This Week in Historic Alexandria - August 12, 2024

August 12-18, 2024

What's New

Lafayette Book Launch

Join us as we celebrate the bicentennial of Lafayette's tour with the launch of Bro. Chris Ruli's groundbreaking book, Brother Lafayette.

You're invited to an author lecture and book signing on Sunday, August 18 at 2 p.m. in the Alexandria-Washington Lodge Gift Shop at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, 101 Callahan Dr., Alexandria. Access to the author lecture and book signing event is included with Memorial Admission.

Purchase admission in advance at gwmemorial.org. Admission also includes a tour featuring Albion Hurdle's Lafayette, the inspiration for the book's cover, and a French Bastille Key gifted by Lafayette himself.

Learn more: www.AW22.org

About the book:

The Marquis de Lafayette's 1824 visit to the United States became the final goodwill tour of his adoptive country. Everywhere Lafayette visited, a tapestry of parades, banquets, concerts, and public honors unfolded, befitting the last surviving major general of the American Revolution. The country's Freemasons played a pivotal role and embraced Lafayette as a soldier, statesman, and fellow Mason.

About the Author:

Chris Ruli is an historian and researcher on early American Freemasonry and its often-overlooked relationship with politics and culture. A former Grand Historian and Librarian, Ruli leads efforts to digitize and disseminate Masonic research and strengthen academic approaches to studying Freemasonry. He is a member of Alexandria - Washington Lodge, No. 22, and supports Lodge preservation activities serving on its Archives Committee.

Alexandria Fire History Symposium

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." From 10 am to 3 pm, 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.

The symposium will be at the George Washington National Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria. It is free with prior registration requested. 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.

Upcoming Events

View the Historic Alexandria Calendar

Trivia Nights at Historic Sites: Star Wars
Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco Street
NEW DATE: Friday, August 16
7-9 p.m.
$12 per person
Tickets can be purchased online.

The Lee-Fendall House Museum and Carlyle House Historic Park have combined their random nerd knowledge to create bi-weekly trivia nights in the beautiful gardens located at Lee-Fendall House. Join us all summer to test your knowledge on all things from pop culture to history! The theme of our August 16th trivia night will be Star Wars.

Trivia nights are $12 a person which includes 1 drink ticket. Additional drinks can be bought at our cash bar. Teams may have up to 6 members on them. Registration slots are first come, first served, so we recommend paying ahead of time to save your spot. Ages 21 and over only.

Trivia nights started on June 14 and take place every other Friday at 7pm from June-August (June 14 & 28, July 12 & 26, August 16 & 23). For more information visit www.leefendallhouse.org.

Secrets of Wilkes Street: A Historic Cemetery Tour Linked to Lee-Fendall
Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco Street
Saturday, August 17
11 a.m.
$30 per person
Tickets can be purchased online.

Embark on an extraordinary walking tour through the historic Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex. Immerse yourself in the captivating lives of remarkable individuals laid to rest here who share a profound connection to the historic Lee-Fendall House. This exclusive tour offers a rare opportunity to visit gravesites not typically covered elsewhere, unveiling enthralling tales of duels, cavalry battles, encounters with the Marquis de Lafayette, and many other intriguing narratives.

By participating in this unique tour, you not only immerse yourself in riveting history but also contribute to a meaningful cause. All proceeds from the tour will directly benefit the preservation and maintenance of the cherished Lee-Fendall House. The tour is limited to 25 participants and lasts approximately one hour. Members receive a $5 discount.

Parking is available on Hamilton Ave. Tours start at the intersection of Hamilton & Wilkes Street, Alexandria.

Specialty Tour: Poisons at the Apothecary Museum
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 S. Fairfax Street
Sunday, August 18
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
$15 per person, $12 OHA members
Tickets can be purchased online.

Come explore the sinister side of medicine on the Apothecary Museum's Poisons Tour. This one-hour tour explores several different types of poisons, their historic uses at the Apothecary, and what we know today. Recommended for ages 18 and up.

Please arrive between 10:45-11 a.m. as the museum is not open to the public until 1 p.m. and the doors will be locked when the tour begins at 11 a.m.

Family Day with Young Historians
Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal Street
Every Sunday, August 18 through Labor Day weekend
2 p.m.- 5 p.m.
Fees included in regular admission.

Every Sunday through Labor Day weekend, guests can meet our Junior Docents, young historians grade 4 and up, as they share the stories of the tavern. The afternoon includes historic chocolate-making demonstrations. Past visitors have described the student presentations as an "exciting treat" that brings a "fun element" to the tour. Don't miss out!

WMPA Lyceum Chamber Series
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Sundays through 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/.

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace-Happy Hour
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street
Friday, August 30
6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
$20

Join our yoga instructor for an hour long 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 our social media! Yoga Happy Hours are a fundraiser for new exhibit cases in the museum and sponsored by the Friends of Carlyle House.

For more details, visit the event website here.

Candlelight Vigil and Wreath Laying at Freedmen's Cemetery
Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial, 1001 S. Washington Street
Saturday, September 7
8 p.m. (shuttle service from Lee Center starting at 7:30 p.m.)
Free

The City of Alexandria invites the public to participate in the tenth anniversary of the dedication of the Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial. This year's remembrance will honor the late Lillie Frinklea and her work with her friend Louise Massoud to create the Friends of Freedmen's Cemetery.

To learn more about the vigil, and ticketed programs and events on Sept. 6-7, visit https://www.alexandriava.gov/FreedmenMemorial.

To purchase tickets for the Bus Tour of Pre-Civil Era Historic African American Churches and Sites of Alexandria (September 6), 10th Anniversary Luncheon (September 7), or the Bus Tour to Arlington House (September 7), visit https://shop.alexandriava.gov/Events.aspx.

Muster Friendship and Firefighting in Alexandria
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 & 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.

Liberation of Paris Garden Party
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
Saturday, September 14
6 p.m.- 9:30 p.m.
$75
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!

Arts Enrichment Programs for Youth Grant Program

The Alexandria Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities' Office of the Arts is collaborating with the Recreation Services Division to create Arts Enrichment Program for Youth - Grant Program (AEPY) which is funded by the American Rescue Fund Program for Alexandria. The AEPY is a program to provide funding for nonprofit organizations and teaching artists to develop high quality summer and afterschool arts programs which could be Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math; art, musical performance, culture, both traditional and nontraditional arts; and other creative projects will be in the City's Recreation Centers.

Arts Enrichment Programs for Youth should:

1. Take place in one of the dedicated neighborhood recreation centers which are inspiring, welcoming spaces for all youth who want to participate and affirm the value of the arts and artists.

2. Focus on hands-on skill building using art supplies.

3. The culmination of the residency could result in a public event with audiences showcasing the work the youth have accomplished.

4. To actively involve youth in the implementation of the program.

The AEPY programs will be offered throughout the city between September 2 - December 15, 2024. Grant awards will be for $5,000 per residency, per location. Applicants can submit up to two applications and will not have a cash match requirement.

The application will be submitted on the SurveyMonkey online grant portal. Online applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Friday, August 16, 2024. Mailed or hand-delivered applications will not be accepted. It is anticipated that funding decisions will occur by Friday, August 23, 2024.

To request a coaching session or language support email: [email protected].

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, 11 a.m.-5 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.
  Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum will be closed August 21.

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 August 14, 1946, the Alexandria City Council established the nation's third oldest historic district regulating the appearance of a large swath of the downtown area now known as Old Town. The first historic district that regulated changes in the appearance of an historic area, through the police power of land use controls, was adopted by the City of Charleston, S.C., in 1931. That act was followed six years later by the City of New Orleans to protect its unusual French Quarter. In Alexandria, downtown businesses strongly opposed the historic designation, but the measure received strong support from residents who sought to preserve the hundreds of early buildings in the city center that remained from the 18th and 19th centuries. The National Park Service also weighed in, urging that the City take steps to protect the commemorative nature of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, which passed through Alexandria along Washington Street. The Park Service argued that inappropriate development, such as the recently constructed Hot Shoppes restaurant with neon signage and an adjacent iced custard shop that mimicked an Alaskan igloo, complete with a beckoning cement polar bear, were not in keeping with Alexandria's colonial character.

Upcoming Commission and Committee Events

Commissions Supporting Historic Alexandria

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

• August 20 Historic Alexandria Resources Commission (HARC)
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.

Public link

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