The City of Alexandria is set to host a series of cultural and historical events from January 26 to February 1, 2026. These activities are part of ongoing efforts by the Office of Historic Alexandria to engage residents and visitors with the city’s rich past.
A highlight this week is the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Poster Exhibition at Charles Houston Recreation Center, running from February 1 through March 1. The event, organized by the Alexandria Black History Museum in partnership with local public schools, features student artwork focused on Dr. King’s legacy. This year’s theme is “Dreaming Together: Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future.” The exhibition opens with a reception on February 1 from 1-3 p.m., and admission is free.
Other upcoming programs include a virtual lecture titled “Virginia Women in the American Revolution: Correcting the Historical Record” on January 28, led by historians Rebecca Rose and Cassandra Good. The talk will examine women’s roles during the Revolutionary War and how recent research has contributed new perspectives to Virginia Humanities’ Encyclopedia Virginia.
Several specialty tours are also scheduled. On January 31, Fort Ward Museum offers a tour exploring Civil War medicine in Alexandria. Carlyle House Historic Park will present a lecture about Civil War prisons in Alexandria on February 1 and host walking tours focusing on lost buildings in historic neighborhoods like The Berg & Parker-Gray.
Food enthusiasts can participate in the “Cherry Challenge,” where local restaurants create cherry-themed dishes as part of George Washington Birthday Celebration Month. Diners serve as judges for this culinary competition, which runs through February 18.
Additional events planned for early February include concerts celebrating African American music at The Lyceum, book-themed dinners supporting scholarships for local students, chocolate tastings at Carlyle House Historic Park, and specialty history tours inspired by figures such as Alexander Hamilton.
Preparations are underway for larger commemorative events marking America’s upcoming semiquincentennial (250th anniversary). On January 23, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum held a sold-out Bicentennial Mania Game Night as part of these celebrations. Local museums have joined statewide initiatives like the Virginia 250 Passport program that encourages visits to historic sites across Virginia with incentives such as prizes and discounts.
New exhibits recently opened include “Disease and the Apothecary” at Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum—which explores how epidemics shaped Alexandria—and an exhibition on Union Navy sailors at Fort Ward Museum commemorating the Navy’s founding anniversary.
To help residents explore these offerings more easily, Historic Alexandria has released a new museum mobility guide featuring routes connecting all city museums via walking, biking, or transit; participants can earn rewards for visiting each site.
Museum hours vary by location throughout the week; details are available online through alexandriava.gov/Historic. Admission remains complimentary for city residents.
Historic commissions continue their work supporting preservation efforts across Alexandria with several meetings scheduled throughout February covering topics ranging from public records management to archaeological initiatives.
