The museum community of Alexandria and their friends gathered at the Torpedo Factory Arts Center Saturday night to celebrate the varied history of Alexandria, to pay tribute to retiring Senator John Warner and to raise money to continue with its work of preservation, restoration and education. The gala, a first was the idea of Mayor Bill Euille and the proceeds will benefit the Alexandria Archaeology Museum; the Alexandria Archives and Records Center; the Alexandria Association; the Alexandria Black History Museum; The Athenaeum; Carlyle House Historic Park; Gadsby’s Tavern Museum; Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site; Friendship Firehouse Museum; Historic Alexandria Foundation; Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden; The Lyceum; Northern Virginia Urban League Freedom House; and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum.
The evening began with cocktails at the river and tours of the Godspeed, dinner and dancing. Occupying centerstage was an ongoing black and white slide show of Alexandria’s history from a 13,000-year-old spear point, to a sit-in at the Barrett Library to many of the historic structures that still exist. The show, and all the other visuals were created by Twig Murray.