This Week in Historic Alexandria - September 8, 2025

September 8-14, 2025

What's New

FEATURED EVENT

Colored Rosemont State Historic Marker Dedication
Corner of Wythe and West Streets, 1300 Block of Wythe St. (across from the Braddock Road Metro station)
Saturday, September 13
3-4 p.m.
Free
Attendees can RSVP online or call 703.746.4356

The City of Alexandria's Office of Historic Alexandria, in partnership with community members and descendants, will lead the unveiling of a new state historic marker commemorating the legacy of Colored Rosemont, a vibrant African American neighborhood established in 1926. The unveiling ceremony will take place on September 13th at 3 p.m. near the intersection of Wythe and West Streets.

Colored Rosemont was a thriving African American community where families built homes, raised children, and created a sense of belonging in Alexandria during an era of segregation. The term colored was often added to the names of neighborhoods to affirm segregation. By the mid-20th century, the neighborhood was dismantled through discriminatory housing policies and systemic disinvestment. The new state historic marker acknowledges both the resilience of the families who lived there and the injustices that forced their displacement.

Learn more about The Colored Rosemont Community History Initiative.

Upcoming Events

View the Historic Alexandria Calendar

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 North Fairfax Street
Tuesday, September 9 - Thursday October 23
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 6 p.m.
Saturdays: 9 a.m. & 10:15 a.m.
$10
Purchase tickets.

Join Friends of Caryle House for an hour long gentle flow Yoga Class on Carlyle House's Magnolia Terrace. This class takes you on a full journey- build heat with sun salutations then progress to balance, deep stretching and finally relaxation. Please bring water, a towel, and a yoga mat. Wear comfortable yoga wear.

Class may be moved inside due to inclement weather. This program is non-refundable unless the museum cancels the program.

Traditional Concert Series - Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira in Concert
The Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Friday, September 12
7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
$25/$15 ages 12-17
Purchase tickets online

Join Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira in concert at the historic Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum. Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira are a dynamic fiddle & cello duo and 2024 Canadian Folk Music Award winners for Traditional Album of the Year!

Story Time for Little Historians
Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
Saturday, September 13
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. This Saturday we'll honor two important moments in history-remembering the four young girls of Birmingham in 1963 and celebrating Dr. Mae Jemison's journey as the first African American woman in space.

Discovering Alexandria Architecture Walking Tour
Tour begins at Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street
Saturday, September 13
10 a.m. - noon
$20
Register online

Alexandria has grown from a small town in the 18th century to a bustling small city in the 21st century. Join us for a tour of Alexandria as we explore looking at the various Architecture styles that adorn the city streets and make it one of the best places to live and work.

Reservations are required as space is limited. Please wear comfortable shoes for this 1.5 hour guided tour. The tour is held rain or shine unless there is severe weather. This program is non-refundable unless the museum cancels the program.

DASH Block Party 2025!
Leonard "Chick" Armstrong Recreation Center, 25 W Reed Avenue
Thursday, September 18
4-7 p.m.
Free

Join the Alexandria Transit Company (DASH) in celebrating a major milestone: reaching a record-breaking 5.64 million riders for FY 2025! To thank riders and community partners for their ongoing support, DASH is hosting a block party, and they would love for you to participate in this year's celebration. Enjoy games, delicious food, exciting giveaways, and more! All are welcome!

Beyond the Battlefield: A Civil War Walking Tour of Alexandria
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, September 20
10-11:30 a.m.
$15
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 are $15 per person and must be purchased in advance. The tour is limited to 12 participants and lasts approximately an hour and a half. Walking tours take place rain or shine, so please wear appropriate shoes and clothing. Members of Lee-Fendall House are free but must call or email to make a reservation (703) 548-1789 or [email protected].

Classic Car Show
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum,201 S. Washington St.
Saturday, September 20
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Free

Join us in the parking lot of the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum for a classic car show. Co-sponsored by Packards Virginia and the Office of Historic Alexandria, the show will feature a variety of Packards ranging from the 1930s-1950s as well as other "orphan" vehicles that are invited to register as well. Orphan cars are any marque of vehicle built by an out-of-business manufacturer.

Featured Packards will include a 1933 Packard coupe Roadster, a 1934 Packard Formal Sedan, and a 1940 Packard Convertible Sedan. Other featured cars will include a1934 Hudson Terraplane Coupe, a 1953 Morgan, and 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk, and 1967 Pontiac GTO, and 1970 Oldsmobile '98, and 1970 DeTomaso Pantera, and a1988 Austin Mini.

Inside, visit the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum's exhibits that tell the full scope of Alexandria's rich history and enjoy the museum shop. The car show is free. For more information, visit packardsva.org or call 703.424.5871.

Tons of Trucks
Chinquapin Park, 3210 King Street
Saturday, September 20
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Free

The City of Alexandria's 'Tons of Trucks' event returns on Saturday, September 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chinquapin Park (3210 King St.). Hosted by the Department of Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Activities (RPCA), this free, rain-or-shine event is fun for the whole family. Be sure to stop by and meet our Outreach Team while you're there! The event will also feature a special 'sensory-friendly hour' from 10 to 11 a.m.

Attendees of all ages are invited to explore and get behind the wheel of their favorite City vehicles including police cars, snow plows, fire trucks, and DASH buses. Meet the staff who help build, maintain, serve, and protect the community, and learn about the tools they use. Other activities include an art project with the City's Mobile Art Lab, giveaways, music, photo opportunities, family activities, and food truck vendors.

Visitors are invited to take free DASH Bus transportation or use Capital Bikeshare to get to the event. Visit GO Alex's Trip Planning Page for more information on alternative transit options.

Driving to the event? Parking is available at Alexandria City High School (3330 King St.), the First Baptist Church (2932 King St.), and Oakland Baptist Church (3408 King St.). Visit the Tons of Trucks website for more information.

Civil War Hospital Tour
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, September 20
2 -3 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.

The tour is limited to 12 participants. Members, please call the museum to reserve your ticket. Please e-mail [email protected] or call 703.548.1789 with any questions.

Washington's compatriot in arms, and old & intimate friend, Doctor James Craik
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street
Sunday, September 21
1 - 2 p.m.
$12
Purchase Tickets

Alexandria is home to many people who helped not only develop Alexandria but the founding of the country. On Sunday, September 21st, historian and educator Jim Bish will be speaking about Alexandrian James Craik. The talk will focus on the life of James Craik and his close relationship with General George Washington and how their relationship included close family members that gets overlooked. This program is non-refundable unless the museum cancels the program.

Registration is recommended as there is limited seating for this talk. Having trouble registering? Call the museum at 703.549.2997 or email [email protected]

Proximity to Power: Rethinking Race and Place in Alexandria
An evening with Dr. Krystyn R. Moon
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St.
Wednesday, September 24
7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.), light refreshments will be available
$5, free for AHS members
Learn more

The Alexandria Historical Society invites the public to a thought-provoking evening with Dr. Krystyn R. Moon, who will present Proximity to Power: Rethinking Race and Place in Alexandria on Wednesday, September 24, at 7p.m. at The Lyceum.

Dr. Moon will explore how Alexandria's proximity to the nation's capital shaped African Americans' access to schools, transportation, and resources compared with other southern towns. The program highlights the long-standing advocacy of Alexandria's Black residents from the nineteenth century to today. For more information, visit alexandriahistoricalsociety.org or email [email protected].

Support Historic Alexandria

Your gift fuels preservation, education, and programs that bring Alexandria's past to life. Donations, special revenue, and grants make it possible to expand educational programs, conserve treasured collections, and support our dedicated staff. Your gift today helps preserve Alexandria's history for generations to come.

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
Closed to Visitors During Front Door Restoration
Freedom House Museum is temporarily closed to visitorsas the exterior restoration is completed. We plan to reopen in fall of 2025.

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, September 27, 10 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.

2025 Historic Alexandria Holiday Ornament - Available Now in Historic Alexandria museum stores and in our online store!

Celebrate Alexandria's 19th-century canal history with this beautifully crafted, American-made brass ornament. This year's design honors the Alexandria Canal, featuring a canal boat exiting Lock No. 4 heading eastward toward the Potomac River, uncovered by archaeologists in the winter of 2025 on N. Pitt Street. The Alexandria Canal was in use from 1843 to 1886. Learn more here.

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 [email protected] or call 703.746.4554, Virginia Relay 711.

This Week in Alexandria's History

More from This Day in History

On September 10, 1955, within just a few years of doubling the size of the City of Alexandria by annexing land west of Quaker Lane from Fairfax County, the City completed its first comprehensive land use plan and economic base survey. In a demonstration of civic pride, these actions, and several others made in 1955 to create or reorganize City departments, were publicly presented at a special Municipal Exhibition-Demonstration that highlighted new services and activities offered by the City to its citizens and a vision for the future. The ambitious municipal program, authorized by Mayor Leroy S. Bendheim and City Council, and implemented by City Manager Edward G. Heatwole, provided the foundation for modern day Alexandria.

Upcoming Commission and Committee Events

Commissions Supporting Historic Alexandria

• September 8 Alexandria-Caen Sister Cities Committee (SCC)
  City Hall, 301 King Street, Sister Cities Room 1101
  7-9 p.m.

• September 10 Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  8-9:15 a.m.

• September 10 Alexandria Community Remembrance Project Steering Committee
  Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
  5:30 p.m.

• September 15 Alexandria Sister City Committee - Dundee and Helsingborg
  City Hall, 301 King Street, Sister Cities Room 1101
  7 - 8:30 p.m.

• September 15 George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee (GWBCC)
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7 - 9 p.m.

• September 15 Public Records Advisory Commission
  Archives and Records Center, 801 S. Payne Street
  7:30 p.m.

• September 16 Historic Alexandria Resources Commission (HARC)
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.

• September 17 Alexandria Archaeological Commission
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.