This Week in Historic Alexandria - September 9, 2024

September 9 -15, 2024

What's New

Liberation of Paris Garden Party

Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
Saturday, September 14
6 - 9:30 p.m.
$60
Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite "Liberation of Paris"

Celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Paris at a festive garden party hosted by the British Officers Club, Washington, DC, and the Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee. Enjoy swing music, dancing, delicious food, and a cash bar. 1940s attire welcome!

The 8th Green Machine Regiment Band.

Civil War Camp Day

Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site, 4301 W. Braddock Rd.
Saturday, September 28
10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Free, Suggested donation $2 / $5 for families

The annual living history event features military and civilian reenactors in camp settings in and around the historic fort. The program includes camp life activities, infantry and artillery drills and firing demonstrations, equipment displays, and civilian impressions.

Among the living history units participating are the 28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Co. B, the 3rd U.S. Regular Infantry, Co. K, and the 1st U.S. Artillery, Co. D. Special interpretations include a U.S. Army Quartermaster tent, a Union company surgeon, a Northern schoolmarm who interprets 19th-century education and pastimes for children, and a soldier in the reconstructed Officers' Hut portraying the daily routine and living quarters of an officer in the Defenses of Washington. At 3 p.m., the 8th Green Machine Regiment Band will perform a concert of Civil War music on the Museum lawn. This historical brass ensemble, sponsored by George Mason University, presents music of the 19th century on authentic period instruments.

Fort Ward is the best preserved of the Union forts that comprised the Civil War Defenses of Washington

Upcoming Events

View the Historic Alexandria Calendar

Community Cookout
Princess Square, 1400 Princess Street
Tuesday, September 10
6-7:30 p.m.
Free

Join us for Community Cookouts in 2024! A great time for neighbors and families to come together and connect with community resources. There will be free food, face painting and activities, games for the kids and giveaways. For more information, contact Michael Johnson at 703.898.5115, [email protected] or Officer Bennie Evans at 703.627.0728.

Archaeology through the Ages
Alexandria Archaeology Museum, 105 N Union St, #327
Friday, September 13
7 - 9 p.m.
Free

Celebrate the last five decades of community archaeology in the city with Alexandria Archaeology and the Alexandria Historical Society. Join us at 7 p.m. for recollections from the first City Archaeologist and Historical Society President, Dr. Pam Cressey, about the beginnings of archaeology in the building. Stay for a behind-the-scenes peek into the museum's onsite collections space and view selected artifacts highlighting significant projects since the 1970s. This event coincides with the Torpedo Factory Art Center's 50th anniversary celebration from 7 - 10 p.m. throughout the building.

The Untold Stories of Lee-Fendall House Residents and Their Resting Places
Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco Street
Friday, September 13
7-8:15 p.m.
$10 and free for museum members
Tickets can be purchased online.

Built in 1785 by Philip Richard Fendall I, the Lee-Fendall House has been home to many influential families whose lives and legacies have significantly shaped Alexandria's history. This lecture will delve into the lesser-known stories of the Fendalls, Lees, Cazenoves, Flemings, Downhams, and others who resided in this storied house. Discover their contributions to early American history, their experiences during the Civil War, and their final resting places.

This lecture, illustrated with rare photographs and documents, offers a unique opportunity to connect Alexandria's past with its present, highlighting the enduring impact of these historical figures on our community today.

Members, please call the museum to reserve your ticket. Tickets must be purchased in advance as there is limited seating. Questions? Please e-mail [email protected] or call the museum at 703-548-1789.

Friendship and Firefighting in Alexandria
Celebrating 250 Years of Friendship Fire Company
Friendship Firehouse Museum, 107 S. Alfred Street
Saturday, September 14
9 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Free

Join us for a muster of over 15 antique, hand-drawn firefighting apparatus to honor the 250th anniversary of the Friendship Firehouse! Participating vehicles will include 19th-century suction fire engines and hose reel carriages. Friendship Firehouse Museum will be open throughout the event for free as well.

Friendship and Firefighting in Alexandria is sponsored by the Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association and the Office of Historic Alexandria.

Story Time for Little Historians
Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
Saturday, September 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.

Alexandria Fire History Symposium
George Washington National Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive
Sunday, September 15
10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Free, registration required.

Mark the 250th anniversary of the Friendship Fire Company on Sunday, September 15, and join the Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association for the "Alexandria Fire History Symposium." Three panels of firefighting history specialists will discuss Alexandria's early and more recent firefighting history. Topics are: The Great Fires, Remembering Those Who Served, and Responding to Terror.

To register, please contact Jim McClellan at [email protected] by September 10th. For more details visit AlexandriaVa.gov/Historic.

Members of the Friendship Fire Company were volunteers motivated by their concern for safety and property. Now called the Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association (FVFEA), the organization continues to support the Alexandria community.

WMPA Lyceum Chamber Series
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Sunday, September 15
3 p.m.
No tickets required, suggested donation $25

Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association "Lyceum Chamber Series" features different musicians each week. August 18 is Quodlibet, whose group includes flute, clarinet, and bassoon.

For more information, please visit https://www.wmpamusic.org/.

Tavern Games Night: Rum Edition
Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St.
Friday, September 20
7 - 9:30 p.m.
$10
Purchase tickets online.

It's National Rum Punch Day! To celebrate, play tavern games and enjoy traditional rum punch-a popular tavern drink. Includes brief presentations about tavern entertainments and group games. Cash bar.

Discovering Alexandria Architecture Walking Tour
Saturday, September 21
10 - 11:30 a.m.
$20
Purchase tickets 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. Tour is held rain or shine unless there is severe weather. Tour starts at the Carlyle House, 121 North Fairfax Street. Having trouble registering? Please call 703-549-2997 or email [email protected].

Classic Car Show
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Saturday, September 21
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 featuring a variety of "orphan" vehicles. This show will bring together cars that are no longer manufactured - hence the term "orphans" - and is scheduled to include cars made by Packard, Hudson, MG, Nash, Pontiac, and more.

The show is free and is co-sponsored by Packards Virginia and the Office of Historic Alexandria. For more information, visit packardsva.org.

Alexandria Community Remembrance Project Documentary Screening
George Washington National Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive
Saturday, September 21
5:30 p.m. Fundraiser Reception
6:30 p.m. Theater doors open
7-8:30 p.m. Film screening followed by a panel discussion
Purchase tickets online.

The Alexandria Community Remembrance Project (ACRP) will debut a documentary film titled Resolved: Never Again. Filmmaker Robin Hamilton explores the port city's involvement in slavery and the domestic slave trade until the Civil War, an era followed by decades of racial terror when the lynchings of Joseph McCoy and Benjamin Thomas took place. The documentary also examines how Alexandria has been confronting parts of this past since 2019.

The evening opens at 5:30 with a Fundraising Reception where you can meet Filmmaker Robin Hamilton and individuals featured in the documentary.

All proceeds from this event support the work of the Alexandria Community Remembrance Project.

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace - Happy Hour
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 North Fairfax Street
Friday, September 27
6 - 7:30 p.m.
$20
Purchase tickets online.

Join our yoga instructor for a Yoga class on Carlyle's Magnolia Terrace. Afterwards, enjoy a mocktail with yoga participants and staff. Mocktails will change based on the month and will be announced on social media! Yoga Happy Hours are a fundraiser for new exhibit cases in the museum and sponsored by the Friends of Carlyle House.

Please bring water, a towel, and a yoga mat. Wear comfortable yoga wear. Please note that the terrace is bricked so please bring a thicker mat or double up with an extra mat or towel. Class may be canceled due to inclement weather, you will receive an email if class is canceled.

Pop-Up Archaeology - Buried Ships of Robinson Landing Exhibit
Friday, October 4
4:30 - 7 p.m.
Corner of The Strand and Pioneer Mill Way (near BARCA)
Free

Step inside the temporary Buried Ships of Robinson Landing windowfront exhibit on Friday, October 4 between 4:30 and 7 p.m. for a special chance to see scale models of three 18th century vessel remnants excavated in 2018 on the same block. Talk with archaeologists and learn how these ships were used to create new land along the waterfront. For more information about the free exhibit located at the Strand and Pioneer Mill Way, visit www.alexandriava.gov/archaeology/archaeology-on-the-waterfront.

Walking Tours
Old Town Alexandria
October 5 & 6
10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
$15/$30 includes book, $12 OHA Members
Purchase tickets online.

Join public historian and author of Marquis de Lafayette Returns, A Tour of America's National Capital Region Elizabeth Reese on a 90 minute walking tour retracing Lafayette's steps from his 1824 visit. Coordinated by the Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee. The tour will begin at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum (201 South Washington Street) and will end at Gadsby's Tavern Museum (134 North Royal Street).

"The President's Own" United States Marine Band Concert
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Sunday, October 6
6-7:15 p.m.
Free
Register online.

Join musicians from "The President's Own" United States Marine Band for a special concert tracing the musical history of America's oldest continuously active professional musical organization. The band performed at Lyceum Hall, which is now the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, after an 1840 parade and during a concert hosted by Signor Francis Garcia in 1843. The Marine Band was a frequent visitor to the area, performing in local parades, on steamboat excursions from Alexandria, in at least one Tavern, and at various venues throughout the city. The musicians will present a program of works inspired by past performances in Alexandria during the 19th and 20th centuries. Historic selections include Francis Hopkinson's Washington's March, a celebration of the first President of the United States, and Medley of Patriotic Airs by Francis Scala, the first Marine Band member to hold the title of "Leader of the Band." Marine Band Historian Staff Sgt. Philip Espe will narrate the program, providing historical context to the programmed pieces. The concert is free / cash bar.

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
  Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays and Mondays, 1-5 p.m.
• Friendship Firehouse Museum
  Saturday, September 14, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Gadsby's Tavern Museum
  Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays through 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 [email protected] or call 703.746.4554, Virginia Relay 711.

This Week in Alexandria's History

More from This Day in History

On September 11, 1887, the USS Dolphin sailed past the City of Alexandria with a squad of U.S. Marines bound for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The ship had previously anchored in the Potomac River off Alexandria and steamed on to the Washington Navy Yard to pick up "a few good men" scheduled to participate in the Constitution Centennial commemoration held that year. The New York-based Dolphin was a sleek and elegant, largely ceremonial ship operated by the U.S. Navy, famous for Congressional visits, "champagne cruises" by government dignitaries, and as a transport ship for the Secretary of the Navy.

Upcoming Commission and Committee Events

Commissions Supporting Historic Alexandria

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

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

• September 11 Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  8:15 a.m.

• September 16 George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.

• September 16 Sister Cities Committee (SCC) - Dundee and Helsingborg
  Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, City Hall
  7 p.m.

• September 16 Public Records Advisory Commission (PRAC)
  Archives and Records Center, 801 S Payne St.
  7:30 p.m.

• September 17 Historic Alexandria Resources Commission (HARC)
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.

• September 18 Alexandria Archaeological Commission
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington
  7-9 p.m.

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