The Arlington Historical Society is helping our community commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act by partnering on a series of exhibits, panel discussions, and presentations titled “From Barriers to Ballots: The Fight for Equal Voting Rights in Virginia.” In this series of events you’ll learn about the history of voting rights in Arlington and hear the stories of activists, changemakers, and everyday people in Arlington and Northern Virginia who fought for your right to vote. All these events are free and open to the public.
- Saturday, August 2, 10 AM to 4 PM, “From Barriers to Ballots” Arlington Historical Museum Exhibit Opens. Visit the Arlington Historical Museum’s voting rights temporary exhibition “From Barriers to Ballots” at our recently reopened and revitalized museum. The exhibit features artifacts and documents about Arlington’s voting history including ballot boxes used when the Hume School was a polling place and a poll tax receipt–when you had to pay to be able to vote. We also have information panels describing historic voting barriers in Arlington. We also encourage you to use the ballot boxes to let us know what you think voting means today. (1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington)
- ALSO at 2:00 PM hear a 15-Minute History Spotlight about the history of voting in Arlington by Dr. Mark Benbow.
- Wednesday, August 6 @ 5 PM, “From Barriers to Ballots” Central Library Exhibit Opens. Visit the Arlington’s Central Library to celebrate the opening of their exhibition commemorating the passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. Light refreshments will be provided courtesy of Friends of Arlington Library. (Central Library, 1015 North Quincy Street, Arlington)
- Sunday, August 10, 2 PM 15-Minute History Spotlight: Barriers to Ballots. Join us as the Vice-Chair of Arlington’s Electoral Board Richard Samp discusses the process for voting in Arlington County elections today and how you can get involved. (Arlington Historical Museum, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington)
- Tuesday, September 16, 6-7:30 PM. “Arlington Civics: Virginia Voting Rights: 1965 to Today. Learn about the changes in Virginia voting at a panel discussion by the League of Women Voters or Arlington and Alexandria City and the Arlington County Office of Elections. There’s no better way to celebrate “National Voter Registrations Day” than learning about YOUR right to vote. (Shirlington Library, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington)
- Saturday, October 11, 2-3 PM. From Barriers to Ballots: Community Activist: Portia A. Haskins. Learn about one of Arlington’s community leaders who has been a leading voting and civil rights activist, Portia Haskins. President of the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, Dr. Scott Taylor will offer an in-depth view of this and other community voting rights advocates. (The Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, 3045 Columbia Pike, Arlington)
Exhibitions are on view during regular opening hours from August 1 to November 4, 2025, at:
- Bozman Government Center, 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington
- Arlington Central Library
- Arlington Historical Museum Saturday, 10-4, Sunday 1-4
- Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, Thursday, Opens at 3 PM
- Sherwood Regional Library (Aug 1-31), 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria
- City of Fairfax (Sep 1-Nov 4) Regional Library, 10360 North Street, Fairfax
Our exhibition partners include:
- The Arlington Public Library, Charlie Clark Center for Local History
- The Black Heritage Museum of Arlington
- The League of Women Voters of Arlington and Alexandria City
- The NAACP Arlington Branch
