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Museums in Alexandria, VA

A family with a young boy uses a mortar and pestle at a counter while a smiling museum staff member watches. Shelves of jars line the background in a historical-looking Harry Potter apothecary.

A family with a young boy uses a mortar and pestle at a counter while a smiling museum staff member watches. Shelves of jars line the background in a historical-looking Harry Potter apothecary.

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Several sites around Alexandria work to weave the rich tapestry of the city’s history from the 18th-century to the present, like the Carlyle House, once home to Alexandria co-founder John Carlyle, and the Alexandria Black History Museum, which details the city’s strong African-American leaders from the Civil War to civil rights and beyond. With George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate just a bike ride away, beautifully preserved historic sites like Gadsby’s Tavern Museum and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum in the heart of Old Town interpret Alexandria’s incredible role as the first president’s hometown. These gems are part of the Office of Historic Alexandria’s museum system, one of only a handful of municipal organizations across the nation accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

Museums

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

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

A museum exhibit about the Civil War features historical photos, documents, and maps on blue display boards, with a glass case in front containing artifacts including a rifle and papers.

Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum

The 1839 Greek Revival building serves as the City’s history museum. An ongoing exhibition tells the story of Alexandria, once...

201 S. Washington Street Alexandria, Virginia

A museum exhibit with blue display panels featuring Civil War-era photos, maps, and text. A glass case in front holds artifacts including documents and a rifle. The exhibit is titled An Occupied City: The Civil War Years.

Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum

The 1839 Greek Revival building serves as the City’s history museum. An ongoing exhibition tells the story of Alexandria, once...

201 S. Washington Street Alexandria, Virginia

A formal dining room with gray paneled walls, a large mirror, and tall windows. A table set for a meal with white tablecloth, candles, and a cake is surrounded by wooden chairs on a red patterned carpet.

Carlyle House

Shop at Carlyle House during Sidewalk Sale for 50% off select items from the museum shop, plus one of a...

121 N. Fairfax Street Alexandria, Virginia

Elegant dining room with a long table set for a meal, white tablecloth, candles, and a cake; wooden chairs surround the table. Large windows, framed art, and a gold mirror decorate the gray paneled walls.

Carlyle House

A Georgian manor house built in 1753 by merchant and city founder John Carlyle. Here, five royal governors and General Braddock...

121 N. Fairfax Street Alexandria, Virginia

A white arched gate with open doors reads Fort Ward and 1865, surrounded by trees and sunlight, leading to a path inside a park-like area.

Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site

Fort Ward is the best preserved of the extensive network of Union forts and batteries known as the Civil War...

4301 W. Braddock Road Alexandria, Virginia

A museum exhibit room displays panels, a fireplace, and a map on the floor detailing the Franklin & Armfield slave trade network, with historical information and images about slavery in the U.S.

Freedom House Museum

Freedom House Museum at 1315 Duke Street reopened in spring 2022 with three new exhibitions showcasing Alexandria’s Black history and...

1315 Duke Street Alexandria, Virginia

Historic red-brick firehouse with “1774” above the arched garage door, located on a tree-lined street with parked cars and neighboring storefronts on a cloudy day.

Friendship Firehouse Museum

Established in 1774, the Friendship Fire Company built its historic firehouse in 1855. Friendship survived the Civil War but some...

107 S. Alfred Street Alexandria, Virginia

Spacious, empty room with light wood floors, pale blue trim, red curtains, a chandelier, a fireplace, two wooden benches, a wardrobe, and an upper balcony with a railing.

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum

Discover Alexandria’s five-star hotel of the 18th century! The Museum consists of the c. 1785 tavern and the 1792 City...

134 N. Royal Street Alexandria, Virginia

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A brick mausoleum with arched entrance, flanked by two tall stone pillars and black iron fencing; American and blue flags stand outside, with trees and a partly cloudy sky in the background.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

George Washington’s Mount Vernon is the riverside home of our nation’s first president, George Washington. The estate includes a Mansion,...

3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Mount Vernon, VA 22121

A symmetrical, red-brick colonial-style house with white trim, dormer windows, and two large chimneys, set against a blue sky with scattered clouds and surrounded by green grass and trees.

Gunston Hall

The 1755 Georgian-style mansion was the home of George Mason, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights and a framer...

10709 Gunston Road Lorton, VA 22079-3901

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Historic Attractions and Museums

Carlyle House

Things To Do

Couple Biking Down King Street In Alexandria, VA

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.

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