At the start of the Civil War in 1861, Arlington was at the center of a significant military conflict. It witnessed many minor skirmishes and military actions. The county’s strategic location required Union soldiers to build fortifications known as the “Arlington Line” to protect the capital, Washington. However, these forts and camps had another unintended purpose: they provided refuge for enslaved people seeking freedom. During the war, thousands of African Americans settled in Arlington. Many worked for the United States Army, and some eventually joined the newly formed United States Colored Troops (USCT), fighting for their freedom. Discover more about this unique chapter of Civil War history. Peter Vaselopulos, Vice President of the Arlington Historical Society (AHS), will speak about Arlington’s unique role in the Civil War, including Arlington’s camps and forts that not only protected the nation’s capital but also provided refuge for thousands of enslaved people seeking freedom. This event is open free to the public and is hosted by the Glencarlyn Civic Association and the Arlington Historical Society.
Peter Vaselopulos is currently Vice President of the Arlington Historical Society. Before his retirement, Peter served 35 years at the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), where he worked as a broadcast journalist, international television producer, and new media and information technology specialist. He is currently a board member of the Alliance to Preserve the Civil War Defenses of Washington, D.C. and was a member of Arlington County’s Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee. Peter has a master’s certificate in Digital Public Humanities from George Mason University. He is also a graduate of George Washington University and American University, with master’s degrees in Managing Information Systems and International Communications. He teaches history and digital storytelling courses for Arlington’s Encore Learning adult education program. Peter is an Arlington County Historic Preservation grant awardee and is working on a multiyear digital media project called “Arlington Historical” including a website and mobile application: Arlington History. Peter and his wife, Virginie, are 44-year residents of Arlington County.
