This Week in Historic Alexandria - April 22, 2024

What's New

Spring2Action - Moss Kendrix

April 24

Join us at the Historic Alexandria Spring2ACTion Party from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Lloyd House (220 N. Washington Street). We are raising necessary funds for "What the Public Thinks Counts: Reframing the Black Image," an exhibition showcasing the life and work of Moss Kendrix, and we need your support! Enjoy a great evening with refreshments and music. Your donation is your admission. Visit www.spring2action.org.

Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum in April WETA Arts!

The Lyceum will be in the April episode of WETA Arts, which features a day in the life of Felicia Curry as she prepared to perform in a cabaret tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. with internationally renowned baritone Aaron Reeder. Some of the filming for this "day in the life of" feature took place at the Lyceum where Felicia performed for Metrostage. Stream full episodes on the free PBS App and on weta.org; see video segments on YouTube (@wetapbs).

Upcoming Events

View the Historic Alexandria Calendar

Joseph McCoy Remembrance Event
Penny Hill Cemetery, 700 block of S. Payne Street
Tuesday, April 23
5 p.m.
Free

The 2024 Joseph McCoy Remembrance event will be held April 23 at Penny Hill Cemetery on the 700 block of S. Payne Street. Joseph McCoy was lynched on April 23, 1897. Join us for a wreath laying and remarks during this powerful ceremony at the burial site for Mr. McCoy. Parking available on S. Payne Street and at Nannie J. Lee Center.

Community Cookout:

Ewald Park, 4452 Duke Street
Tuesday, April 23 6- 7:30 p.m.
Free

Join us for a series of Community Cookouts in 2024! A great time for neighbors and families to come together and connect with community resources. There will be free food, face painting and activities, games for the kids and giveaways. For more information, email Michael Johnson or call 703.898.5115; or email Officer Bennie Evans or call 703.627.0728

Book Signing: Hip Hop@50
Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
Saturday, April 27
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Free

Join Alexandria Community Remembrance Project Steering Committee Member Michael Johnson and others as they celebrate the launch of Hip Hop @ 50. Howard University held a two-day conference with scholars, artists, and media icons of Hip Hop in October 2023. The book features many of the symposium's essays that examine Hip Hop's impact from 1973 to today, including a chapter by ACRP's Johnson. Dr. Elizabeth Clark Lewis edited the book that other Alexandria residents are featured including, Cathay Driver, A. Edna Santiago and Stephanie Johnson. Books will be available for purchase at the event. For further information call 703.746.4356.

Historic Cemetery Tour
Saturday, April 27 1 p.m.
Tickets are $20 per person and must be purchased in advance on Lee-Fendall's Eventbrite page: leefendallhouse.eventbrite.com

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 landmark Lee-Fendall House. This exclusive tour offers a rare opportunity to visit gravesites not typically covered elsewhere, unveiling 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. All proceeds from the tour will directly benefit the preservation and maintenance of the Lee-Fendall House.

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

Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee Spring Jazz Fête
Lloyd House, 220 North Washington Street
Saturday, May 4
4-7 p.m.
$55 / $22 for ages 17 & under
Tickets available online.

Join the Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee in the Lloyd House Garden for a spectacular afternoon celebrating the rich cultural exchange between France & America through the universal language of jazz! Dance to a live Jazz Band and immerse yourself in the world of jazz with Smithsonian lecturer Paul Glenshaw, co-director of the upcoming documentary "Jazz in Paris." Indulge in exquisite French crêpes paired with sparkling wines and ciders from our "Crêpes and Bubbles Bar." Scavenger hunt, games and an auction to benefit Alexandria - Caen Exchange Students. Tickets are $55 / $22 for children 17 and under.

La Musique de la Garde Nationale Parisienne
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St.
Tuesday, May 7
7-9 p.m.
$20 per person
Tickets available online.

Enjoy a lecture and concert of music from Lafayette's lifetime performed on early 19th -century instruments.

Traditional Music Series Concert
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St.
Thursday, May 9
7-9 p.m.
$25/$12 Ages 12-17 at ticketstripe.com/magillandmurray

Traditional Music Series concert, featuring Andrew Finn Magill (fiddle) & Alan Murray (vocals, bouzouki, and guitar). For twenty years violinist/fiddler and composer Andrew Finn Magill has been pursuing parallel careers in traditional Irish music, Brazilian choro, jazz and American fiddle and he has performed with everyone from grammy-nominees Trio Brasileiro to Rising Appalachia. He has been featured on PBS, NPR, TEDx and MTV-U. Guitarist, bouzouki player and singer Alan Murray hails from Glasgow, Scotland, where he grew up playing the whistle and later guitar. Eventually moving to New York City, he has established himself as an in-demand performer and teacher on the Irish music scene. He has played and toured around the world with many of the finest traditional musicians and acts today, including Niall and Cillian Vallely, Eileen Ivers, Colin Farrell, Paul Brock, Battlefield Band, and FourWinds. Doors open at 7 p.m., concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Free snacks; cash bar for beer, wine, and a specialty cocktail.

Story Time for Little Historians
Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
Saturday, May 11
10-10:45 a.m.
Free event, no registration required. Call 703-746-4356 for more information.

This FREE, fun, and educational story time is geared to children ages 5-8 years old and features stories related to Black History. The program uses books written by and about African American people and other communities of color to educate and inspire our youngest visitors. Along with the book reading, Museum Staff provides historical context and local community connections. Story time will be held in the Museum's Parker-Gray Gallery.

Lecture: Remember the First Ladies
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St.
Tuesday, May 21
7-8:30 p.m.
$15/$12 for Members and Volunteers
Tickets available online.

Please join us for a moderated program featuring Diana Carlin, Anita McBride, and Nancy Kegan Smith, co-authors of a new book, "Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America's History-Making Women." The book illustrates First Ladies' unique position to influence American society, policy, diplomacy, and life in the White House and illuminates how many of them broke barriers to make a mark on our country and, at times, the world. A book signing will follow the program.

Specialty Tour: Peeling Back the Layers
Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St.
Every Sunday in May, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
$15/OHA Members $12
Tickets available online.

Explore the 18th century buildings, including spaces rarely opened to the public. From graffiti in the attic to clues in the basement about the building's construction date, learn to "read" a building and its changes through time. Wear comfortable shoes, be prepared for stairs, and bring your camera! The tour begins in the shop of Gadsby's Tavern Museum.

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, April 27, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m.-2 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 through Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays and Mondays 1-5 p.m. The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum will be closed for preservation work April 29-May 17.

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.

This Week in Alexandria's History

More from This Day in History

On April 24, 1940, the Robert Robinson Library opened its doors to the African American community, just eight months after one of America's first "sit-in" demonstrations took place at the segregated Alexandria Library on Queen Street. The library was named after Robert H. Robinson, a former slave who became a pastor at a church on South Washington Street known today as Roberts Memorial United Methodist Church. The old Robinson Library building now houses the Alexandria Black History Museum. The present-day Barrett Branch Library, originally called Alexandria Library, was built as a public facility in 1937 but was only available to whites. In response to this inequality, young attorney Samuel Tucker prepared a select group of African American men for a deliberate act of civil disobedience. On Friday, August 21, 1939, patrons and staff at the library were shocked when several young African American men entered the building, took a seat, and began to read quietly. Police were called and the men soon found themselves charged with disorderly conduct. Tucker's defense of the men planned to legally challenge the city on the grounds that all citizens were entitled to equal access to public facilities and services. However, the city government quickly negotiated a settlement with other leaders of the city's African American community to construct a "separate but equal" library in the Parker-Gray neighborhood. Furious, Tucker refused to accept a card at the new "separate but equal" library, insisting that people of color be allowed to use any public facilities and resources paid for with their tax dollars.

Upcoming Commission and Committee Events

Commissions Supporting Historic Alexandria

• May 7 HARC Advocacy Meeting
  La Madeleine, 500 King Street
  10 a.m.-12 p.m.
• May 7 ACRP Remembrance Steering Committee
  Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
  5-6 p.m.
• May 8 Historic Restoration and Preservation Committee Meeting
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  8:15-9:30 a.m.
• May 13 Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee
  Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, Alexandria City Hall, 301 King Street
  7-8 p.m.
• May 15 Alexandria Archaeological Commission
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.
• May 20 Sister Cities Committee (SCC) Dundee and Helsingborg
  Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, Alexandria City Hall, 301 King Street
  7-9 p.m.
• May 20 George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee (GWBCC)
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.
• May 20 Public Records Advisory Commission
  Archives and Records Center, 801 S Payne Street
  7:30 p.m.
• May 21 Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
  Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
  7-9 p.m.

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