december 9–15, 2024
 

What's New

Help Shape the Future of Market Square!

Virtual meeting. Advance registration required. 
Thursday, December 12
7-8:30 p.m. 
Free 

The City is pleased to announce the third round of community meetings for the City Hall and Market Square Renovation Project. In this next phase, the City will share refined concepts of Market Square Plaza that were informed by the community! Also, attendees will be given a peek into the historical research the design team has gathered as they begin to shape the future of City Hall! Join us on Thursday, December 12, 7-8:30 p.m., for a virtual community meeting. This is a free event and is open to all. Visit alexandriava.gov/CityHall to register.

Colonial Handbell Ringers Concert

Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Sunday, December 15
2 p.m. and 4 p.m. 
Free, donations welcome

The Colonial Ringers Present: Repeat the Sounding Joy!  The Colonial English Handbell Ringers will bring some joy to your world this year as we proudly present “Repeat the Sounding Joy!” The 2024 holiday concert will feature fun, uplifting classics such as “Caroling, Caroling” and “Jingle Bells,” beautiful arrangements of “The Little Drummer Boy,” “Simple Gifts” and “In the Bleak Midwinter,” and the rousing finale “Three Carols for Three Countries.” We will hopefully hear from you as well, as you participate in our sing-a-long! As always, we thank you for your support over the years, and we hope you enjoy our sounds of the season! The event is free, donations accepted. Seating will be first-come-first-served. 

The 2024 Holiday Ornament is Here!

This year's Historic Alexandria ornament honors the 200th anniversary of Lafayette's visit to Alexandria in 1824. This beautiful piece showcases the "Lafayette House" where he lodged during his time here. The three inch brass ornament comes in a custom box with a card detailing its historical significance. 

$25 - Available NOW in Historic Alexandria museum stores and in our online store. 

Upcoming Events

View the Historic Alexandria Calendar

Becky Tracy and Keith Murphy in Concert at Historic Lyceum
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Thursday, December 12
7 p.m.
$25, $10 under 18
Purchase tickets.

Becky Tracy (fiddle) and Keith Murphy (guitar, mandolin, piano and foot percussion) Becky and Keith are dynamic performers of traditional music from Newfoundland, Quebec, Ireland, France and beyond. Tracy’s fiddling pulses through tasteful arrangements of dance tunes and resonates with beauty on traditional slow airs. Keith’s gentle and expressive singing in English and French is balanced by the drive and power of his guitar playing and foot percussion. Combined, they produce a range and richness of sound that is striking for a duo. Their playing is seamless, the result of years of playing together and touring across the U.S., Canada and in Europe. Their repertoire also includes Keith’s original compositions (many of which are included in the Black Isle Music tune collection). He is a prolific tunesmith with a writing style strongly based on traditional dance music. This music is elegantly represented in their duo recording, Golden, released in early 2020. 

Lyceum Late-nights for Exhibits and Shopping
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
December 12 and 19
Lyceum open until 9 p.m.

The Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum will be open late select December evenings so guests can enjoy the exhibits and shopping. Support Historic Alexandria by purchasing gifts perfect for any City resident or history enthusiast. Cash bar open 4-9 p.m.

A Carlyle Family Yuletide
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 North Fairfax Street
Saturday, December 14 
10 a.m.- 4 p.m. 
$10/adult; $5/children (ages 6-12), $5/Friends of Carlyle House members

Experience the holiday season with Carlyle House focusing on how the Carlyles and their enslaved workers observed the holidays during the 18th century. Tours offered on the first floor with the last entry at 3:45 p.m. Enjoy music throughout the day and an 18th century style mocktail after your tour. 

Story Time for Little Historians
Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
Saturday, December 14
10 a.m.- 10:45 a.m. 
Free

Dynamic storytellers use books written by and about African American people and other communities of color to engage with ages 5-8, then stay to learn about the principles of Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa workshop begins at 11 a.m. 

Kwanzaa Workshop
Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
Saturday, December 14
11 a.m.- 12 p.m. 
$3 per person  
Purchase tickets.

Learn about the origins, concepts, practices, and foods of Kwanzaa! Members of the staff will share the historical foundation of Kwanzaa and its seven principles. Program includes a candle lighting, a food tasting, and information on craft projects will be shared.

A Victorian Christmas
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, December 14
11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Tickets are $5 for adults (age 18+), $10 for children (age 2-12), and children under 2 are free.
Purchase tickets. 

Celebrate the holiday season at Lee-Fendall's family-friendly event, A Victorian Christmas! Explore the house and enjoy many activities to get into the Christmas spirit. Activities include: seasonal crafts, writing letters to Santa, snacks/drinks, and special gift shop deals for last-minute holiday shopping.

The Adult Music Student Forum will be hosting sing-alongs and seasonal music each hour! The AMSF is a group of volunteer adult amateur musicians who love music and perform regularly in the DMV. The organization has been in existence since 1988 and the President is pianist, Michelle Powell. AMSF performers for Victorian Christmas include:

• Don Foy – violin 1
• Laura Garawski – violin 2
• Carol Pew – cello
• Louis Reichwein – saxophone
• Austin Blair - cornet
• Carol Henry – mezzo soprano voice

Entry times are on the hour starting at 11:00 AM with the last time at 3:00 PM. Tickets can also be purchased by calling (703) 548-1789 or emailing contact@leefendallhouse.org.

Christmas in Camp
Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site, 4301 W. Braddock Rd. 
Saturday, December 14
12 p.m.- 4 p.m. 
Free

Get in the holiday spirit and learn how Christmas was observed during the Civil War at this popular family-oriented event. Enjoy a patriotic Civil War Santa Claus, reenactors in winter camp settings, period decorations, fort tours, and kids' activities.

Specialty Tour: A Toast to the Ladies!
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal Street
Saturday, December 14 and Saturday, December 21
5:30 p.m. 
$20, $15 Historic Alexandria Members
Purchase tickets.

This special tour and discussion will highlight the many women over the centuries associated with Gadsby’s Tavern Museum. From Hannah Griffith, the first woman to operate a coffeehouse in the tavern, to the spearheading preservationist Rebecca Ramsay Reese, these women’s stories will spark conversations about political, economic, and social conditions for women in the past and the present. Ticket includes tea, which can be carried throughout the tour and discussion.

Diarmuid Ó Meachair and Matt Mulqueen (piano) performing traditional Irish music in Concert at Historic Lyceum
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Thursday, December 19
7 p.m.
$25, $10 under 18
Purchase tickets.

Diarmuid Ó Meachair is an Accordion player and sean-nós singer from Cúil Aodha, Co. Cork. He is also an accomplished Melodeon player and sean-nós singer. He was awarded the prestigious Young Musician of the year award from TG4 for 2022. He is one of the most exciting accordion players of his generation. Diarmuid is part of the teaching staff at the Department of Music in UCC, teaching accordion and melodeon. He has released 3 solo albums since December 2022. His second solo album “”Melodeon Medleys”” was released in July 2023 and his debut album “”Siúl na Slí”” was released under the Raelach Records label with support from the Arts Council of Ireland and Ealaín na Gaeltachta.

Matt Mulqueen was born in Baltimore, Maryland, into a musical family. His older brothers played button accordion and fiddle, and his sister became a champion step-dancer. This environment instilled in Matt an irresistible desire to learn and play Irish traditional music. Listening to the host of traditional musicians who haunt Irish pubs and to innumerable recordings allowed Matt to forge his own compelling style of accompanying Irish music. Matt returns to the Lyceum, having performed with Lexi Boatright and Cara Wildman in 2022.

Light refreshments will be available with wine, beer and non-alcoholic drinks available for purchase.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Kissing Ball Workshops
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, December 21, 11 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 22, 2 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.
$25
Purchase tickets. 

Learn the history behind using greenery to decorate homes for the holidays, then craft your own boxwood kissing ball using fresh cuttings from the Lee-Fendall garden!

Please note that these workshops will be held outdoors so it's advisable to dress appropriately. Registration must be done in advance and costs $25 per person and includes all materials needed to make your own boxwood kissing ball.

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 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
  Saturdays, 11 a.m. –  5 p.m., Sundays, 1 – 5 p.m.

  Freedom House is open on weekends only through early January. Group visits available by special appointment.

• Friendship Firehouse Museum
  Saturday, December 28, 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, 1 – 5 p.m., closed Monday – Wednesday.

• Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum 
  Wednesdays–Fridays, 11 a.m.– 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays 1 - 5 p.m., closed Mondays & Tuesdays. 

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 December 9, 1789, the General Assembly of Virginia authorized Alexandria’s Trustees to raise by lottery a sum, not to exceed £1,500, to be used for paving the most frequently used streets in the town.  Although only a few historic cobblestone streets are still visible in Old Town, many other major thoroughfares still retain the original cobblestones hidden under multiple layers of asphalt.

Upcoming Commission and Committee Events

Commissions Supporting Historic Alexandria
 

• December 9 Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee
  Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, City Hall 
  7 p.m.

• December 11 Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission (AHRPC)
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  8 a.m.

• December 16 George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7 p.m.

• December 17 Historic Alexandria Resources Commission (HARC)
  City Hall, Room 1900 (First Floor), 301 King Street
  7 p.m.

• December 18 Alexandria Archaeology Commission
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7 p.m.