APRIL 28–May 4, 2025

What's New

FEATURED EVENT

Specialty Tour: Peeling Back the Layers!

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal Street  
Saturdays in May (May 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31)
10 -11 a.m.
$15 per person/$12 for Historic Alexandria Member or Volunteer
Tickets can be purchased online.

Explore Gadsby’s Tavern Museum top to bottom, including spaces rarely opened to the public, and understand how the buildings have changed over time. Wear comfortable shoes and bring your camera! Please note this tour involves ascending and descending multiple sets of stairs, including into the rarely on view fourth floor! 

Upcoming Events

View the Historic Alexandria Calendar                                                                                                                                                      

Preservation Tours: Lost Buildings of Alexandria-The Waterfront
Carlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax Street  
Saturdays in May (3rd, 17th, 24th, & 31st) 
10 a.m. - Noon
$20
Tickets can be purchased online.

In honor of National Preservation Month, join Carlyle House and Lee-Fendall House on a tour of “Lost Alexandria.” Explore parts of the historic neighborhood of Fishtown and what is now Founder’s Park. Learn why these buildings were not preserved. 

Tours begin at Carlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax Street. This tour includes walking over many city blocks. Preservation Tours will take place at the same time and place every Saturday in the month of May. Walking shoes required, bottled water suggested. Held rain or shine. Tickets are required for all tours. 

Carlyle House Family Fun Day - Garden Gathering
Carlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax Street  
Saturday, May 3 (First Saturday of the month from April – November)
Noon -3 p.m.
Free

Come join your friends on the Carlyle House Magnolia Terrace for Family Fun Day on the first Saturday of the month from April - November! From noon - 3 p.m., you can sit in on story time that starts at the top of the hour and participate in crafts and other activities that relate to the theme of the month. This program is for all ages, though some of the crafts might be challenging for guests under 4. There is no fee to join this program, but donations are encouraged.

Wine & Art Night
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, May 3
7 - 10 p.m.
$75, $125 VIP Admission
Purchase tickets.

The Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden invites you to an enchanting evening of fine wine, captivating art, and delightful company at Wine & Art Night, the museum's premier Spring fundraiser. All proceeds from Wine & Art Night directly support the Lee-Fendall House to preserve and share nearly 200 years of local history through the stories of people who lived and worked on the property from 1785 to 1972. Come enjoy wine tastings, art showcases, a silent auction, live music, and more!

Featured wineries: Slater Run Vineyards (Upperville, VA) & Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery (Leon, VA)

Featured artists: Barbara Cooper (paintings), Candace Stribling (jewelry), Barbara Nowak (ceramics) & Jenny Nordstrom (photography)

Tickets include a special Lee-Fendall wine glass and a tasting passport, allowing guests to enjoy a tasting from each winery. Additional glasses and bottles of wine will be available for purchase. General admission is $75 and VIP admission is $125. VIP tickets include early entry for a special reception featuring an exclusive tasting from Wine Gallery 108, a photography session, early access to the silent auction, and time to enjoy the garden in the glow of a Spring evening. 

This event is for guests 21 and over only. All attendees will be required to show a valid ID before entering. 

Specialty Tour: A Magical Apothecary
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 South Fairfax Street
Sunday, May 4 
11a.m. - Noon 
$15, $12 Historic Alexandria members
Purchase tickets.

Learn about the muggle botanical science that inspired the potions and herbology of Harry Potter's wizarding world on a tour of this 19th century apothecary, and make your own magical potion! Recommended for ages 8 and up.

Celebrate Historic Preservation Month! Don’t miss this very special Kick-Off Event that includes a garden party and opportunity to tour inside the historic Murray-Dick-Fawcett House!

Murray-Dick-Fawcett House, 517 Prince Street
Sunday, May 4 
2 - 4:30 p.m. 
$98 Individual Ticket, Sponsorships available
Purchase Tickets

Join Historic Alexandria for a garden party at Murray-Dick-Fawcett House celebrating the 98th birthday of Joe Reeder. Enjoy house tours, refreshments, and live music at a fundraiser benefiting Joe’s beloved Murray-Dick-Fawcett House. Located at 517 Prince Street, this remarkable property is one of the earliest homes in Alexandria and possibly the least altered 18th-century residence in Northern Virginia. It was acquired by the City of Alexandria in 2017 with the support of conservation trust funds. It is to be used in perpetuity as a historic site, vest-pocket park and garden, creating new open space in Old Town and preserving this nationally significant architectural and cultural resource for residents and visitors.

Story Time for Little Historians
Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
Saturday, May 10
10 - 10:45 a.m. 
Free

Designed for children ages 4-8, this event introduces young learners to African and African American culture through stories and songs.

Specialty Tour: Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site
Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site, 4301 West Braddock Rd. 
Saturday, May 17 
10 - 11 a.m. (check-in opens at 9:45 a.m.)
$15, $12 Historic Alexandria members
Purchase tickets.

This guided tour highlights the Defenses of Washington and one veteran’s efforts to preserve its story. The tour begins inside with the special exhibit, “Lewis Cass White: Preserving the Legacy of Fort Stevens,” then continues outside to see the earthwork fort. Please note this tour involves walking on outdoor paths and takes place rain or shine.

Concert in the Garden - Armato/De Sapio Duo
Carlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax Street  
Saturday, May 17 
2 p.m. 
Free ($5 donation suggested)

Join the Armato/De Sapio Duo for a delightful al fresco concert of rarely performed music for violin and guitar. Enjoy works by Paganini, Margola, Giuliani, Rodrigo, and more in the idyllic surroundings of Carlyle House--music that is entertaining, elegant, and easygoing. Concert admission is free, $5 donation suggested. All donations go towards Carlyle Garden care. Lemonade will also be available for sale as part of this fundraiser.

Lecture: Nick Stagliano, “Hanns Weinberg and the Antique Porcelain Company”
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street
Monday, May 19
7:30 p.m. Lecture (7 p.m. light refreshments)
$10 (suggested contribution)
More information: The Alexandria Association

Nick Stagliano, a specialist in 18th-century European ceramics and decorative arts, works at Michele Beiny Inc., the preeminent U.S. dealer in antique porcelain. A graduate of Hamilton College, Nick earned his master's degree in the history of the decorative arts from the program offered jointly by The New School and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, where he was a Curatorial Fellow in the Product Design and Decorative Arts department. He previously worked in fundraising at The Juilliard School and The Frick Collection. Nick serves as Co-Chairman of the French Porcelain Society and sits on the Board of the Connecticut Ceramics Circle. Please join us in welcoming him to Alexandria.  

Register guests with karen.d.paul1948@gmail.com 

Specialty Tour: Poisons at the Apothecary Museum
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 South Fairfax Street
Sunday, May 25 
11 a.m. - Noon
$15, $12 Historic Alexandria members
Purchase tickets.

Come explore the sinister side of medicine on the Apothecary Museum's Poisons Tour. This one-hour tour explores several different types of poisons, their historic uses at the Apothecary, and what we know today. Recommended for ages 18 and up. Please arrive between 10:45 - 11 a.m. as the doors will be locked when the tour begins at 11 a.m.

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace-Happy Hour
Carlyle’s Magnolia Terrace, 121 N. Fairfax Street 
Last Thursday of the month May-September (May 29th, June 26th, Jul 31st, Aug 28th, & Sept 25th)
6 - 7:30 pm
$20
Purchase tickets.

Join our yoga instructor for an hour-long Yoga class on Carlyle’s Magnolia Terrace. Afterwards, enjoy a mocktail with yoga participants and staff. Mocktails will change based on the month and will be announced on our social media! Yoga Happy Hours are a fundraiser for new exhibit cases in the museum and sponsored by the Friends of Carlyle House.                                                                                  

Please bring water, a towel, and a yoga mat. Wear comfortable yoga wear. Please note that the terrace is bricked so please bring a thicker mat or double up with an extra mat or towel. Class may be canceled due to inclement weather, you will receive an email if class is canceled. 

Alexandria's Treasures: Escape Room Edition 
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street
Friday, May 30
7 - 9 p.m.
$35
Purchase tickets.

Discover objects rarely on view from Historic Alexandria’s vast collections as you use them to solve the puzzle. Drop in or stay the whole time for puzzle stations, curator chats, and cash bar.

From Battlefield to Bedside: Alexandria's Civil War Medical History Exhibition
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
On display at Lee-Fendall through Sunday, August 31
Admission into the exhibit is included with general admission. 

Lee-Fendall's newest exhibit, From Battlefield to Bedside focuses on Alexandria's pivotal role in the medical history of the Civil War, highlighting its transformation from a Southern port town to a strategic military hub to an epicenter of care for both Union and Confederate soldiers. Through a compelling collection of visual imagery, maps, and artifacts, this exhibit invites you to reflect on the resilience of those who provided care amidst the devastation of war, the legacy of Alexandria's medical contributions, and the experiences of those confined to the city's hospital beds. 

Support Historic Alexandria

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

Plan your Visit

Alexandria Archaeology Museum 
Tuesdays–Fridays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays, 1 – 5 p.m.

Alexandria Black History Museum
Thursdays & 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 & Fridays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays, 1 – 5 p.m.  

Fort Ward Museum 
Thursdays & Fridays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays, 1 – 5 p.m.

Freedom House Museum
Saturdays, 11 a.m. –  5 p.m., Sundays, 1 – 5 p.m.

Friendship Firehouse Museum
Saturday, May 17, 11 a.m. –  5 p.m. 

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
Thursdays & Fridays, 11 a.m.– 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays-Tuesdays, 1– 5 p.m.

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
Wednesdays–Fridays, 11 a.m.– 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays & 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.

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact Nicole Quinn at historicalexandria@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4554, Virginia Relay 711.

This Week in Alexandria's History

More from This Day in History

On April 28, 1898, the Sharps and Flats, Alexandria’s own operatic troupe, performed Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera “Patience” at Lannon's Opera House.  Proceeds from this production benefited the Alexandria kindergarten.

Upcoming Commission and Committee Events

Commissions Supporting Historic Alexandria

• April 30 The Schools & Libraries Action Committee
  Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street 
  6 p.m.

• May 12 Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee (ACSCC)
  City Hall, 301 King Street, Sister Cities Room 1101
  7-9 p.m.

• May 14 Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission
  Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street
  8-9:15 a.m.

• May 14 Steering Committee of the Alexandria Community Remembrance Project 
  Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
  5:30 p.m.

• May 19 Sister Cities Committee (SCC) - Dundee and Helsingborg
  City Hall, 301 King Street, Sister Cities Room 1101
  7-9 p.m.

• May 19 Public Records Advisory Committee (PRAC)
  Archives and Records Center, 801 S. Payne Street
  7:30 p.m.

• May 20 Historic Alexandria Resources Commission (HARC)
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7 p.m.

• May 21 Alexandria Archaeological Commission (AAC) 
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7 p.m.