Office of Historic Alexandria Releases National Social Impact Survey Results

The Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) was selected in October 2024 through a competitive process to participate in the American Alliance of Museums’ Museum Social Impact in Practice survey cohort, a national initiative led by the American Alliance of Museums and funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.  This survey aimed to measure the social impact of Alexandria’s museums by assessing changes resulting from visits to OHA museums.

The study was conducted from April through August of 2025, with participants visiting 3 OHA museums. Data analysis occurred in the fall of 2025 with assistance from the Office of Analytics, Innovation, and Data.

The results of the Social Impact survey demonstrated that OHA museums:

• Enhance quality of life by offering accessible, meaningful experiences.
• Support community cohesion through shared understanding and dialogue.
• Advance educational goals by teaching inclusive history.
• Contribute to economic vitality by strengthening Alexandria’s identity as a unique historic destination.
• Promote social resilience by encouraging empathy, reflection, and civic pride.

The results quantified how OHA’s museums play an essential role in shaping an informed, connected, and culturally vibrant community. Participants left with a greater understanding of Alexandria’s complex history, increased appreciation for City resources, and a stronger sense of identity and civic engagement.

Historic Alexandria will leverage these findings to inform strategic planning, strengthen promotion of its historic sites, and guide operational and programmatic improvements based on the study’s recommendations.

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.

This project is made possible by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, award number MG-252969-OMS-23.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on facebook and twitter.

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 American Alliance of Museums

The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) is the only organization representing the entire museum field, from art and history museums to science centers and zoos. Since 1906, AAM has been championing museums through advocacy and providing museum professionals with the resources, knowledge, inspiration, and connections they need to move the field forward.

AAM’s Alliance of 35,000 museums and museum professionals seeks to better our communities, and our world, through collaborative human-centered experiences, education, and connection to histories, cultures, the natural world, and one another.