This Week in Historic Alexandria - December 2, 2024

december 2-8, 2024

What's New

Ship Biscuit Ornaments

Alexandria Archaeology Museum, 105 N. Union Street
Saturday, December 7
2-5 p.m.
Free

A nearly complete ship's biscuit from the 18th century was found in Alexandria. Make your own ship's biscuit ornament to commemorate the discovery and the city's waterfront history! Each biscuit ornament will be stamped with the year and then baked at home to track its preservation. Free, no registration required.

Kwanzaa Workshop

Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
Saturday, December 14
11 a.m.- 12 p.m.
$3 per person
Purchase tickets.

Learn about the origins, concepts, practices, and foods of Kwanzaa! Members of the staff will share the historical foundation of Kwanzaa and its seven principles. Program includes a candle lighting, a food tasting, and information on craft projects will be shared.

Christmas in Camp

Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site, 4301 W. Braddock Rd.
Saturday, December 14
12 p.m.- 4 p.m.
Free

Get in the holiday spirit and learn how Christmas was observed during the Civil War at this popular family-oriented event. Enjoy a patriotic Civil War Santa Claus, reenactors in winter camp settings, period decorations, fort tours, and kids' activities.

Specialty Tour: A Toast to the Ladies!

Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal Street
Saturday, December 14 and Saturday, December 21
5:30 p.m.
$20, $15 Historic Alexandria Members
Purchase tickets.

This special tour and discussion will highlight the many women over the centuries associated with Gadsby's Tavern Museum. From Hannah Griffith, the first woman to operate a coffeehouse in the tavern, to the spearheading preservationist Rebecca Ramsay Reese, these women's stories will spark conversations about political, economic, and social conditions for women in the past and the present. Ticket includes tea, which can be carried throughout the tour and discussion.

Upcoming Events

View the Historic Alexandria Calendar

Family Holiday Magic Show
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Wednesday, December 4
7 p.m.
Free, but guests are encouraged to bring unwrapped toys to donate to the Fund for Alexandria's Child Holiday Sharing Program.
Pre-register to guarantee your space

Join us at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum for a free holiday magic show, performed by professional magicians who are members of Ring 50, the DC-area chapter of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Magic is a part of The Lyceum's history and 19th-century magicians like Signor Blitz and Wyman the Wizard performed there in the 1840s. This modern family-friendly show will be geared toward children ages 5 to 12, but all are welcome. For more information, email [email protected].

Lyceum Late-nights for Exhibits and Shopping
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
December 6, 12, and 19
Lyceum open until 9 p.m.

The Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum will be open late select December evenings so guests can enjoy the exhibits and shopping. Support Historic Alexandria by purchasing gifts perfect for any City resident or history enthusiast. Cash bar open 4-9 p.m.

Scottish Walk Open House
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 North Fairfax Street
Saturday, December 7
12 p.m.- 4 p.m.
Free

Visit Old Town to enjoy Alexandria's rich Scottish heritage and see the Scottish Walk Parade march past Alexandria's oldest stone building, Carlyle House. After the parade, enter the museum gates and step back in time for a free open house in the spirit of the holiday season. Last entry into the house at 3:50 p.m.

Gingerbread Decorating
Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal Street
Sunday, December 8
1-6 p.m.
$25
Purchase tickets.

Learn about local architecture as you decorate a flat ""façade"" (front) based on historic buildings around Gadsby's Tavern Museum. Ticket includes one flat gingerbread "façade," all the supplies needed to decorate, and admission to the museum. Inspiring samples highlight architectural details you can recreate in candy and search for in the neighborhoods on your way home. Event ideal for families or adult groups; up to four people welcome per ticket. Hot cider available for purchase during the event (spiked optional). $25 per decorating set for up to four people.

PBS/WHUT airing of Resolved: Never Again
Channel 19
Monday, December 9
9 p.m.
Free

Resolved: Never Again premiered on September 21, 2024 at the George Washington Masonic Memorial. Robin Hamilton and ARound Robin Productions created a 50-minute film that acknowledges devastating past injustices and racial hatred from this city's history, while also telling the contemporary story of citizen activists, students, teachers, city officials, and descendants who have come together to change Alexandria.

PBS/WHUT will air the Alexandria Community Remembrance Project's documentary film Resolved: Never Again on Monday, December 9, 9 p.m. on WHUT-HD. Watch online at https://video.whut.org/livestream/.

For more information about the film and the Alexandria Community Remembrance Project, please visit our website.

Becky Tracy and Keith Murphy in Concert at Historic Lyceum
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Thursday, December 12
7 p.m.
$25, $10 under 18
Purchase tickets.

Becky Tracy (fiddle) and Keith Murphy (guitar, mandolin, piano and foot percussion) Becky and Keith are dynamic performers of traditional music from Newfoundland, Quebec, Ireland, France and beyond. Tracy's fiddling pulses through tasteful arrangements of dance tunes and resonates with beauty on traditional slow airs. Keith's gentle and expressive singing in English and French is balanced by the drive and power of his guitar playing and foot percussion. Combined, they produce a range and richness of sound that is striking for a duo. Their playing is seamless, the result of years of playing together and touring across the U.S., Canada and in Europe. Their repertoire also includes Keith's original compositions (many of which are included in the Black Isle Music tune collection). He is a prolific tunesmith with a writing style strongly based on traditional dance music. This music is elegantly represented in their duo recording, Golden, released in early 2020.

A Carlyle Family Yuletide
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 North Fairfax Street
Saturday, December 14
10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
$10/adult; $5/children (ages 6-12), $5/Friends of Carlyle House members

Experience the holiday season with Carlyle House focusing on how the Carlyles and their enslaved workers observed the holidays during the 18th century. Tours offered on the first floor with the last entry at 3:45 p.m. Enjoy music throughout the day and an 18th century style mocktail after your tour.

Story Time for Little Historians
Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
Saturday, December 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, then stay to learn about the principles of Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa workshop begins at 11 a.m.

A Victorian Christmas
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, December 14
11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Tickets are $5 for adults (age 18+), $10 for children (age 2-12), and children under 2 are free.
Purchase tickets.

Celebrate the holiday season at Lee-Fendall's family-friendly event, A Victorian Christmas! Explore the house and enjoy many activities to get into the Christmas spirit. Activities include: seasonal crafts, writing letters to Santa, snacks/drinks, and special gift shop deals for last-minute holiday shopping.

The Adult Music Student Forum will be hosting sing-alongs and seasonal music each hour! The AMSF is a group of volunteer adult amateur musicians who love music and perform regularly in the DMV. The organization has been in existence since 1988 and the President is pianist, Michelle Powell. AMSF performers for Victorian Christmas include:

• Don Foy - violin 1
• Laura Garawski - violin 2
• Carol Pew - cello
• Louis Reichwein - saxophone
• Austin Blair - cornet
• Carol Henry - mezzo soprano voice

Entry times are on the hour starting at 11:00 AM with the last time at 3:00 PM. Tickets can also be purchased by calling (703) 548-1789 or emailing [email protected].

Colonial Handbell Ringers Concert
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Sunday, December 15
2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Free, donations welcome

The Colonial Ringers Present: Repeat the Sounding Joy! The Colonial English Handbell Ringers will bring some joy to your world this year as we proudly present "Repeat the Sounding Joy!" The 2024 holiday concert will feature fun, uplifting classics such as "Caroling, Caroling" and "Jingle Bells," beautiful arrangements of "The Little Drummer Boy," "Simple Gifts" and "In the Bleak Midwinter," and the rousing finale "Three Carols for Three Countries." We will hopefully hear from you as well, as you participate in our sing-a-long! As always, we thank you for your support over the years, and we hope you enjoy our sounds of the season! The event is free, donations accepted. Seating will be first-come-first-served.

Diarmuid Ó Meachair and Matt Mulqueen (piano) performing traditional Irish music in Concert at Historic Lyceum
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Thursday, December 19
7 p.m.
$25, $10 under 18
Purchase tickets.

Diarmuid Ó Meachair is an Accordion player and sean-nós singer from Cúil Aodha, Co. Cork. He is also an accomplished Melodeon player and sean-nós singer. He was awarded the prestigious Young Musician of the year award from TG4 for 2022. He is one of the most exciting accordion players of his generation. Diarmuid is part of the teaching staff at the Department of Music in UCC, teaching accordion and melodeon. He has released 3 solo albums since December 2022. His second solo album ""Melodeon Medleys"" was released in July 2023 and his debut album ""Siúl na Slí"" was released under the Raelach Records label with support from the Arts Council of Ireland and Ealaín na Gaeltachta.

Matt Mulqueen was born in Baltimore, Maryland, into a musical family. His older brothers played button accordion and fiddle, and his sister became a champion step-dancer. This environment instilled in Matt an irresistible desire to learn and play Irish traditional music. Listening to the host of traditional musicians who haunt Irish pubs and to innumerable recordings allowed Matt to forge his own compelling style of accompanying Irish music. Matt returns to the Lyceum, having performed with Lexi Boatright and Cara Wildman in 2022.

Light refreshments will be available with wine, beer and non-alcoholic drinks available for purchase.

Kissing Ball Workshops
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, December 21, 11 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 22, 2 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.
$25
Purchase tickets.

Learn the history behind using greenery to decorate homes for the holidays, then craft your own boxwood kissing ball using fresh cuttings from the Lee-Fendall garden!

Please note that these workshops will be held outdoors so it's advisable to dress appropriately. Registration must be done in advance and costs $25 per person and includes all materials needed to make your own boxwood kissing ball.

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
  Saturdays, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sundays, 1 - 5 p.m.

  Freedom House is open on weekends only through early January. Group visits available by special appointment.

• Friendship Firehouse Museum
  Saturday, December 7, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday, December 28, 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., closed Monday - Wednesday.

• Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
  Wednesdays-Fridays, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sundays 1 - 5 p.m., closed Mondays & Tuesdays.

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 December 3, 1951, the City of Alexandria annexed 7.65 miles of land west of Quaker Lane from Fairfax County, for the sum of $500,000. At the time, the then rural area was sparsely settled, with only several hundred residents and a system of largely unpaved roadways. The annexation doubled the size of Alexandria overnight and allowed for the extension of city services to enable high-density development of the area.

Upcoming Commission and Committee Events

Commissions Supporting Historic Alexandria

• December 2 George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Royal Street
  7 p.m.

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

• December 11 Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission (AHRPC)
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  8 a.m.

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

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

• December 18 Alexandria Archaeology Commission
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7 p.m.

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