Black History | ALXnow

New Freedom House Museum exhibit explores legacy of freed man who enslaved family

Published October 22, 2026 at 11:45AM

Freedom House Museum (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

A traveling exhibit opening today (Oct. 22) at Alexandria’s Freedom House Museum (1315 Duke Street) examines American slavery through the complex life and legacy of one man who experienced both sides of that system.

On view until Dec. 31, “Monday Robinson: A Life of Thorns and Roses” was created by the Belle Grove Plantation in Middletown, where it made its debut in September. The exhibit is visiting museums and libraries in communities where its subject or his family lived, including Alexandria.

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Virginia budget provides $1M to rehabilitate Alexandria’s historic Freedom House Museum

By Emily Leayman

Published July 1, 2026 at 9:15AM

Freedom House Museum (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Alexandria’s Freedom House Museum has received $1 million in Virginia’s approved two-year budget to support its continued renovations.

The $1 million in state funding provided in the 2027 fiscal year and matching city funds through the Office of Historic Alexandria will support interior rehabilitation and accessibility improvements at 1315 Duke Street. Historic Alexandria director Gretchen M. Bulova told ALXnow the upgrades will provide public access to the basement where enslaved men were held when it was home to one of the country’s largest slave trading companies.

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Juneteenth, Pride, World Cup events lead Alexandria’s June 19-21 weekend happenings

By Emily Leayman

Published June 19, 2026 at 9:15AM

Gustave Boulangerie & Brasserie will host a World Cup viewing party with the Alexandria Soccer Association (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Alexandria will get a long holiday weekend packed with Juneteenth festivities, Father’s Day events, Pride Month celebrations and summer solstice events.

As some workers get a day off for the federal Juneteenth holiday, Alexandria will host events like the Juneteenth Festival at Charles Houston Recreation Center, Washington Revels Jubilee Voices Juneteenth Concert at Shiloh Baptist Church and Memorial at Douglass Cemetery.

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New children’s book tells story of Alexandria’s 1939 library sit-in

By Katie Taranto

Published March 11, 2026 at 2:45PM

Audrey Davis, Director of the African American History division of the Office of Historic Alexandria, speaks at the "Fight for the Right to Read" family program in February 2026 (courtesy of the Office of Historic Alexandria)

A new children’s book is highlighting the historic work of Samuel Wilbert Tucker, an attorney from Alexandria who pioneered one of the first library sit-ins against Jim Crow segregation.

“Fight for the Right to Read” tells the story of the Alexandria Library sit-in as Tucker, at age 26, led a group of five young Black men to enter the whites-only Alexandria Library on Aug. 21, 1939. Co-authors Jeff Gottesfeld, Michelle Y. Green and illustrator Kim Holt came to the Alexandria recently to discuss the September release and sign copies during Black History Month.

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Shiloh Baptist Church receives $360K grant to preserve historic sanctuary

By Emily Leayman

Published March 2, 2026 at 3:45PM

Shiloh Baptist Church (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s Shiloh Baptist Church is among more than 30 historically Black churches to receive a new grant aimed at preserving and restoring their buildings.

The church at 1401 Jamieson Avenue has received $360,000 from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund as part of its Preserving Black Churches grant program. Recipients were announced last week.

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African American History Division director discusses ways to explore Alexandria’s vast history

By ALXnow.com

Published February 20, 2026 at 3:30PM

Alexandria Black History Museum (image via City of Alexandria)

Audrey Davis, the first director of the African American History Division in the Office of Historic Alexandria, is at the forefront of preserving and showcasing the city’s Black history.

Black History Month has brought music, historical discussions and exhibits, displays of student art and so much more to Alexandria this month, commemorating a vast history spanning hundreds of years, from the 18th century to the Civil Rights Movement and present day.

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Alexandria celebrating 100 years of Black History Month with music, exhibits and more

By Emily Leayman

Published February 3, 2026 at 1:15PM | Updated February 3, 2026 at 4:30PM

The Washington Revels perform "The Courage to Be" at the Alexandria Lyceum for Black History Month 2025 (via Washington Revels/Facebook)

Various events will honor Black history in Alexandria as this February marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month being nationally observed.

Founded in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson, Black History Month is an observance to preserve and honor Black history as a month-long celebration. Alexandria has its own rich Black and African American history, dating back to 18th century free Black communities to the 19th century slave trading operations and Civil War, to the 1939 library sit-in protest and 2020 protests after George Floyd’s death.

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Alexandria will begin Black History Month with annual student poster exhibition

By Katie Taranto

Published January 30, 2026 at 3:45PM

Students' posters in the 2024 Martin Luther King, Jr. Poster Exhibition (via City of Alexandria/Facebook)

Black History Month starts this Sunday, and in Alexandria, it will be celebrated with the city’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Poster Exhibition.

More than 130 student posters inspired by the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. will go on display at the Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street), starting Sunday during an awards ceremony from 1-3 p.m. The event has showcased posters by students in grades 2-5 at Alexandria City Public Schools for over 30 years.

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Alexandria ceremony honoring MLK Jr. rebukes political violence and racism

By Katie Taranto

Published January 16, 2026 at 11:15AM

Attendees at the 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Program 2026 (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Alexandria honored the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with song, dance and poetry, as well as a thorough rebuke of political violence and societal divisions under the Trump administration last night (Thursday).

The 53rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Program began with an impassioned invocation from the Rev. Quardricos Bernard Driskell of Beulah Baptist Church, who said King is remembered as “a prophet who named America’s sins and paid his life for it.” Driskell denounced current approaches to immigration enforcement, military spending and “taking over sovereign nations for profit, power and greed.”

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History tours, concerts and more coming to Alexandria this winter for America’s 250th anniversary

By James Cullum

Published January 5, 2026 at 2:45PM

The 1st Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line cries 'Huzzah!' at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 19, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

From historical tours and adult field trips to trivia nights, several events coming to Alexandria this winter will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The various roles Alexandria played in the forging of the U.S. will be told in events across the city. The events are compiled in a list by the American Revolution 250 Commission, or VA250, which was established by the General Assembly in 2020.

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City leaders mourn death of beloved Alexandria historian McArthur Myers

By James Cullum

Published December 4, 2025 at 3:30PM

McArthur Myers in front of Universal Lodge No. 1 on Oxford Avenue (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria historian McArthur Myers died today after a long illness. He was 73.

City leaders remember “Mac” Myers as a kind man with an endless supply of stories who was motivated to keep Alexandria informed of its frequently troubled past. A lifetime resident and Living Legend, Myers was integral in erecting historical signage in and around Alexandria, including markers along the African American Heritage Waterfront Trail.