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Explore Alexandria's Black History and Culture

A bronze statue of two women standing side by side, holding hands, with a large rock behind them. Trees and a building covered with ivy are visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
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From a self-taught mathematician who mapped out the nation’s capital to abolitionist sisters who partnered with Frederick Douglass to the first Black athlete to play in the NBA, African American changemakers have shaped the history of Alexandria, VA, and the United States. Minutes from D.C. and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Alexandria offers tours, markers and more to lead you through sites and stories both harrowing and hopeful. Start exploring Alexandria’s Black history and cultural experiences for a better understanding of today.

Enjoy discounts on Alexandria’s museums and more regional attractions with the Key to the City Attractions Pass.

Essential Black History Experiences

Courageous Journey: Alexandria's Black History Driving Tour

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.

Waterfront Heritage Trails

A white lighthouse with a small tower sits beside a calm body of water, surrounded by green bushes, trees, and rocks under a cloudy sky at sunset.

Black History Museum

A museum exhibit on African American history features informational panels, framed photos on white walls, and overhead lights illuminating the displays in a modern gallery space.

8 Must-Do Black History Experiences in Alexandria

Silhouette of the Freedman’s Cemetery monument at sunset, with vibrant pink and orange clouds in the sky. The arched sign and statue are framed by fencing and pillars, with the word Cemetery visible.

Manumission Tour Company

A group of people stands in a semi-circle around a historical statue outdoors, listening to a man in a white shirt speaking. The setting is sunny with greenery and a building in the background.

Duke Street Black History Trail

Jones-Point At Dusk
National Historic Landmark

Freedom House Museum

Two women stand and talk outside the brick Freedom House Museum on a sunny day, with trees, a potted plant, and a museum sign visible along the brick sidewalk.

The museum features three exhibitions showcasing Alexandria’s Black history and the Black experience in America. Learn about the experiences of the enslaved and free Black people who lived in—and were trafficked through—Alexandria, plus stories from the Civil Rights Movement and more.

Note: Freedom House Museum is under renovation in 2025. Check website for hours.

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Discover Black-Owned Businesses

Visit These Black-Owned Businesses in Alexandria

A smiling woman sits cross-legged on a yoga mat in a bright studio, hands in prayer position, surrounded by crystal singing bowls. A plant, cushions, and a sign reading PIES Fitness Yoga Studio are in the background.

Black-Owned Restaurants

A live band performs in a colorful, lively restaurant as three people sit at a table in the foreground, smiling and enjoying food and drinks together. The atmosphere is cheerful and festive.

Historical Sites & Attractions

A white helmet hangs on a wall above a large African American Hall of Fame display, surrounded by framed photos, posters, and memorabilia.

African American Hall of Fame

The African American Hall of Fame is a visually-stimulating account of the movers and shakers who made Alexandria the city...
Charles Houston Recreation Center 901 Wythe Street Alexandria, Virginia
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Several people gather in a circular stone plaza with tall, abstract metal sculptures resembling trees, surrounded by lush greenery and trees under a partly cloudy sky.

Alexandria African-American Heritage Park

“Truths that Rise from the Roots Remembered” is the name of the bronze tree sculpture here that honors the contributions...
Holland Lane between Duke St. & Eisenhower Ave. Alexandria, Virginia
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Glass-walled entry to the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, with exhibits and displays visible inside. A tall sign with the museum’s name stands at the entrance, and directional signs hang from the ceiling above.

Alexandria Archaeology Museum

Step right into the museum’s laboratory where archaeologists reconstruct Alexandria’s history, fragment by fragment. The museum’s exhibits highlight the process...
105 N. Union Street, Torpedo Factory Art Center Third Floor, #327 Alexandria, Virginia
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A red brick building with white columns at the entrance, displaying a banner above the door. A sign on the right reads “Alexandria Black History Museum.” Shrubs line the walkway to the entrance.

Alexandria Black History Museum

Originally the segregated library for Alexandria’s African American residents, the museum documents the local and national history, culture and contributions...
902 Wythe Street Alexandria, Virginia
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Rows of white headstones fill a cemetery enclosed by a white picket fence, with trees and a distant building visible in the background under an overcast sky.

Alexandria National Cemetery

One of 12 sites created and dedicated by President Lincoln in 1862 to serve as military burial grounds. The cemetery...
1450 Wilkes Street Alexandria, Virginia
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A red brick church with a large stained glass window above double doors, an orange awning, and a historical marker reading “Beulah Baptist Church” in front. Cars are parked to the left, and a tree shades part of the building.

Beulah Baptist Church

African Americans escaping slavery found refuge in Alexandria after Union troops occupied the city in 1861. The Rev. Clement “Clem”...
320 S. Washington Street Alexandria, Virginia
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Three people walk on a brick path toward a historic two-story stone house with chimneys, framed by open black iron gates, under a blue sky.

Carlyle House

Nine enslaved African-Americans lived and worked at Carlyle House in 1780. Their names were Jerry, Joe, Cook, Penny, Charles, Sibreia,...
121 N. Fairfax Street Alexandria, Virginia
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A large outdoor bronze sculpture of soldiers in action stands next to a stone memorial structure on a grassy area, with a red tiled walkway leading to both. Trees and buildings are visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial

Between 1864 and 1869, the Contrabands and Freedmen’s Cemetery served as the burial place for about 1,800 African Americans who...
1001 S. Washington Street Alexandria, Virginia
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Dive Deeper

Learn more about the Underground Railroad’s connection to Alexandria with Manumission Tour Co. and Travel + Leisure, or learn about Juneteenth with Alexandria’s Black History Museum Director.

 

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Things To Do

Couple Biking Down King Street In Alexandria, VA

Plan

Two women stroll and enjoy sweets outside “Pop’s Ice Cream Company” on a sunny brick-lined street, while two people exit the shop and others relax on benches nearby. Trees and a river can be seen in the background.

Alexandria Tours

A group of five people walk through a brick gate with a tour guide in a white shirt at the entrance of Carlyle House, surrounded by trees and historical signage.

Old Town Alexandria

A man in green clothing smiles while walking past outdoor diners seated under red umbrellas at O’Connell’s Bar & Restaurant, with lush plants surrounding the patio area.

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