This Week in Historic Alexandria - January 12, 2026

January 12-18, 2026

What's New

FEATURED EVENT

America250 commemoration Kickoff
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Monday, January 26
6:30-9:30 p.m.
Free

Historic Alexandria will officially launch its America250 commemoration with a public kick-off event on Monday, January 26, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum.

The evening will feature guest speakers exploring the significance of America's 250th anniversary and Virginia's role in telling a fuller, more inclusive American story.

Attendees will also get a first look at the exciting exhibitions, programs, and special events planned throughout 2026.

Please register here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/historicalexandria/event/250thkickoff/

Upcoming Events

View the Historic Alexandria Calendar

The 53rd Anniversary Community Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 's Birthday
The George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria Thursday, January 15
6:30-8 p.m. (reception begins at 5:30 p.m. with light fare and birthday cake)
Free
Register Here.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Planning Committee invites the community to join in commemorating the 53rd Anniversary of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The 2026 program theme is "Dawn of Justice & Hope."

Event Highlights

• Welcome reception from 5:30 -6:20 PM with light fare and birthday cake
• Main program at 6:30 - 8 PM
• The program will include uplifting music, dance, and poetry performances along with a diverse group of clergy as well as honored guests and dignitaries
• Suitable for all ages
• Free and ample parking
• Free admission for all - donations are welcome to support the cost of the event
• Sponsors this year include Affordable Signs & Banners, Jen Walker Team, Nautilus Coaching & Consulting, Tara Casagrande Yoga & Mindfulness, and many more.

In 1973, Alexandria civic leader and activist Alice P. Morgan initiated the city's first memorial program honoring Dr. King's birthday- an effort endorsed by then Mayor Charles Beatley and launched a decade before the federal holiday was signed into law.

Please register in advance at drkingmemorialprogram.org, and support the event through individual donations, sponsorship, or volunteer opportunities. Please email [email protected] for volunteer and sponsorship opportunities.

Volunteer Open House
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria
Saturday, January 17
4-6 p.m.
Free

Does your New Year's Resolution include volunteering in your community? Well then, you're in luck! The Carlyle House will be hosting a free Volunteer Open House for those interested in becoming a docent with us. At this event, you will have a chance to meet current volunteers and be provided with an open house tour. Additionally, our volunteer coordinator will be present to provide a description of volunteer duties and benefits as well as answer any questions. We look forward to sharing the enjoyment and fulfilment of volunteering at a historic house museum with you!

Carlyle at 50: Preservation of Carlyle House Tours
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria
Sunday, January 18
Noon-4 p.m.
$1 per person, donations suggested

On January 18, 1976, the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority opened Carlyle House after a six year restoration. In celebration of our 50th anniversary, join us for a 1976 museum price of $1 per person and learn about the preservation of Carlyle House from our experts. Registration not required. Last entrance at 3:30 p.m.

Alexandria Association Lecture Series
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Monday, January 19
7:30 p.m., light refreshments at 7 p.m.
$10 at the door for guests; Free for Alexandria Association members

Andrea Cochrane Tracey, Executive Director of the Fund to Conserve U.S. Diplomatic Treasures Abroad

Topic: "America's Landmarks Abroad: Preserving Diplomatic Treasures"

The program will feature the remarkable stories behind some of our nation's iconic diplomatic properties and the stunning museum-quality collections they house--from America's first acquisition over 200 years ago, in Tangier, to our ambassadorial residence in Paris, built on the foundations of a mansion designed by the American baroness who gave New Orleans' Jackson Square its style. The lecture covers how these active diplomatic landmarks are stewarded for the future and why they are important to preserve.

Tavern Games Night: Bicentennial Mania
Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal Street, Alexandria
Friday, January 23
7 p.m.
$10
Purchase Tickets.

Kick off the year of the 250th with a Game Night that looks back to 1976-the nation's last big birthday! Part of our quarterly Game Night series, the evening includes a brief themed presentation and pub trivia around 7:30 p.m. Cash bar available during the event. Please note this event takes place up one flight of stairs in the historic Ballroom of Gadsby's Tavern Museum.

Preservation of Carlyle House: What if we could do it over?
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria
Saturday, January 24
4-6 p.m.
$12 per person, Friends of Carlyle House members: $6/person
Purchase Tickets.

Four years after the passage of The National Historic Preservation Act, the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NOVA Parks) began a daunting task: the restoration of the Carlyle House, an Aquia creek stone building in Alexandria, VA. Fauber Garbee, Inc., Architects directed the extensive restoration and research of Carlyle's 1753 home and the long forgotten stories associated with the house.

Join members of the original restoration team Sharon Park, FAIA, FAPT, LEED AP and Baird M. Smith, FAIA FAPT along with other preservation professionals to examine the specific conservation, repair and restoration steps undertaken 50 years ago. Then delve into a dialogue exploring whether the same paths would be taken today and why or why not.

The presentation begins at 4 p.m. followed by a panel discussion and a moderated question and answer session .Join us for the opportunity to network with other professionals afterwards for some light bites.

Virginia Women in the American Revolution: Correcting the Historical Record
Wednesday, January 28
7-8 p.m.
Free, Online via Zoom
Please register in advance at the Alexandria Historical Society event page:
sites.google.com/view/alexandria-historical-society/events/revwar-women

Registrants will receive the Zoom connection details by email. This event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required.

The Alexandria Historical Society (AHS) invites the public to a special behind-the-scenes virtual program, "Virginia Women in the American Revolution: Correcting the Historical Record," featuring historians Rebecca Rose and Cassandra Good.

This free Zoom event will take place on Wednesday, January 28, from 7 to 8 p.m., and marks the official launch of AHS's 2026 America250 programming.

Contrary to long-standing myths, women in Virginia played active and varied roles during the American Revolution. In this illustrated talk, Rose and Good will explore two often-overlooked areas of women's Revolutionary participation: their involvement with the Continental Army and their political engagement on the home front. Drawing on pension records, period images, and a wide range of primary and secondary sources, the speakers will discuss how recent scholarship is reshaping our understanding of the Revolutionary era-and how this research has been translated into new entries for Virginia Humanities' Encyclopedia Virginia.

This program inaugurates the Alexandria Historical Society's America250 initiative, which will present new scholarship, fresh perspectives, and locally grounded stories in advance of the nation's 250th anniversary.

For more information, contact: [email protected]

Specialty Tour: Civil War Medicine
Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site, 4301 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria
Saturday, January 31
10 a.m.
$15 per person, Historic Alexandria Members: $12/person
Purchase Tickets

Medicine in the Civil War isn't all just amputations and dysentery! Come explore the wild world of medicine in the 1860s at Fort Ward Museum. The 1-hour tour will include a brief background of Alexandria's role in medicine during the war and a deeper dive into medicine in both the field and hospitals. The tour will also include a look at artifacts not currently on display! Please be sure to arrive 5 minutes before tour time. Doors will be locked at the start of the tour. This tour is indoors.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Poster Exhibition
Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe Street
Sunday, February 1- Sunday, March 1

Exhibition & Opening Event
Sunday, February 1
1-3 p.m.
Free, includes welcome reception

The Alexandria Black History Museum, part of the Office of Historic Alexandria, sponsors an annual Student Poster Exhibition with Alexandria City Public School students, grades 2-5.

This year's theme is Dreaming Together: Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future. The students' posters will be on display at the Charles Houston Recreation Center from February 1 - March 1, 2026.

For more information, visit Martin Luther King, Jr. Poster Exhibition | City of Alexandria, VA

2026 George Washington Birthday Parade Registration is Now Open! Early Bird Parade Registration ends January 14

The early bird registration rate of $75 for the February 14, 2026 George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town Alexandria will expire at the end of the day on Wednesday, January 14, so sign up your parade unit now if you haven't done so! The fee will be $125 beginning January 15, and the parade registration deadline will be the end of the day on January 30. Visit our Parade Registration Page for more information on how to register as a 2026 parade participant.

Become a Parade Day Volunteer!

We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help on Parade Day! There are a number of volunteer opportunities available. Just sign up for your preferred activity here, and we will be in touch with you. If you have questions, please email [email protected].

Eleanor Breen, City Archaeologist

City Archaeologist Delivers Presentation on Fire Insurance Records and African American History at the 2026 SHA Conference

On January 10, 2026, City Archaeologist Eleanor Breen gave a presentation at the 2026 Conference on Historical and Underwater Archaeology held in Detroit, Michigan.

The topic was historic fire insurance records as sources for understanding the lived experiences of enslaved and free African Americans in Alexandria.

In addition to this presentation, on January 9, 2026, Breen served as a panelist in a forum providing a municipal archaeological perspective on the current state of preservation, and chaired a roundtable luncheon on urban archaeology.

About the Alexandria Archaeology Museum

The Alexandria Archaeology Museum is dedicated to preserving and studying Alexandria's rich archaeological heritage and fostering within residents and visitors a connection between the past and present while inspiring a sense of stewardship and adventure.

For more information about Alexandria Archaeology, visit Alexandriava.gov/Archaeology.

Help ACRP Share Our Whole History with ACHS Students

The Alexandria Community Remembrance Project (ACRP) still needs funds for the Banned Truth Tour for our Alexandria City High School students. Please consider donating - learn more and donate on ACRP's campaign page.

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

Monday, January 19: All Historic Alexandria museums will be closed in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday.

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
Thursdays & Fridays, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sundays, 1 - 5 p.m.

Friendship Firehouse Museum
Next open on Saturday, February 14, 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.

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
Wednesdays-Fridays, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sundays 1 - 5 p.m.

Virginia 250 Passport

Historic Alexandria is proud to join 70 premier historic destinations across Virginia in the launch of the Virginia 250 Passport, a first-of-its-kind statewide tourism journey celebrating America's 250th. Featured Alexandria museums include Gadsby's Tavern Museum, the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, and the Alexandria Black History Museum. The passport offers prizes and discounts to encourage families to explore Virginia's rich history together. Beginning November 11, 2025, free passports will be available at major historic sites and Virginia Welcome Centers. Learn more at VirginiaHistory.org/250Passport.

New Exhibit: "Disease and the Apothecary" - Now open

Explore how epidemics like Smallpox, Yellow Fever, and Influenza shaped Alexandria's past and how science and public health saved lives. Included with admission. Free for Alexandria residents! The new exhibit is also available online.

Union Navy Exhibition Opens at Fort Ward Museum

A new exhibition, "Aboard Ship with the Jack-Tars of the Union Navy," opened October 2 at the City of Alexandria's Fort Ward Museum. The exhibit focuses on the U.S. Navy during the Civil War and is being held in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Navy on October 13, 1775. The exhibition will continue through 2026. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/FortWard.

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 January 16, 1947, the United Service Organization center on Cameron Street closed. Built during World War II, the USO center provided recreational and social activities for service members. The City of Alexandria later acquired the building for use by the Department of Recreation and today it's known as the Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center.

Upcoming Commission and Committee Events

Commissions Supporting Historic Alexandria

• January 12 Sister Cities Committee (SCC) - Dundee and Helsingborg
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-8:30 p.m.

• January 12 Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee
  Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum
  7-9 p.m.

• January 13 Sub-Committee - Alexandria Sister Cities Committee
  La Pluma, 1000 Cameron Street
  6:30-8:30 p.m.

• January 14 Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  8-9:15 a.m.

• January 19 George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee (GWBCC)
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.

• January 20 Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.

• January 21 Alexandria Archaeological Commission
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.