Stories - Arlington Historical Society

Discover Arlington’s history through stories, videos, and more.

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Mobile Museum

March 4, 2026

Arlington residents will have a unique opportunity to step inside Virginia’s Revolutionary past when the VA250 Mobile Museum Experience arrives at Arlington’s HistoryFest on Saturday, May 9, at Kenmore Middle School.

Restoring the Capital Vision

February 21, 2026

In 1791, Pierre Charles L'Enfant unveiled his ambitious plan for a new federal city along the Potomac River. He envisioned wide avenues, expansive vistas, and grand public spaces. His design for Washington, D.C., was never fully realized. Its monumental landscape developed incrementally - through pauses, revisions, debates, and renewed commitments.

Arlington’s Bicentennial Celebration

February 20, 2026

The county’s Bicentennial parade—hailed as the largest in Northern Virginia—featured 107 entrants. It stepped off at 10 a.m. along North George Mason Drive, led by police motorcycles and closed by sheriff’s deputies on horseback. Bands, veterans, civic groups, and neighborhood organizations filled the route, turning the morning into a vivid display of community pride.

Zane Killgo

January 14, 2026

Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Arlington County, Killgo’s artistic practice explores the complex narratives of changing neighborhoods, with a particular focus on gentrification, displacement, and community resilience. Drawing on personal experience and deep engagement with diverse communities, his work captures the lived realities of the African-American community and other voices often marginalized in discussions about urban change.

Happy New year

January 1, 2026

The Arlington Historical Society (AHS) wishes everyone a Happy New Year. 2026 is going to be historic. In July, we will commemorate our nation's 250th anniversary.

AHS Bell History

December 10, 2025

The bell—which started ringing in 1893 when the Hume School opened--was produced by the oldest bell foundry in the country, the McShane Bell Foundry of Baltimore. Founded in 1856, McShane has produced more than 300,000 bells for churches, municipal buildings, and schools all over the world.

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