march 17–23, 2025
What's New
Featured Event - French Flow Yoga
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street
Saturday, March 22
11 a.m.
$15
Purchase tickets.
With over 321 million French speakers globally, International Francophonie Day celebrates the diversity and richness of French language and culture. The Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee will celebrate this day with a French Flow Yoga Class. Refresh Alexandria will guide us through an hour of flowing movement and stretching paired with French musical selections from around the world. Refreshments, provided by Wegmans, will be available after class. Participants will need to bring their mats and water.
Specialty Tour: Guided Tour of Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site
Fort Ward Museum, 4301 W Braddock Road
Saturday, March 29
10-11 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 preserved earthwork fort. Please note this tour involves walking on outdoor paths and takes place rain or shine.
Alexandria Archaeology Summer Camp - Registration NOW OPEN!
Alexandria Archaeology Summer Camp
Monday - Friday, June 23-27
9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Ages 13 - 15
$400, with scholarships available
Registration is limited; apply here
Help City archaeologists excavate a real archaeological site and preserve Alexandria's historic resources! Campers, ages 13 - 15, will learn scientific excavating and artifact processing methods.
Registration opened on Tuesday, March 4. Registration is limited and applications are processed on a first-come, first served basis. The week-long camp is $400 with scholarships available. Sign up by first making a payment for the camp at The Alexandria Shop or by calling 703.746.4399, and then sending in an application online or picking up forms from the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, 105 N Union St., #327. Refunds cannot be made after May 2, 2025. Camper space is not guaranteed until payment is made.
Upcoming Events
View the Historic Alexandria Calendar
Specialty Tour: Midwifery
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 South Fairfax Street
Friday, March 21 (SOLD OUT) and Saturday, March 22
6:30 p.m. (Please arrive between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m.)
$15, $12 Historic Alexandria members
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. Tour begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. and late guests will not be able to be admitted. Please note the tour includes ascending and descending stairs.
Special House Tour: The Women of Lee-Fendall
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, March 22
11a.m. - 12 p.m.
$10, Free for Members of Lee-Fendall House
Purchase tickets
This special house tour will take you through the lives of some of the women who lived and worked in the Lee-Fendall House over the years as a private home and even when it became a museum in 1974. Learn about their struggles and achievements as women, wives, educators, workers, mothers, performers, and activists.
Members of Lee-Fendall House are free but must call or email to make a reservation.
Sew and Tell: A Trunk Show Presented by the Uhuru Quilters Guild
Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
Saturday, March 22
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Included in cost of museum admission–free for City residents, $3 per person otherwise
Join us for an engaging and interactive show (sew) and tell! This event will highlight the intricate art of quilting. Members of the Uhuru Quilters Guild will showcase some of their most creative pieces, sharing their artistic process and the innovative approaches they use to create these masterpieces. The Uhuru Quilters Guild is an African American Quilting guild based in Prince George’s County.
Women's History Walk led by Alexandria Celebrates Women
Meet at Alexandria Visitor’s Center, 221 King Street in the garden
Saturday, March 22
Noon-3 p.m.
Free
Register Online.
Did you know Alexandria was home to one of the most revered female fundraisers of the American Revolution, or that President Woodrow Wilson sent an Alexandria woman on a mission aboard a U.S. battleship? If you have wondered how women helped put our city on the map, now is your chance to learn about them! As part of America’s 250th anniversary, Alexandria Celebrates Women (ACW) will be leading Women’s History Walks monthly, March through October. The walk is three miles and takes approximately two hours. Participants should register through Eventbrite to guarantee their space and meet at the Alexandria Visitor’s Center, 221 King Street in the garden by noon. Don’t forget comfortable shoes and water!
Lecture Series: Braddock’s Tars: Common Sailors and the Braddock Expedition
Carlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax Street
Sunday, March 23
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
$12
Purchase tickets.
A little known party of thirty-three Royal Navy sailors marched with Braddock's army in the 1755 expedition to attack Fort Duquesne that ended as a disastrous failure on the banks of the Monongahela. In Braddock's Tars: Common Sailors and the Braddock Expedition, Kyle Dalton will use their story as a lens to look at the larger picture of common sailors in the British Atlantic World and tell us what we can learn from ordinary people in extraordinary situations.
Alexandria Historical Society Lecture Series: George Mason and the Tenth Amendment
John Rand
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street
Wednesday, March 26
7 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Light refreshments will be available
$5, Free for Members
Purchase tickets.
The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution has been controversial throughout American History. Most recently it has been a favored vehicle on the part of conservatives to reduce the size of the federal government on the basis that the Tenth Amendment requires that states retain all powers not specifically delegated to the federal government. At other times it has been used to justify slavery and racial segregation, as well as to combat a variety of liberal labor and economic laws. George Mason was the first to propose the elements of the future Tenth Amendment at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He is given credit for his role in the Bill of Rights, but rarely recognized for his more favored amendment, the Tenth.
John Rand recently retired as an Alexandria attorney after almost forty years. His interest in history resulted in a PhD from George Mason University in American History in May, 2024.
Lecture: Hidden Nurses
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum
201 South Washington Street
Thursday, March 27
7- 9 p.m.
$12, $10 Historic Alexandria members
Purchase tickets.
Join Dr. Victoria Tucker, Nurse and Public Historian, for a powerful presentation on the history of African American nursing students in Albemarle County, Virginia. While pursuing a Ph.D. in Nursing at the University of Virginia, Dr. Tucker uncovered the inspiring story of African American nurses who were barred from attending UVA but pursued their careers through the segregated J.P. Burley High School. Dr. Tucker’s research, which involved archival materials, oral histories, and material culture, sheds light on their struggles and triumphs. Her work has led to a public apology from UVA, and a memorial bench and natural space have been dedicated in their honor.
Civil War Hospital Tour
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, March 29
2-3:15 p.m.
$15, 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. Tickets are $15 to the general public and free for museum members. The tour is limited to 12 participants. Members, please call the museum to reserve your ticket. Please e-mail contact@leefendallhouse.org or call (703) 548-1789 with any questions.
Please note: this is a special house tour of Lee-Fendall. A separate tour, "Alexandria Confined", is the tour focusing on Civil War hospitals that is a 1.5 hour walking tour around Alexandria.
All tickets can be purchased on Lee-Fendall's Eventbrite page: leefendallhouse.eventbrite.com.
Tavern Games Night!
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal Street
Friday, April 4
7 p.m.
$10
Purchase tickets.
While Women’s History Month might be over, Women’s History never stops, so we’re keeping it going with a women’s history themed game night. $10 cover includes tavern games and a themed presentation with the crowd-favorite jeopardy game featuring Alexandria’s Women’s History. Cash bar available (alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks only). Mini-talk and jeopardy start around 7:30 p.m. Please note that this event takes place up one flight of stairs in the historic Assembly Room of Gadsby’s Tavern Museum.
“Byline Old Town: A Walking Tour of Early Journalism in Alexandria”
Starting Location: Near City Hall / Market Square (exact details in reminder email)
Saturday, April 5
10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
$25, $20 for Members
Purchase tickets.
The Alexandria Historical Society is excited to kick off our 2025 Behind-the-Scenes Tour series with “Byline Old Town: A Walking Tour of Early Journalism in Alexandria” on Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Led by journalist and author Michael Pope, this engaging walking tour will explore Alexandria’s long and diverse press history, from the city’s first newspaper in 1784 to its pioneering television figures. Participants will visit key historical sites around Market Square and learn about the early days of Alexandria’s newspapers—including partisan, Black, independent, and chain publications—and the journalists who shaped public discourse.
This 90-minute tour offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at the city’s vibrant media landscape. It is an excellent opportunity for history enthusiasts, media professionals, and the community to connect with Alexandria’s past.
Unearthing History: Mount Vernon's Cherry Discoveries
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street
Tuesday, April 8
6:30 p.m., Reception, 7 p.m. Program
$30
To register, click here.
Find out from Mount Vernon archaeologists about the amazing treasure trove of 250-year-old bottles of perfectly preserved cherries and berries they unearthed from under the Mansion in 2024, and how this extraordinary discovery provides a powerful glimpse into 18th-century culture. Light refreshments will be served. $30 per person; one drink ticket included. Proceeds to benefit the 2025 George Washington Birthday Celebration.
Specialty Tour: Poisons at the Apothecary Museum
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 South Fairfax Street
Saturday, April 13
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. (Please arrive between 10:45-11 a.m.)
$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.
Specialty Tour: A Magical Apothecary
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 South Fairfax Street
Sunday, March 30 (SOLD OUT) and Saturday, April 19
11 a.m.-noon on March 20 and 10 a.m.-11a.m. on April 19
$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.
Glimpses of Historic Alexandria: A Carol Stalun Exhibition
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Open through Sunday, April 27
Learn more.
Lee-Fendall's newest exhibit, Glimpses of Historic Alexandria, showcases a collection of photographs by local Alexandria photographer, Carol Jean Stalun. This special exhibition brings together many of Stalun's works that are focused on historic sites around the city of Alexandria. Learn the history of these sites as you walk around the Lee-Fendall House that was built over 200 years ago. Admission into the exhibit is included with general admission.
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 Museum
Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays, 1 – 5 p.m.
Friendship Firehouse Museum
Saturday, March 29, 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
From March 15-20, 1936, the Eastern half of the United States was bombarded by four separate storms, all of which impacted Alexandria with record amounts of rainfall and melting snow causing massive flooding in the Potomac River. The weather had been unseasonably warm earlier in the month with heavier than usual rainfall that, though not a threat, caused the ground to become saturated. Then a sudden cold snap caused a heavy snowfall, followed by five days of near-constant rain. As one storm passed, a new one emerged causing both polar and tropical fronts to pass over the city from all directions, with the last storm remaining stationary over the region with hours of torrential rain. By March 19, at 4:45 p.m., the Potomac reached its peak of level of 28.1 feet, isolating Alexandria for days and putting the nearby Washington Airport almost completely underwater.
Upcoming Commission and Committee Events
Commissions Supporting Historic Alexandria
March 17 Sister Cities Committee (SCC) - Dundee and Helsingborg
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
7-8:30 p.m.March 18 Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
7-9 p.m.March 19 Alexandria Archaeological Commission
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
7 p.m.April 9 Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission (AHRPC)
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
8 a.m.