What's New

This July marks 275 years since Alexandria’s founding in 1749. The City of Alexandria will be celebrating with events from April through September, and we’re kicking it off at Waterfront Park on Saturday, April 6 from noon to 4 p.m.

Join us as we’ll be debuting an exciting new archaeology exhibit on recently uncovered ships at the Robinson Landing Gallery on the corner of the Strand and Pioneer Mill Way, showing off some of our City’s historic and public safety vehicles, and planting the first of 275 new trees. Come get a 275th Passport to guide your journey through all the fun at our City’s 275th Anniversary Kickoff.

Visit the ALX275 webpage for the 275th Anniversary Kickoff schedule and to stay on top of all the festivities and learning opportunities this year.

Upcoming Events

Exhibit: "Searching for Truth in the Garden" at Freedom House Museum

Freedom House Museum, 1315 Duke Street Now until April 15
Free for City of Alexandria residents. $5 per adult, $3 per child (ages 5-12) otherwise.

Gonzaga High School’s groundbreaking research on slavery, “Searching for Truth in the Garden,” found new life at the Freedom House Museum. The traveling exhibition, on view through April 15, delves into the life of Gabriel, a teenager enslaved at Washington Seminary (now Gonzaga) in 1829. Gabriel’s story offers a poignant lens through which to examine the complexities of slavery and its lasting impact.

Buried Ships of Robinson Landing Windowfront Exhibit

Archaeology on the Waterfront
Robinson Landing Gallery, Corner of the Strand and Pioneer Mill Way Saturday, April 6
1-1:30 p.m. ribbon-cutting
Free event, no registration required.

The scale models of the three Robinson Landing ships will be on view in the new “Buried Ships of Robinson Landing” windowfront exhibit, opening April 6 in the Robinson Landing Gallery. In 2018, archaeologists excavated the three historic vessels from the Robinson Landing Site, on the same block as the new exhibit. The scale models show what these ships may have looked like in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Archaeologists will join City officials to speak on the exhibit’s debut. Learn moreabout Archaeology at Robinson Terminal South.

Visit alexandriava.gov/archaeology for more information or call Alexandria Archaeology at 703.746.4399.

Douglass Cemetery Drainage and Preservation Updates
April 9
6-7:30 p.m.
Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson St Exhibit Hall
Free

Douglass Cemetery, located at 1421 Wilkes Street, has several preservation issues, including flooding and drainage problems.

The City of Alexandria staff from the Office of Historic Alexandria, Department of Project Implementation, Transportation and Environmental Services, and Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities are working to address these preservation issues. The Social Responsibility Group and the Friends of Douglass Cemetery have dedicated their efforts to raise awareness of the significance of the historic African American cemetery and resolve the preservation issues. The City has developed plans to implement solutions that are respectful and appropriate to the sensitive nature of the site. City Staff will present an update on the plans to mitigate the causes of flooding in addition to other preservation updates.

The meeting will be held at the Lee Center from 6:00-6:45 p.m. NOTE: The meeting will then move to Douglass Cemetery at 6:45 p.m. for an on-site discussion for participants who would like to visit the site. Questions about the project can be submitted in advance at: historicalexandria@alexandriava.gov. The presentation will be posted on the project webpage after the meeting.

For more information on Douglass Cemetery, visit alexandriava.gov/historic-sites/douglass-memorial-cemetery

Story Time for Little Historians
Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street Saturday, April 13
10-10:45 a.m.
Free event, no registration required.

This FREE, fun, and educational story time is geared to children ages 5-8 years old and features stories related to Black History. The program uses books written by and about African American people and other communities of color to educate and inspire our youngest visitors. Along with the book reading, Museum Staff provides historical context and local community connections. Story time will be held in the Museum’s Parker-Gray Gallery. Call 703-746-4356 for more information.

Whisky Tasting
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum Saturday, April 13
5-7 p.m.
$60 per person, pre-register

Join us for an evening of Scotch and camaraderie as whisky enthusiasts lead a guided tasting across the five whisky regions of Scotland. Sample five whiskies from across Scotland while learning about the rich tapestry that is Scotch Whiskey. Hors d’oeuvres will be provided. For non-whisky drinkers, wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be available. Ticket holders will take home with them their very own souvenir Glencairn glass to continue their exploration of the diverse and complex world of Scotch.

Proceeds from the fundraiser aid the Alexandria Sister Cities Committee mission to support the educational and cultural exchanges between Alexandria, VA and her sister cities of Dundee, Scotland and Helsingborg, Sweden. Minimum Age: 21

Lecture: The Brutal Truth of 1315 Duke Street Revealed: The 1837 Case of Dorcas Allen
Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum Thursday, April 18
7-8 p.m.
$15 per person, $12 for volunteers and members of Historic Alexandria, purchase in advance

Learn about Dorcas Allen, a woman living with her husband and four children as a free Black woman in Washington D.C. who was enslaved by James Birch, imprisoned in Alexandria, and tried for the murder of her two youngest children. A jury acquitted her by reason of insanity and, with John Quincy Adams’ assistance, she regained her freedom. This is a story of African American agency in the most desperate of circumstances...when an enslaved mother feels death is better for her children than life in bondage. Proceeds from the event support Freedom House Museum.

The lecture for tonight will be led by Dr. Alison Mann, who serves as the Historian at the National Museum of American Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State as a subject matter expert in the field of diplomatic history, 19th-century American history, public history, and education. Before joining the museum, she was Assistant Professor of History at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA, teaching courses in public history, multicultural America, and early American history. She has also taught diplomatic history and the history of American slavery and abolitionism at the University of New Hampshire and Franklin Pierce University and worked as a Park Ranger for Boston African American National Historic Site. She holds an MA and Ph.D. from the University of New Hampshire, and a BA from Rutgers University.

Joseph McCoy Remembrance Event
Penny Hill Cemetery, 700 block of S. Payne Street Tuesday, April 23
5 p.m.
Free

The 2024 Joseph McCoy Remembrance event will be held April 23 at Penny Hill Cemetery on the 700 block of S. Payne Street. Joseph McCoy was lynched on April 23, 1897. Join us for a wreath laying and remarks during this powerful ceremony at the burial site for Mr. McCoy. Parking available on S. Payne Street and at Nannie J. Lee Center.

Community Cookout
Ewald Park, 4452 Duke Street Tuesday, April 23
6- 7:30 p.m.
Free

Join us for the first in a series of Community Cookouts in 2024! A great time for neighbors and families to come together and connect with community resources. There will be free food, face painting and activities, games for the kids and giveaways. For more information, email Michael Johnson or call 703.898.5115; or email Officer Bennie Evans or call 703.627.0728

Historic Alexandria receives City operational funding to support its mission; however, these resources do not cover the full scope of the department’s strategic goals and projects. Donations, special revenue, and grant funding help supplement staff, conservation work, and educational programs. Please consider making a gift today.

Historic Alexandria Museum Hours

• Alexandria Archaeology Museum
  Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays, 1-5 p.m.
• Alexandria Black History Museum
  Thursdays and 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 and Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays, 1-5 p.m.
• Fort Ward Museum
  Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays, 1-5 p.m.
• Freedom House Museum
  Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays and Mondays, 1-5 p.m.
• Friendship Firehouse Museum
  Saturdays, March 16 and April 27, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
  Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays through Tuesdays, 1-5 p.m.
• Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
  Wednesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays and Mondays 1-5 p.m.

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.

This Week in Alexandria's History

On April 1, 1862, the noted American landscape painter Winslow Homer was in Alexandria, sketching Union soldiers leaving the city for Fort Monroe as part of Major General George McClellan’s “Peninsula Campaign.” The drawing depicts “General McClellan's Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment Ready to Embark at Alexandria for Old Point Comfort.” A native of Boston, Homer was first taught painting by his mother, but in 1859 the 23-year-old artist moved to New York City where he established a studio and attended art classes at the National Academy of design. His progress as an artist and illustrator was rapid and in 1861 Harper’s magazine sent him to Virginia to produce illustrations of the Civil War. He accompanied the Union Army units for about two months, sailing down the Potomac from Alexandria to Fort Monroe and Yorktown in the Tidewater region. His sketch of the Pennsylvania soldiers in Alexandria helped introduce his artistic style and flair for the dramatic. His work in Virginia covering McClellan and his forces as they moved towards Richmond proved to be very significant in developing a foundation for his artist style, and laid the groundwork for his true artistic transition from illustrator to painter.

Upcoming Commission and Committee Events

• April 2 HARC Advocacy Meeting
  10 a.m.-12 p.m.
  La Madeleine, 500 King Street
• April 2 ACRP Steering Committee Meeting 
  5-6 p.m.
  Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
• April 5 ACRP McCoy Remembrance Planning Meeting
  10-11 a.m.
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
• April 8 Sister Cities Caen Committee Meeting
  7-9 p.m.
  Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, Alexandria City Hall, 301 King Street
• April 10 Historic Restoration and Preservation Committee Meeting
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street 8:15 a.m. -9:30 a.m.
• April 15 George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee Meeting
  7-9 p.m.
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
• April 15 Alexandria Sister Cities Committee
  7-8 p.m.
  Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, Alexandria City Hall, 301 King Street
• April 15 Public Records Advisory Commission
  7:30 p.m.
  Archives and Records Center, 801 S Payne Street
• April 16 Historic Alexandria Resources Commission (HARC)
  7-9 p.m.
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
• April 17 Alexandria Archaeological Commission
  7-9 p.m.
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street