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Explore Alexandria's Black History and Culture

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From a self-taught mathematician who mapped out the nation’s capital to abolitionist sisters who partnered with Frederick Douglass to the first Black athlete to play in the NBA, African American changemakers have shaped the history of Alexandria, VA, and the United States. Minutes from D.C. and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Alexandria offers tours, markers and more to lead you through sites and stories both harrowing and hopeful. Start exploring Alexandria’s Black history and cultural experiences for a better understanding of today.

Enjoy discounts on Alexandria’s museums and more regional attractions with the Key to the City Attractions Pass.

Celebrate Black History Month

See the full calendar of events to celebrate Black History Month throughout February.

Featured Black History Month Events

February 3, 2024
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum
February 10, 2024
Fishtown sign on the river side of Founders Park
February 10 - February 17, 2024
Alexandria Black History Museum
February 18, 2024
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum

Essential Black History Experiences

Courageous Journey: Alexandria's Black History Driving Tour

Waterfront Heritage Trails

Black History Museum

8 Must-Do Black History Experiences in Alexandria

Manumission Tour Company

Duke Street Black History Trail

Jones-Point At Dusk
National Historic Landmark

Freedom House Museum

The museum features three exhibitions showcasing Alexandria’s Black history and the Black experience in America. Learn about the experiences of the enslaved and free Black people who lived in—and were trafficked through—Alexandria, plus stories from the Civil Rights Movement and more.

Discover Black-Owned Businesses

30 Black-Owned Businesses in Alexandria to Support Right Now

Black-Owned Restaurants

Historical Sites & Attractions

The African American Hall of Fame is a visually-stimulating account of the movers and shakers who made Alexandria the city...
Charles Houston Recreation Center 901 Wythe Street Alexandria, Virginia
“Truths that Rise from the Roots Remembered” is the name of the bronze tree sculpture here that honors the contributions...
Holland Lane between Duke St. & Eisenhower Ave. Alexandria, Virginia
Step right into the museum’s laboratory where archaeologists reconstruct Alexandria’s history, fragment by fragment. The museum’s exhibits highlight the process...
105 N. Union Street, Torpedo Factory Art Center Third Floor, #327 Alexandria, Virginia
Originally the segregated library for Alexandria’s African American residents, the museum documents the local and national history, culture and contributions...
902 Wythe Street Alexandria, Virginia
One of 12 sites created and dedicated by President Lincoln in 1862 to serve as military burial grounds. The cemetery...
1450 Wilkes Street Alexandria, Virginia
African Americans escaping slavery found refuge in Alexandria after Union troops occupied the city in 1861. The Rev. Clement “Clem”...
320 S. Washington Street Alexandria, Virginia
Nine enslaved African-Americans lived and worked at Carlyle House in 1780. Their names were Jerry, Joe, Cook, Penny, Charles, Sibreia,...
121 N. Fairfax Street Alexandria, Virginia
Between 1864 and 1869, the Contrabands and Freedmen’s Cemetery served as the burial place for about 1,800 African Americans who...
1001 S. Washington Street Alexandria, Virginia

Dive Deeper

Learn more about the Underground Railroad’s connection to Alexandria with Manumission Tour Co. and Travel + Leisure, or learn about Juneteenth with Alexandria’s Black History Museum Director.

 

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Things To Do

Couple Biking Down King Street In Alexandria, VA

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Old Town Alexandria

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