall, Market Square, and Slavery Documentary Study
In recognition of Alexandria’s dedication and drive to saving, sharing, and studying history in Virginia, Historic Alexandria received a Commonwealth History Fund grant from the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) in February 2025 to produce an in-depth history of Alexandria’s Market Square. Dr. Greg A. Beaman conducted this major research project to better understand the history of this important and well-known space. For more than 275 years, Market Square has served as the seat of local government and a key economic hub while functioning as a space of enslavement and racial oppression. The project’s findings will inform future efforts to interpret and share the complex history of this early urban center.
The report can be found online at alexandriava.gov/go/7216. The report is accompanied by a collection of StoryMaps that tell the stories of enslaved and free Black people whose lives intersected with the square using maps and images.
To hear more about the history of City Hall and Market Square, make plans to attend the 2026 Alexandria Forum where the research will be shared. For information on the Alexandria Forum visit: alexandriava.gov/go/4896.
About the Office of Historic Alexandria
The Office of Historic Alexandria preserves and shares the history of the City of Alexandria with eight museums, historic sites, archives, archaeology, tours, exhibits and public programs. Through powerful storytelling and confronting the City’s past, Historic Alexandria enriches the present and inspires the future. We enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors and serve as a partner in the City’s equity and inclusion initiatives. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/Historic.
About the Virginia Museum of History & Culture
Founded in 1831 as the Virginia Historical Society, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, a private, non-profit organization, is the oldest museum and cultural organization in Virginia and one of the oldest and most distinguished history organizations in the United States. The museum cares for a renowned collection of more than nine million items representing the far-reaching story of Virginia.
About the Commonwealth History Fund
Founded in partnership with Virginia’s Department of Historic Resources in 2021, with the support of Dominion Energy and others, the Commonwealth History Fund furthers VMHC’s mission to support and encourage meaningful history education and preservation projects throughout Virginia. Previous awards have funded preservation, publications, artifact acquisition, research, conservation of artifacts and educational programming.
For reasonable disability accommodation, contact Nicole Quinn at historicalexandria@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4554, Virginia Relay 711.
If you prefer communication in another language, free interpretation and translation services are available to you, please email LanguageAccess@alexandriava.gov or call 703-746-3960.