Alexandria Celebrates Historic Preservation Month in May
ALEXANDRIA, VA – In May, the City of Alexandria joins cities around the country in celebrating National Historic Preservation Month by hosting events that highlight local historic preservation initiatives. A longstanding leader in the field of historic preservation, Alexandria has the country’s third oldest historic district, established in 1946, and formed the country’s first archaeological commission in the 1960s.
Historic Preservation Month was created in 1973 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a time for communities across the country to celebrate preservation. Historic Preservation Month events promote historic places, promote heritage tourism, and show the economic benefits of historic preservation, while instilling national and community pride.
Learn about Alexandria’s deep history and rich heritage–hear expert panels, learn about hands- on preservation practices, tour rarely seen historic spaces, or raise a glass with friends and fellow preservationists at a post-tour happy hour.
Some of the events included this month are:
Thursday. May 2, 5-7 p.m.
House Tour and Happy Hour
Murray-Dick-Fawcett House, 517 Prince Street.
$10; Cash bar. Register at The Alexandria Shop.
Thursday, May 9, 6:30 p.m.
Archaeology After Dark: Fort Delaware and the Alexandria
Veterans Curation Program with VCP Lab manager Kevin Bradley, Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
$12/$10 for Museum and Friends Group Members. Register at The Alexandria Shop
Thursday, May 16, 7 p.m.
What Happened in that House on Duke Street: The Story of the Men Who Transformed the Domestic Slave Trade
Lecture by Joshua Rothman, University of Alabama
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
$10. Register at The Alexandria Shop
Thursday, May 23, 7 p.m.
Why Old Places Matter
Lecture and Book Signing: by Tom Mayes, National Trust for Historic Preservation
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
$10. Register at The Alexandria Shop
Every Saturday in May, 10-11 a.m.
Peeling Back the Layers: Architecture and Preservation
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal Street
$15. Register at The Alexandria Shop
Every Saturday in May, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Pillars to Pavers: Preservation in Alexandria
Walking tours: explore spaces not normally open to the public at Carlyle House, Lee-Fendall House, and two guest sites.
Co-sponsored by Lee-Fendall House and Carlyle House.
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco Street
Park, $35. Register at eventbrite.com.
For event information and to register, as some events have limited space and fees vary, visit the Historic Preservation Month page. For more information about Historic Alexandria, visit alexandriava.gov/Historic.
