Central Nova News

The city of Alexandria is set to commemorate its rich history with a series of events this May. One highlight is the celebration of 250 years of the Friendship Fire Company, taking place on Saturday, May 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the Friendship Firehouse Museum at 107 South Alfred Street. The event will feature a display of antique firefighting apparatus, including suction fire engines and hose reel carriages from the 19th century.

"The Friendship, Sun, Relief, Hydraulion, and Star volunteer fire companies served the community faithfully," notes the announcement regarding these historic organizations' role during significant fires in Alexandria's past.

Additionally, Nicholas Redding, President and CEO of Preservation Maryland, will present a lecture on Wednesday, May 22 at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum. His talk will focus on efforts to preserve key resources and promote affordable communities through historic trades.

For those interested in local history tours, several are available throughout May. These include walking tours highlighting lost buildings in Alexandria's Berg and Parker-Gray neighborhoods every Saturday morning and specialized tours at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum exploring its architectural layers.

A plaque dedication ceremony honoring Alexandrians who died in the Vietnam War is scheduled for Memorial Day at Alexandria Union Station. This event is organized by VFW Post 609 and American Legion Post 24 alongside the Office of Historic Alexandria.

As part of National Preservation Month celebrations, various museums across Alexandria offer free or discounted admission to residents. More information about these events can be found on their respective websites or by contacting museum representatives directly.