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Commemorate America's 250th Birthday in Alexandria, VA

A split image showing fireworks over water at night, a couple walking toward a historic mansion, and a docked tall ship with an American flag near a waterfront park during the day.
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Just minutes from Washington, D.C. on the Potomac River waterfront, historic Alexandria, Virginia, welcomes families, friends and history-lovers to stay in and explore the city and the region to commemorate America’s 250th birthday.

250th experiences begin in 2025 and culminate with major events in the summer of 2026. Enjoy special events, tours, exhibits, public art, lectures, music, family activities and more. From June 12-14, 2026, Alexandria will host iconic tall ships during Sails on the Potomac as a Sail Virginia℠ 2026 Affiliate Harbor and will feature a weekend packed with activities. Extend your stay and easily connect to the experiences in Washington, D.C., and George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

Alexandria has played a major role in the nation’s story and reflects its progress toward inclusivity. Find intimate historic museums, trace George Washington and the Founding Fathers’ footsteps and follow the stories of Black Americans who shaped the history of Alexandria and the United States. Museums and organizations across Alexandria tell this story year-round.

Join us as we commemorate America’s story in Alexandria.

America 250 Events in Alexandria

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DATES:
09/10/2025AND12/31/2026
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A smiling family of five—two adults and three children—walk together on the grass in front of a large historic building (George Washington's Mount Vernon) with red roof, white walls, and a cupola under a blue sky with clouds.

America 250 at George Washington's Mount Vernon

Experience history where it happened at the first president’s estate. Walk through Patriots Path—a Revolutionary War encampment—and chat with the soldiers to learn about life as an 18th-century soldier. Experience new historical character engagements on the bowling green. In spring 2026, Mount Vernon will unveil a revitalized George Washington exhibit. This updated space will focus on why Washington matters today and how the decisions he made in his lifetime continue to impact us in the 21st century. 

The Carlyle House in Old Town Alexandria.

Revolutionary War Tour with Alexandria History Tours

This professionally guided walking tour from Alexandria History Tours takes you through the city’s Revolutionary War history. Discover Alexandria’s central role on the road to American Independence, and learn about key places and events, as you visit sites like Carlyle House, Captain’s Row, Christ Church and more.

"Time and Place" Public Art Project

For Time and Place 2026, an exhibit of temporary public art that explores an aspect of the city’s history, the City of Alexandria’s Public Art Program has commissioned artist Sandy Williams IV to create a visually compelling installation—on view from May through November 2026 in the courtyard of the Alexandria Circuit Court at 520 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314—that invites visitors to reflect on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the relevance of its ideas today and in the future. 

A large wooden sailing ship with tall masts and rigging is docked by the water, with several people standing on its deck. Trees and a pier are visible in the background.

Things to Do in Alexandria

George Washington Birthday Parade

A man in historical attire rides in a decorated horse-drawn carriage, waving to a crowd. Spectators in winter clothing line the street, watching and taking photos. The scene appears festive, with patriotic bunting and flowers.

Sails on the Potomac: Alexandria Commemorates America’s 250th

A historic tall ship with sails furled is docked on a calm river, surrounded by trees and buildings under a partly cloudy sky.

Historic Attractions and Museums

Carlyle House

Black History & Culture

A bronze statue of two women in 19th-century clothing stands hand in hand, set outdoors with greenery, a modern building, and a blue sky with clouds in the background.

Key To The City

Interior of Freedom House Museum in Alexandria, VA.

Architecture in Alexandria

A collage shows: a man walking on a brick sidewalk by colorful historic row houses, a tall stone tower with a spire against a blue sky, and a small modernist home surrounded by trees and grass.

Top 18 Things to Do in Old Town Alexandria

A person walks past three colorful row houses—white, blue, and red—on a tree-lined street with a sidewalk and utility pole in the foreground.

Virginia 250 Passport

A family takes a selfie with their Virginia 250 passport in front of a historic site.

Available free of charge at the Alexandria Visitors Center, the Virginia 250 Passport is a commemorative booklet 70 historic sites across the state. It also includes discounts at select sites and opportunities to win prizes!

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City of Alexandria

Two women smiling, one giving the other a piggyback ride in a sunny brick courtyard, with large American flags and a historic brick building in the background.

George Washington's Mount Vernon

A wide-angle view of a historic mansion with white walls, green shutters, and a red roof, surrounded by green lawn, a gravel path, and a colonnade, seen at sunrise or sunset.

VA250

A family of four takes a selfie with a man in historical costume outside a colonial-style building on a sunny day, standing on a green lawn with a wooden hoop on the ground.

Visit Washington, D.C.

A family of four walks in front of the Lincoln Memorial on a sunny day, with other visitors on the steps and around the monument. The sky is partly cloudy.

Historical Tours

Step back in time on a guided tour to explore Alexandria’s past, from the mid-1700s to today.

Alexandria History Tours: Revolutionary War, George Washington and More

Gravestone Stories

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Alexandria Colonial Tours

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Unscripted Tours

A tree-lined sidewalk with American flags hanging from colorful row houses. A pale yellow door numbered 425 is visible, along with flower boxes, brick sidewalks, and parked cars under leafy green trees.

Manumission Tour Company

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"Remember the Titans" in Alexandria

America. Made in Virginia.

Upcoming History Events in Alexandria

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DATES:
02/03/2026AND03/03/2026
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Plan Your Visit

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Getting To & Around Alexandria

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Press

250 Story Ideas

A fireworks display over the water in Old Town Alexandria.

Press Room

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Alexandria Press Releases

People walk and shop at an outdoor street market with vendor tents, tables, trees, and brick buildings lining both sides of the street on a sunny day. A man plays a xylophone in the foreground.

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