Freedom House | ALXnow

Proposals to limit ICE activity and more Alexandria-supported bills advance in General Assembly

Published February 11, 2026 at 2:30PM

Wendy Ginsberg, the City of Alexandria's legislative director, provided a mid-session General Assembly update to City Council (via City of Alexandria)

As the General Assembly reaches mid-session, the City of Alexandria is supporting nearly 400 proposed bills, including restrictions on immigration enforcement.

Wendy Ginsberg, the city’s legislative director, provided a mid-session General Assembly update to City Council yesterday (Tuesday). According to Ginsberg, city staff have reviewed 584 bills for potential impacts to the city. During the presentation, Councilman Abdel Elnoubi requested an update on the immigration enforcement-related bills, which Ginsberg said are continuing to make progress.

Around Town

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.

Around Town

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.

News

Alexandria lecture explores harrowing story of woman who killed her children rather than have them sold into slavery

By Vernon Miles

Published April 10, 2024 at 10:45AM

1315 Duke Street after March 1863 by Andrew Russell (or Mathew Brady), image via City of Alexandria

Dorcas Allen faced an impossible choice.

In 1837, Allen was sold, along with her four children, to a slave trader and sent to a pen on Duke Street — where the Freedom Museum stands today.

News

Temporary exhibit at Freedom House Museum details life of enslaved child at D.C.’s Gonzaga High School

By James Cullum

Published December 29, 2023 at 1:30PM

Searching for Truth in the Garden from Gonzaga High School in D.C. is a new traveling exhibition at Freedom House Museum until April 15, 2023 (via City of Alexandria)

A new temporary exhibit at Freedom House Museum until April documents the life of a teenager enslaved at Washington Seminary in D.C.

“Searching for Truth in the Garden” reveals a story of Gabriel, a 13-year-old boy who was enslaved at the school — later renamed Gonzaga College High School — in 1829.

News

Freedom House restoration project raises eyebrows with possible ‘Dealers in Slaves’ sign

By Vernon Miles

Published November 16, 2023 at 3:50PM

Freedom House Museum before renovations (left) and the building in 1863 (right) (image via City of Alexandria)

While the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) is going into excruciating detail to restore the Freedom House museum‘s exterior to its pre-Civil War appearance, city leaders are unsure if a sign advertising the sale of slaves might take that too far.

Today, the Freedom House Museum is a city-owned museum dedicated to telling the stories of the Black men, women and children trafficked through the building between 1828 and 1861.

News

Alexandria wants Freedom House Museum exterior to resemble slave pen origin

By James Cullum

Published November 8, 2023 at 2:30PM | Updated November 16, 2023 at 2:30PM

1315 Duke Street after March 1863 by Andrew Russell (or Mathew Brady), image via City of Alexandria

Freedom House Museum in Old Town is looking to replicate how its property looked in the mid-19th century, when it was the headquarters of the largest slave-trading operation in the United States.

The proposed project at 1315 Duke Street would restore portions of the museum building exterior to how it looked between 1828 and 1861. After being deferred over the summer, it goes back to the city’s Board of Architectural Review next Wednesday, Nov. 15.

News

National Park Service grant will boost Freedom House restoration plans

By Vernon Miles

Published December 20, 2022 at 9:50AM

Freedom House Museum, 1315 Duke Street (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

A grant from the National Park Service (NPS) will help close the funding gap needed to restore Alexandria’s new Freedom House Museum.

Once a major hub for the slave trade, 1315 Duke Street reopened in May as a museum dedicated to telling the stories of those trafficked through the building. While the exhibits are open to the public, there is still significant work needed to be done to preserve the building.

News

Alexandria seeking public input on next steps for the Freedom House Museum

By Vernon Miles

Published December 13, 2022 at 9:45AM | Updated December 14, 2022 at 9:52AM

Freedom House Museum (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Within what was once a major hub for the trafficking of enslaved people, the building reopened as the new Freedom House Museum earlier this year. Now, the City of Alexandria is opening up next steps for the property to public discussion.

The Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) is working on a master plan for the site, weighing options for everything from a name change and exhibit specifications to a discussion of the museum’s overall mission.

News

Here’s how to celebrate Juneteenth in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 16, 2022 at 3:30PM

The Contrabands and Freedmens Cemetery Memorial at 1001 S. Washington Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

For Alexandria, Juneteenth is a day for rejoicing and reflection.

June 19 recognizes the emancipation of slaves in the United States, and the country’s second Independence Day is now a federal holiday. All City government offices will be closed on Monday (June 21) in observance of Juneteenth.

News

Arts events, historical tours and more scheduled for Alexandria Juneteenth celebrations

By Vernon Miles

Published June 1, 2022 at 3:45PM

Freedom House Museum, 1315 Duke Street (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Along with the grand opening for the Freedom House Museum, there are a whole host of events scheduled around Alexandria later this month to recognize Juneteenth.

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.