Black History Month includes virtual and physically distanced events celebrating Alexandria African American history throughout the month of February. Year-round, Alexandria is home to essential Black History tours and experiences, Black-owned businesses to support and more. Here is a glimpse:
- Virtual Black History Month Events: Starting Feb. 1, explore the Office of Historic Alexandria’s virtual resources to learn more about Alexandria’s African American history from an Encore MLK Program and a Story Time for Young Historians to a lecture examining Black public relations guru Moss Kendrix and his work. Peruse more events from Lee-Fendall House and Woodlawn here.
- Must-Do Black History & Culture Experiences: Explore new tours and markers and discover the African American changemakers who have shaped the history of Alexandria and the U.S.
- Courageous Journey: Alexandria's Black History Driving Tour: Use our eight-site driving tour, created in fall 2020, to explore the African American history that shaped Alexandria and the United States, from D.C.’s onetime southern cornerstone laid by Benjamin Banneker to the site of one of the nation’s earliest sit-ins and more.
- Guided Cultural Heritage Tours: Discover Alexandria’s extensive African American history through curated heritage tours presented by Manumission Tour Company, including their new Underground Railroad-themed route, which launched in November 2020.
- See Wrought, Knit, Labors, Legacies: Olalekan Jeyifous’ public art installation Wrought, Knit, Labors, Legacies, linking the city’s mercantile and industrial history with the labor of free and enslaved African Americans, can now be found at its temporary new home in Parker-Gray, a neighborhood rich in Black history, at 1609 Cameron Street.
- African American Heritage Trail: Pull up a StoryMap on your phone as you walk the self-guided African American Waterfront Trail, launched in fall 2020, highlighting the people, places and neighborhoods from the time of Alexandria’s founding through the 20th century. The new southern route of this trail will launch in summer 2021.
- Support Black-Owned Businesses: Deepen your impact on small businesses and support Alexandria’s Black-owned businesses, including shops, beauty spots, restaurants and more.
- Coming Soon Black History & Culture Experiences: Look out for the Office of Historic Alexandria’s new online video series about African American changemakers called “Agents of Change” this month and anticipate the reopening of Freedom House Museum in summer 2021, featuring a major traveling exhibition. Learn more about What’s New in 2021 in Alexandria.
For more information, explore our Black History & Culture webpage.