This Week in Historic Alexandria - November 3, 2025

november 3-9, 2025

What's New

FEATURED EVENT

Bienvenue Beaujolais!
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street, Alexandria
Thursday, November 20
7 p.m.
$70
Purchase tickets.

Please join the Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee for a special evening of French food and wine! We will enjoy the anticipated 2025 Beaujolais Nouveau and then explore beyond the Beaujolais region to showcase some of the finest French wines. From a crisp bubbly and refreshing white wine to a bold and robust red wine. To complement the wines, we will feature French cuisine, taking a tour through the flavors of France, featuring charcuterie, cheeses, and other delicacies. You will also receive a signature wine-tasting glass. For guests 21 and over.

City Council Proclamation for Ben Brenman Archaeology in Alexandria Award presented on October 28, 2025.

Congratulations to Carr Properties, this year's Bernard "Ben" Brenman Archaeology in Alexandria Award winner!

The Alexandria Archaeological Commission (AAC) chose Carr Properties for their commitment to the highest quality archaeological preservation at the site of the Alexandria Canal in Old Town North. Carr Properties worked closely with the City of Alexandria to relocate the excavated canal stones for future use in a park. They also partnered with the Alexandria Archaeology division, the Friends of Alexandria Archaeology, volunteers, and community members to share this significant find with the public. The Alexandria Archaeological Commission award was presented to Alison Wertzler, Carr Properties' Senior Vice President of Design and Construction, by Mayor Gaskins at the October 28, 2025 City Council meeting, along with a proclamation read by Councilman R. Kirk McPike.

Upcoming Events

View the Historic Alexandria Calendar

Story Time for Little Historians
Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
Saturday, November 8
10 - 10:45 a.m.
Free, ages 5-8

Get ready for another heartwarming adventure with "Oumie", your favorite Fulani storyteller.

This month's storytime celebrates gratitude, truth, and courage - honoring heroes who stood tall and spoke up for what's right. Together, we'll journey through the stories of:

• Benjamin Banneker - the brilliant clockmaker who turned curiosity into invention.
• Sojourner Truth - the freedom fighter who walked tall and spoke truth to power.
• Shirley Chisholm - the trailblazer who dared to lead and brought her own "folding chair."

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace-Indoor Season
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street
Saturdays, November 8 - April 4
10:15 a.m.
$10 a class
Purchase tickets.

Join our yoga instructor for an hour long Yoga Class gentle flow yoga class indoors at the Carlyle House. We will 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.

Please note that there is no class December 6th due to the Scottish Walk Parade.

A World War II Walking Tour of Alexandria
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco St.
Saturday, November 8
10:30 a.m. - Noon
$15
Purchase tickets.

Alexandria was a bustling town during the Second World War filled with servicemen and women and civilians contributing to the war effort. On this two-mile walk around Old Town, visit sites where history took place and buildings where notable Alexandrians, including a Tuskegee Airman and a member of the 101st Airborne, lived before serving their country. In addition, learn of the top-secret intelligence facility known as P.O. Box 1142.

This tour begins at Lee-Fendall and ends at the Torpedo Factory by the waterfront. The tour will last approximately 1.5 hours. Walking shoes and water are highly recommended. The tour will take place rain or shine.

Freedom House Museum Reopens after Exterior Rehabilitation
Ribbon Cutting
Freedom House Museum, 1315 Duke Street
Saturday, November 8
1 - 3 p.m.
Free

The Office of Historic Alexandria is excited to share that the exterior rehabilitation work has been completed on the Freedom House Museum at 1315 Duke Street. The Museum will reopen on November 6 and the official ribbon cutting will be on November 8 at 1 p.m. Experts will be onsite November 8 from 1 - 3 p.m. to share behind the scenes details on the exterior renovation work.

The process of rehabilitating the exterior of the Freedom House Museum at 1315 Duke Street began in June of 2024. Now the front facade has returned to its pre-Civil War appearance, helping to tell the story of the domestic slave trade in Alexandria. The next phase at Freedom House Museum shifts to the inside where engineers and preservation specialists will design ways to make the interior spaces accessible to all.

The full rehabilitation project was guided by extensive historical documentation of the building and was recommended in the Historic Structures Report and supported by the community in the Comprehensive Plan. Learn more by visiting the Rehabilitation Project page.

Lantern Tour
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco St.
Saturday, November 8
6 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8 p.m.
$15
Purchase tickets.

Take a tour of the historic Lee-Fendall House at night! A quieter, cozier experience in Old Town Alexandria, this tour covers the history of the house and those who lived here from 1785-1972. Your guide will lead you through the first and second floors of the home by the light of their lantern.

The lantern tours are recommended for ages 12+. Each tour time is limited to 12 people.

Upcoming Tables of Conscience Dinners!

Back and better than ever, ACRP will hold book-themed dinners to raise money for the scholarships in the names of Joseph McCoy and Benjamin Thomas. About a week before the dinner, those who reserved spots will receive an email with the name and address of the hosts. Please indicate at registration if you have any food allergies or strong preferences. Hosts will do their best to accommodate guest requests. Register online!

Each reservation requires a $125 donation per person; visit (https://www.alexandriava.gov/historic-alexandria/tables-of-conscience-fundraiser) for additional information on payment. The dinner's discussion book must be purchased separately from a local bookstore.

November 14 at 6 p.m. - Only a few tickets left!
A Long Time Coming: Reckoning with Race in America by Michael Eric Dyson. The Department of Defense was so concerned about Americans finally starting to grapple with racism, that they banned this book. In a collection of letters written to recent victims of racial violence, Dyson exposed the anti-Blackness that infiltrates our culture as well as feed police violence and injustice.

November 15 at 6 p.m.
The Origin of Others by Toni Morrison. This short, impactful book by Toni Morrison draws on a series of lectures she gave at Harvard University about fear of the other. Morrison reflects on the desire to belong and the impact race, fear, borders, and immigration have on this essential human need. She includes her own work when she examines how literature has played a role, both negative and positive, in such constructions.

Beyond the Battlefield: A Civil War Walking Tour of Alexandria
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco St.
Saturday, November 15
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. Walking tours take place rain or shine, so please wear appropriate shoes and clothing.

Specialty Tour: Fort Ward & Lewis Cass White
Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site, 4301 West Braddock Rd., Alexandria
Saturday, November 15
11 a.m.
$15, $12 Historic Alexandria Members
Purchase tickets.

Come explore the special exhibition, "Lewis Cass White: Preserving the Legacy of Fort Stevens," at Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site. The exhibition highlights the efforts of a Civil War veteran to recognize and preserve the site of Fort Stevens, where the only battle in the Defenses of Washington occurred. Personal accounts, documents, photographs, and veterans' memorabilia are featured to tell this inspiring story. Then head outside to tour the earthwork remains and fully restored Northwest bastion of Fort Ward, the best preserved of the Union forts that comprised the historic defense system. Please be sure to arrive 5 minutes before tour time. Wear appropriate shoes for walking on the earthwork fort.

Civil War Hospital Tour
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco St.
Saturday, November 15
2-3 p.m.
$15
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.

An Intimate Reception with George Washington
Historic Duvall House,305 Cameron Street, Alexandria
Saturday, November 15
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
$150
Purchase tickets.

Join General Washington at the beautiful and historic Duvall House, 305 Cameron Street where he was feted by leading Alexandrians upon his triumphant return from the Revolutionary War in 1783. The General will share his most poignant memories of the war and answer questions about his life and times. Libations and heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served. All proceeds benefit the George Washington Birthday Celebration.

Brother to the Assassin: Edwin Booth and the Rebirth of American Theatre
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco St.
Saturday, November 15
7 p.m.
$15
Purchase tickets.

This lecture will explore the career of Edwin Booth, whose work was overshadowed by the infamous act of his brother, John Wilkes Booth. Once America's most celebrated Shakespearean actor, Booth was suddenly a man marked by association. Rather than retreat from the stage, Booth channeled his grief into a redemptive mission: to elevate American theatre and restore its moral and artistic credibility. Public historian Elizabeth M. Reese traces how Booth transformed personal grief and public disgrace into a force for artistic renewal, helping to reshape American theatre into a respected cultural institution.

Alexandria Historical Society and WETA Present a "Revolutionary Watch Party" for Ken Burns' The American Revolution Finale
The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street, Alexandria
Friday, November 21
7-9 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Free, with a suggested donation of $10 per person to support AHS public programs.
Please RSVP in advance.

The Alexandria Historical Society is pleased to announce their upcoming partnership with WETA, Washington's flagship public television station,for a special event celebrating the finale of The American Revolution, the new documentary series by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt.

On Friday, November 21, the Alexandria Historical Society and WETA will host a "Revolutionary Watch Party" at The Lyceum: Alexandria's History Museum. The evening will feature local historians, a behind-the-scenes look at the film's production, and a live viewing of the PBS broadcast on the Lyceum's big screen.

This interactive evening marks the beginning of Alexandria's America 250 commemorations and invites the community to explore how the Revolution continues to shape our national story.

Note: WETA will premiere The American Revolution beginning Sunday, November 16. The five-night series explores the full scope of the Revolutionary era and its enduring impact on the American story.

Alexandria Cider Festival 2025 - Tickets on Sale Now!
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
Saturday, November 22
1 - 5 p.m.
Tickets $55 in advance through November 21, and $25 for designated drivers. Online sales end at 5 p.m. on Friday, November 21. After that, tickets can be purchased at the door for $65.
Purchase tickets. Minimum Age: 21

Celebrate Virginia Cider Week with a special tasting event on the grounds of historic Lloyd House in Old Town Alexandria. Hosted by the Office of Historic Alexandria in partnership with the Virginia Association of Cider Makers, this annual event sold out last year-so don't miss it! Get your tickets early. Event ticket includes cider tastings, a souvenir glass, live music, tavern games, access to a food truck, and a little history too! While enjoying a selection of Virginia ciders, learn more about the growing Virginia cider industry and its connection to Alexandria history.

Cideries featured include Lost Boy Cider, Ciders from Mars, Blue Bee, Albemarle and more. Food will be available for purchase from Roaming Coyote and Scuttlebutt Bakeshop food trucks.

Live music will be performed by Lindsay, Martin, & Dobbs (traditional Irish music) and Hardtack & Sea Biscuits (mid-19th century music from land and sea on fiddle and banjo).

Dress for the weather - the event is outdoors! Festival open 1 to 5 p.m. Proceeds from the Cider Festival will benefit the Historic Alexandria Museums.

Fashion History: Within the Walls of the Lee-Fendall House
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco St.
Saturday, November 22
2-3 p.m.
$15
Purchase tickets.

Back by popular demand, the Lee-Fendall House will be holding a fashion history lecture on Saturday, November 1st at 2 pm. This lecture, given by Emma Rowland, will cover fashion history using the Lee-Fendall House's history as touch points. Emma is an accomplished seamstress and will be displaying her historic costumes that she has made throughout the House as well as displaying her collection of antique clothing and accessories.

Emma Rowland is passionate about history and her grandmother taught her how to sew when she was 8. Her grandmother left Emma her collection of antique dresses when she passed and Emma quickly fell in love with the history of fashion. She has expanded on the collection over the years and also works as a tour guide in Old Town Alexandria for Alexandria Colonial Tours, where she gives tours dressed in her Colonial-era costumes she makes herself.

Swedish Coffee Culture Event
Buzz Bakeshop, 901 Slaters Lane, Alexandria
Sunday, November 23
3 p.m.
$10
Purchase tickets.

Join the Alexandria Sister Cities Committee at Buzz Bakeshop (901 Slaters Lane) to learn about Swedish Coffee culture (fika)! As part of Alexandria's sister city relationship with Helsingborg, Sweden, this event celebrates a beloved Swedish tradition. In Sweden, fika is part of everyday life and a big part of their culture. Fika is when you take time for a colleague or friend and have a coffee (or tea), ideally enjoyed with a yummy baked treat. So much more than enjoying the coffee and cookie, fika allows you to slow down and appreciate the good things in life. Many Swedes consider it almost essential to fika everyday (many companies add a clause to contracts stating that employees are entitled to fika breaks!).

The event, co-hosted by the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce, will feature remarks from Tiffany Aurora and traditional pastries from Kristina's Swede Treats. Tiffany Aurora is a Baltimore-based podcaster and writer. Her newest show, "Discovering Swedish Culture in America," is a limited-series podcast that will be released this fall. The show includes a special feature on fika, and Tiffany will join us at this event to share stories about Fika and its history. Coffee/tea and one cinnamon bun are included in the ticket price. A limited number of Fika-boxes will also be available for purchase ($20). They are listed as a separate event in the Alexandria Shop. A fika-box includes two cinnamon buns, two chocolate cuts and two raspberry caves.

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

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
Saturday, November 8, 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.

City of Alexandria Federal Government Shutdown - Information and Resources

While the federal government is shut down, the City of Alexandria remains open and is ready to provide help and information to our residents, businesses, and visitors. Learn more at alexandriava.gov/Federalshutdown.

The City's museums and historic sites; libraries; and parks, recreation, and art centers will stay open on their regular schedules.

Admission to Historic Alexandria museums is always free to all Alexandria residents.  

During the federal government shutdown, Washington, D.C.-area hotel guests and federal government workers can purchase Key to the City Attractions Passes (a $60+ value) for just $20 at the Alexandria Visitor Center (221 King Street). Each pass includes admission to 9 historic sites, plus coupons for 40% off tickets to George Washington's Mount Vernon, tall ship Providence, and City Cruises' Potomac Water Taxi. Hotel guests must present a room key or digital reservation confirmation, and federal employees must show a valid government ID.

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 guideconnecting all of Alexandria's museums via walking, biking, and transit. The guidealso acts as a passport-visit every site and earn a prize! Available at museums, rec centers, public libraries, and more.

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.

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 November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president. He secured the necessary electoral votes from the industrializing Northern States, but almost no support in the agricultural South. Of the four candidates participating in the election, Alexandria's voters overwhelmingly supported Constitutional Unionist John Bell with 940 votes. Bell, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and planter from Tennessee who opposed secession and supported a neutral stance on the issue of slavery. He was trailed by Southern Democrat John C. Breckinridge with 619 votes and Democrat Stephen A. Douglas with 138 votes. Lincoln, whose platform opposed the expansion of slavery into new states in the western territories, received only two votes in the city.

Upcoming Commission and Committee Events

Commissions Supporting Historic Alexandria

• November 4 Public Records Advisory Commission
  Archives and Records Center, 801 South Payne Street
  7:30 p.m.
  

• November 10 Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee
  City Hall, Sister Cities Room 1101, 301 King Street
  7-9 p.m.
  

• November 12 Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission
  Public Records Advisory Committee, Archives and Records Center, 801 South Payne Street
  7:30 p.m.
  

• November 17 Alexandria Sister City Committee
  City Hall, Sister Cities Room 1101, 301 King Street
  7-8:30 p.m.
  

• November 17 George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee (GWBCC)
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.
  

• November 18 Historic Alexandria Resources Commission (HARC)
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.
  

• November 19 Alexandria Community Remembrance Project (ACRP) Steering Committee
  Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
  5:30 p.m.
  

• November 19 Alexandria Archaeological Commission
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.