Press Release

VOLUNTEERS WANTED: Give Tours at Alexandria’s Historic Gadsby’s Tavern

Exterior of Gadsby's Tavern Museum
Photo courtesy City of Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA-Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, part of the Office of Historic Alexandria, is recruiting volunteers to lead guided tours. Guided tours use the historic tavern spaces to share the stories of diverse people in early America who both shaped and were shaped by the young nation. Training begins January 6 from 9 – 11:30 a.m. with an in-person orientation, continues with virtual evening classes, and wraps-up with a second in-person workshop in late February/early March. Participants will end the series ready to complete their tour certification.

Volunteers with both weekend and weekday availability are needed. A minimum of one shift per month (approximately three hours) is required once training is complete. To apply, please submit an application online at AlexandriaVa.gov/GadsbysTavern. A staff member will follow up with more details about the program.

About Gadsby’s Tavern Museum

As America began as a nation during the late 18th century and emerged in the 19th century, Gadsby’s Tavern was the center of social and political life in Alexandria as well as the new Federal City of Washington. The tavern served as the premier gathering place for residents – including George Washington – and visitors to eat, drink, learn, and influence history. Tavern keepers John Wise and John Gadsby hosted balls, performances, and meetings, and their accommodations were known as the best by travelers near and far. Gadsby’s Tavern Museum is located at 134 North Royal Street in the heart of Old Town Alexandria and is owned and operated by the City of Alexandria. For more information, please call 703.746.4242 or visit www.gadsbystavern.org.

About the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA)

The Office of Historic Alexandria preserves and shares the past to enrich the present and inspire the future. OHA shares these stories through museums and landscapes as well as tours, exhibitions, and a variety of public programs. Museums include the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, Alexandria Black History Museum, Alexandria’s History Museum at the Lyceum, Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site, Freedom House Museum, Friendship Firehouse Museum, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum. Additional spaces including the African American Heritage Park, Archives and Records Center, Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery, Murray-Dick-Fawcett House, Lloyd House, and Union Station collectively tell the story of the City. Urban archaeology also plays an active role in uncovering and interpreting Alexandria’s history, recovering artifacts before they are lost to construction. OHA enhances the quality of life for City residents and visitors and is a partner in the City’s equity and inclusion initiatives. For more information about the Office of Historic Alexandria, visit alexandriava.gov/Historic. [SEE AlSO: Get Ready! Alexandria Restaurant Week Returns Jan. 19-28, 2024]

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