Central Nova News

The city of Alexandria is hosting a series of events this September to celebrate its rich history and cultural heritage. Among the highlights is the 250th anniversary celebration of the Friendship Fire Company, featuring a display of over 15 antique firefighting apparatus at the Friendship Firehouse Museum on September 14. This event is sponsored by the Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association and the Office of Historic Alexandria.

On September 21, car enthusiasts can visit a classic car show at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum. This event will showcase "orphan" vehicles from manufacturers like Packard and Hudson, with support from Packards Virginia and the Office of Historic Alexandria.

History buffs have several opportunities to explore Civil War-era Alexandria through walking tours offered by Lee-Fendall House on September 7. These tours cover military occupation, hospital conversions, and emancipation stories during that period.

Additionally, on September 8, Michael Johnson will present his research on Frederick Douglass Memorial Cemetery at the Alexandria Black History Museum. The presentation is part of Preservation Virginia's Voices Remembered initiative.

Other events include a candlelight vigil at Freedmen’s Cemetery on September 7, commemorating African Americans who sought refuge in Alexandria during the Civil War. A garden party celebrating Paris' liberation anniversary will take place at Lloyd House on September 14.

For those interested in archaeology, an event titled "Archaeology through the Ages" will be held at the Alexandria Archaeology Museum on September 13. It marks five decades of community archaeology in collaboration with Dr. Pam Cressey and coincides with Torpedo Factory Art Center's anniversary celebration.

A documentary screening hosted by the Alexandria Community Remembrance Project is scheduled for September 21 at George Washington National Masonic Memorial. The film explores slavery in Alexandria until post-Civil War racial terror incidents.

These events are part of a broader effort by Historic Alexandria to engage residents and visitors with its past while supporting ongoing preservation efforts through donations and grants.