june 23–29, 2025
What's New
FEATURED EVENT - TONIGHT!
Music of the Regiment Concert
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street
Monday, June 23
7- 9 p.m.
$20
Tickets can be purchased online.
Join Music of the Regiment, a period-instrument wind band, for a concert of late 18th and early 19th-century military music. In 1798, an advertisement under the heading MARTIAL MUSIC petitioned the citizens of Alexandria to organize a wind band “for the accommodation and embellishment” of the city’s nine militia companies. The advertisement called for the establishment of a band of music to be funded by the militia and to be comprised of four clarinets, two horns, and two bassoons. This band, known as the Alexandria Band, was one of several “martial” ensembles that were active in Alexandria and, more broadly, Washington City during the early Federal Period (1790-1830). Learn about the interconnectivity of the Alexandria Band, the Marine Band, and the “Italian” Marine Band ensembles that defined the musical soundscape of the nascent capital.
Alexandria Pride Fair
City Hall & Market Square, 301 King Street
Saturday, June 28
3-6 p.m.
Free
Historic Alexandria will be participating in Alexandria’s 8th Annual Pride Fair on Saturday, June 28, from 3-6 p.m. (301 King Street). Come visit our booth for Alexandria history!
For more information on the City of Alexandria’s Pride Month activities, visit alexandriava.gov/LGBTQ.
Ben Brenman Award for Archaeology
The Alexandria Archaeological Commission (AAC) is now accepting nominations for the Bernard “Ben” Brenman Archaeology in Alexandria Award. The AAC established this award to celebrate the contributions of the late Ben Brenman, who devoted himself to finding, preserving, and sharing Alexandria’s rich and diverse heritage. Brenman was a founding member of the AAC, a City of Alexandria commission that was the first of its kind established in the United States, and served as its chair for 21 years.
The Brenman Award, established in 2007, is open to businesses, organizations, families, professional preservationists, volunteers, students, and other individuals who have demonstrated work or efforts in archaeological investigation, research, site protection, education, public interpretation, open space design, collections, or conservation. Nomination forms are available at alexandriava.gov/archaeology/ben-brenman-award-for-archaeology or by calling the Alexandria Archaeology Museum at 703.746.4399. The deadline for nominations is Tuesday, July 1.
Ben Brenman Awards are presented during Virginia Archaeology Month in October and are announced by Alexandria City Council proclamation at a City Council meeting.
Upcoming Events
View the Historic Alexandria Calendar
Theater in Colonial Virginia
Echoes of the Bard: Shakespeare’s Influence in Colonial America
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Wednesday, June 25
7 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Admission: Free for AHS Members / $5 for Non-Members
For more details, visit the AHS website.
Join the Alexandria Historical Society for an engaging evening with Dr. Deborah Payne and Dr. Drew Lichtenberg, co-authors of The Shakespeare Theatre Company, 1986–2021. This special program explores how Shakespeare and other canonical playwrights shaped early American culture and identity. Light refreshments will be served.
Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace-Happy Hour
Carlyle House’s Magnolia Terrace, 121 N. Fairfax Street
Last Thursday of the month through September (June 26th, July 31st, Aug 28th, & Sept 25th)
6 - 7:30 p.m.
$20
Purchase tickets.
Join the Carlyle House yoga instructor for an hour-long Yoga class on the 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.
Trivia Nights at Historic Sites: Jane Austen
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Friday, June 27 (biweekly through August)
7-9 p.m.
$12 admission
Purchase tickets.
Join staff from Lee-Fendall House Museum and Carlyle House Historic Park for bi-weekly trivia nights in the beautiful gardens located at Lee-Fendall House. Join them all summer to test your knowledge on all things from pop culture to history! Teams may have up to 6 members. Cost includes one drink ticket; additional drinks can be bought at our cash bar. Teams may have up to 6 members. Ages 21 and over only. No outside alcohol is permitted. Food and water may be brought into the garden.
Specialty Tour: Hamilton's BFF & Frenemies
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal Street
Saturday, June 28 (every Saturday in June + July)
10 -11 a.m.
$15 per person/$12 for Historic Alexandria Members
Tickets can be purchased online.
Inspired by the musical Hamilton, learn how the paths of Washington, Lafayette, Jefferson, Madison, and Burr all intersected with this local tavern. Includes discussion of the issues they faced and how their choices impacted local citizens. Please note the tour involves ascending and descending stairs. Arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to tour time to check in. Tickets often sell out, so buy online to reserve your space!
Fashion History: Within the Walls of the Lee-Fendall House
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, June 28
2-3 p.m.
$10 general public/Free for members
Purchase tickets.
Back by popular demand, the Lee-Fendall House will be holding a fashion history lecture given by Emma Rowland. The presentation will cover fashion history using the Lee-Fendall House’s history as touch points. Emma is an accomplished seamstress and will be displaying her historic costumes that she has made throughout the House as well as displaying her collection of antique clothing and accessories. Emma Rowland is passionate about history and her grandmother taught her how to sew when she was eight. Her grandmother left Emma her collection of antique dresses when she passed and Emma quickly fell in love with the history of fashion. She has expanded on the collection over the years and also works as a tour guide in Old Town Alexandria for Alexandria Colonial Tours, where she gives tours dressed in her Colonial-era costumes she makes herself.
Out and About in Old Town: Uncovering LGBTQ+ History in Alexandria
A Behind-the-Scenes Walking Tour - The tour will start at the Torpedo Factory)
Sunday, June 29
2 p.m.
$20 for AHS members/$25 for non-members
Purchase tickets.
Presented by the Alexandria Historical Society and led by graduate students from George Mason University—recipients of the 2024 AHS Golden Grant—this unique walking tour explores Alexandria’s LGBTQ+ history from the 1970s to the 1990s. Highlights include:
- The former French Quarter Café (now Don Taco), site of a pivotal 1991 court case challenging discriminatory ABC regulations.
- Alexandria City Hall, where in 1988 the City Council passed Virginia’s first local ordinance protecting residents from discrimination based on sexual orientation.
- The Torpedo Factory, where artists marked the 1993 Day Without Art with a striking memorial for lives lost to AIDS.
This approximately one-mile walking tour will bring powerful stories of community and activism to life at the very locations where history was made.
Family Day with Young Historians
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal Street
Sunday, June 29 (every Sunday through Labor Day)
2- 5 p.m.
Included in regular museum admission.
Jr. Docents provide stationed tours throughout the two tavern buildings and operate special, hands-on activity stations about period clothing and chocolate making. It’s a unique and fun way to explore history for all ages.
Beyond the Battlefield: A Civil War Walking Tour of Alexandria
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, July 5
10 - 11:30 a.m.
$15 to the general public and free for museum members
Purchase tickets.
This walking tour shares the stories of soldiers, citizens, and self-liberated African Americans in Civil War Alexandria. It covers the military occupation, the conversion of public and private buildings into hospitals, and emancipation. Tickets must be purchased in advance and take place rain or shine, so please wear appropriate shoes and clothing.
Carlyle House Family Fun Day - Best Friends Bash
Carlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax Street
Saturday, July 5 (First Saturday of the month from April – November)
Noon -3 p.m.
Free
More information online.
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.
Civil War Hospital Tour
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, July 5
2- 3 p.m.
$15 to the general public and free for museum members.
Purchase tickets.
Learn how the Lee-Fendall House was confiscated during the Civil War and operated as a Union Army hospital. Explore what life was like in Union-occupied Alexandria, how the Lee-Fendall House witnessed medical history, and how political divisions impacted those living here.
Specialty Tour: Poisons at the Apothecary Museum
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 South Fairfax Street
Sunday, July 6
11 a.m. - noon
$15 per person/$12 for Historic Alexandria Member
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 note the tour involves ascending/descending one flights of stairs.
City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums Summer Concert on Market Square
Market Square, 301 King Street
Thursday, July 10
7:45- 8:30 p.m.
Free
Celebrate Alexandria’s Scottish heritage with the City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums at a free summer concert series. Enjoy performances featuring bagpipes and drums on Thursdays, July 10 and August 7.
Trivia Nights at Historic Sites: Alexandria History
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Friday, July 11 (biweekly through August)
7-9 p.m.
$12 admission
Purchase tickets.
Join staff from Lee-Fendall House Museum and Carlyle House Historic Park for bi-weekly trivia nights in the beautiful gardens located at Lee-Fendall House. Join us all summer to test your knowledge on all things from pop culture to history! Teams may have up to 6 members. Cost includes one drink ticket; additional drinks can be bought at our cash bar. Teams may have up to 6 members. Ages 21 and over only. No outside alcohol is permitted. Food and water may be brought into the garden.
A World War II Walking Tour of Alexandria
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, July 12
10:30 a.m - noon.
$15 admission/Free for museum members
Purchase tickets.
Alexandria was a bustling town during the Second World War filled with servicemen and women and civilians contributing to the war effort. On this two-mile walk around Old Town, visit sites where history took place and buildings where notable Alexandrians, including a Tuskegee Airman and a member of the 101st Airborne, lived before serving their country. In addition, learn of the top-secret intelligence facility known as P.O. Box 1142. This tour begins at Lee-Fendall and ends at the Torpedo Factory by the waterfront. The tour will last approximately 1.5 hours. Walking shoes and water are highly recommended. The tour will take place rain or shine.
Lecture - St. Elizabeths Asylum: Civil War Care at the Hospital for the Insane
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, July 12
2-3 p.m.
$10 admission
Purchase tickets.
Founded in 1852, St. Elizabeths was the nation’s first federally-funded psychiatric facility. The “Government Hospital for the Insane” in Washington, D.C. quickly transformed into a trauma center for wounded and convalescing soldiers when the Civil War broke-out a decade later. This lecture will analyze the reception of Union, Confederate, and African American troops, as well as their conditions upon admission. As the only federal mental health complex in the country during the Civil War, St. Elizabeths helped define treatment options for those afflicted with the modern diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Attendees will glimpse into the medical treatments of wartime Washington, connecting symptoms to battlefield experiences. Through an inclusion of primary sources and personal narratives, this lecture will explore the impact on psychiatric care in the postbellum years and reflect on the wave of mentally-ill veterans once the war concluded.
Madeline Feierstein is an Alexandria, VA historian specializing in the American Civil War’s hospitals and prisons, with an additional research interest in psychiatric institutions and asylums. A native of Washington, D.C., her work has been showcased across the Capital Region. As the Lead Historian for the Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, Madeline leads efforts to document the sick, injured, and imprisoned soldiers that passed through Civil War Alexandria. Additionally, she works at Gravestone Stories interpreting the burials in Alexandria’s historically-rich cemeteries. Madeline holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminology from George Mason University and a Master’s in American History from Southern New Hampshire University.
Specialty Tour: Midwifery
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 South Fairfax Street
Sunday, July 13
11 - 12:30 p.m.
$15 per person/$12 for Historic Alexandria Member
Purchase tickets.
Midwives did more than deliver babies! Explore the role, knowledge, and challenges of Midwives through the lens of the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum and its collection of historic medicines and archives. Content note: this tour will cover the complex history around contraception, abortion, and miscarriage; recommended for ages 18 and older. Guests should arrive between 10:45 and 11 a.m., tour begins promptly at 11 a.m. and late guests will not be able to be admitted. Please note the tour includes ascending and descending stairs.
Disguised and Determined: Women Who Fought in the Civil War
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, July 19
2-3 p.m.
$10 admission
Purchase tickets.
There are hundreds of documented cases of women who fought disguised as men during the Civil War. Tracey McIntire and Audrey Scanlan-Teller, PhD will discuss and share documentation of some of the more fascinating women and what motivated them to fight alongside men. Spend an afternoon with McIntire and Scanlan-Teller as the share their research in a house that once used to operate as a Union Army hospital. Tracey McIntire earned her BA in English at Rivier College in Nashua, New Hampshire. She is Lead Educator at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, site administrator at the Pry House Field Hospital Museum and an interpretive volunteer at Antietam National Battlefield. Since 2008, she has portrayed a woman soldier at living history events.
Audrey Scanlan-Teller earned her MA and PhD in art history at the University of Delaware. Since 2005, she has portrayed a Civil War enlisted soldier for historical interpretive demonstrations, a portrayal that compelled her to study the women soldiers of the Civil War. Dr. Scanlan-Teller is an active interpretive volunteer at Antietam National Battlefield Park and a small business owner. Tickets are $10 to the general public and free for museum members. Members please call at (703) 548-1789 to reserve your tickets. It is highly recommended to book tickets in advance as space is limited.
Outlandish Tour at the Apothecary Museum
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 South Fairfax Street
Sunday, July 20
11 a.m. - noon
$15 per person/$12 for Historic Alexandria Member
Purchase tickets.
Tour this historic apothecary and learn about a few of the herbal medicines featured in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series of novels from cascara to dauco seeds. The tour also touches on the role of apothecaries and women in medicine in the 18th century. Recommended for ages 18 and up. Tour is 11 a.m.-noon. Please arrive between 10:45-11:00 a.m. as the museum is not open to the public until 1 p.m. and the doors will be locked when the tour begins. Please note the tour involves ascending and descending stairs.
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
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
Closed to Visitors During Front Door Restoration
Freedom House Museum is temporarily closed to visitors to allow for the completion of the front façade restoration and installation of new entry doors.
UPDATE: The front facade work is almost done so the scaffolding is coming down. While we are excited to share this rehabilitation update, the two doors to the Freedom House Museum and their hardware are still being fabricated so the museum will be closed through the end of July.
To learn more about the ongoing rehabilitation, visit the Freedom House Rehabilitation Project page. Project updates will be posted regularly on the Freedom House webpage.
Friendship Firehouse Museum
Saturday, July 19, 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.
NEW: Apothecary Night Shift–Every Saturday in June and July the museum is open 11 a.m.--7 p.m.
Explore with Ease – The New Museum Mobility Guide
Historic Alexandria and the Department of Transportation & Environmental Services (T&ES) have launched a colorful, easy-to-use map and guide connecting all of Alexandria’s museums via walking, biking, and transit. The guide also acts as a passport—visit every site and earn a prize! Available at museums, rec centers, public libraries, and more.
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
On June 23, 1897, the Virginia Theological Seminary began a three-day commencement ceremony honoring the graduating class of 1897. On the first day of the event, the Rev. Dr. O.H. Tiffany of New York, a leading Episcopal cleric of the day, preached the Annual Missionary Sermon to a large audience. The following morning the graduates recited their final essays for several hours before a midday collation. Diplomas were handed out later that afternoon by Bishop Francis Whittle, and the names of students in the lower classes who were to move up were read aloud. Finally, on the last day, ordination services were held. Guests attending the ceremonies arrived in Alexandria primarily by train, including the electric train that stopped at King and Washington Streets, and were transported to the Seminary by waiting carriages.
Upcoming Commission and Committee Events
Commissions Supporting Historic Alexandria
July 9 Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
8-9:15 a.m.July 14 Alexandria-Caen Sister Cities Committee (SCC)
City Hall, 301 King Street, Sister Cities Room 1101
7-9 p.m.July 15 Historic Alexandria Resources Commission (HARC)
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
7 p.m.- July 16 Alexandria Archaeological Commission (AAC)
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
7 p.m.