The City of Alexandria announced on April 28 a series of upcoming events, tours, and new museum exhibits to mark Preservation Month in May. The announcement includes specialty tours at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, a whisky tasting at The Lyceum, and commemorative activities reflecting the city’s historic legacy.
These programs highlight Alexandria’s ongoing efforts to connect residents and visitors with local history through its museums and historic sites. Alexandria’s museums and historic sites enhance community identity by interpreting local social and cultural history, per the official website.
Among the featured events is a behind-the-scenes tour at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum throughout May, offering access to rarely seen areas of the building. Other activities include yoga classes at Carlyle House Historic Park, music concerts at The Lyceum, Civil War walking tours, preservation-focused urban renewal tours, family craft days centered on bees, wine and art nights inspired by the Kentucky Derby, as well as field trips to archives exploring African American life in Alexandria. The city also highlighted an annual oral history conference focused on documenting state violence.
Recent commemorations included the Joseph McCoy Remembrance Event held by the Alexandria Community Remembrance Project (ACRP) on April 23 at Roberts Memorial United Methodist Church. This event marked 129 years since McCoy’s lynching in 1897 with remarks from Dr. Rodney Sadler titled “Governed by Fear and Hate: The Tools of the Supremacist State.”
Alexandria maintains the Alexandria Black History Museum and other sites documenting African American heritage, as noted on the official website. Additionally, several new museum exhibits have opened or are ongoing: “Women in Business: We Were Always Here” at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum explores women entrepreneurs past and present; “Disease and the Apothecary” examines how epidemics shaped public health; while Fort Ward Museum hosts an exhibit about Union Navy sailors during the Civil War.
Alexandria incorporates racial and social equity into its policies and decisions to foster fair community outcomes, per the official website. Its government operates under a council-manager structure where City Council selects a manager for daily operations according to information from their official website. As an independent city providing services within defined boundaries for residents, businesses, and visitors,the official website notes that these initiatives aim to support preservation education while fostering inclusive community engagement.
Archaeological research remains active through partnerships coordinated by agencies such as the Alexandria Archaeological Commission alongside institutions and residents for research projects across city sites,according to official sources.
Museum admission is complimentary for city residents. More details about event schedules or accessibility can be found online.
