From Barriers to Ballots Exhibit and 15-Minute History Series
2025-08-02 - 2025-11-30 | Arlington Historical Museum, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington, 22207, United States
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.
Arlington Historical Society Events
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. (Saturdays 10-4 and Sundays 1-4 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington)

Saturday: August 2, 2 PM: 15 Minute History Spotlight: A Brief history of Voting in Arlington with Dr. Mark Benbow discusses how voting has changed starting with being a part of DC until 1847, who voted and who could not, voting in the county during the Civil War, and during the Jim Crow era. Finally, he’ll outline changes made during the Civil Rights era and the changes caused by the Voting Rights Act in 1965 , (2nd floor of the Arlington Historical Museum, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington)
Sunday, August 10, 2 PM 15-Minute History Spotlight: Voting Today with Vice-Chair of Arlington’s Electoral Board Richard Samp as he discusses the process for voting in Arlington County elections today and how you can get involved. (2nd Floor, Arlington Historical Museum, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington)
Saturday, September 13, 2 PM; 15-Minute History Spotlight: Irene Young and Women’s Suffrage with Annette Benbow, director of the Ball-Sellers House. Irene Young was a suffragist who participated in the 1913 Woman’s Suffrage Procession and lived to tell about it. Her experience highlights the opposition to allowing women to vote. (Ball-Sellers House, 5620 3rd Street, South, Arlington)

Events in the “From Barriers to Ballots” Community Series:

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)

Exhibits are on view during regular opening hours from August 1 to November 4, 2025 at the following locations

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

Deadline: October 3 Contest Entries Commemorating Arlington's Role in America's 250-Year Journey
2025-08-20 - 2025-10-03
As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence from Great Britain, we reflect on the stories and places that have shaped its history. Arlington, a community with deep roots in the American narrative, has witnessed some significant moments that contributed to the story of our nation.
For this contest, identify what you believe is the most significant historical event that took place in Arlington and how it is linked to America’s 250-year journey. Explain why this event stands out as an Arlington story, its impact on the county and our nation, and how it reflects our nation’s struggles, achievements, and/or values.
You may present your event in one of the following ways:

An essay
A poem
A video
A design of a new memorial about the event

Grade 8-12 students who live in Arlington are eligible to participate in this contest.
Student products will be judged by an Arlington Historical Society review committee using the following criteria:

Product should reflect research using multiple sources and a bibliography of sources used for the product should be included
Product should be submitted digitally and must include a cover sheet with student name, grade, school, and product title. A video submission must include this information at the beginning of the video.

The deadline for submission is Friday, October 3rd by 10:00 pm. Products received after this date will not be considered. Submit to AHSedlink@gmail.com
AWARDS include the following prizes:

1st Place: $1,000. The 1st place winner will be featured in the 2026 Arlington Historical Magazine and/or on the AHS website and invited as a guest to the October 14th AHS Annual Banquet.
2nd Place: $500
3rd Place: $250
Honorable Mention: $100

Questions regarding the essay should be sent to apscathy@gmail.com.
We hope you take this opportunity to explore the ways in which Arlington’s history intertwines with the broader tapestry of the United States.

15-Minute History: Spotlight on Irene Young and Women's Suffrage
2025-09-13 14:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Ball-Sellers House, 5620 3rd Street, South, Arlington VA 22204, VA, 22312, United States
Join us for a brief talk about Irene Ottillie Young, an owner of the house who was also a suffragist and fought for the right to vote for women. Annette Benbow, director of the Ball-Sellers House, will talk about why Mrs. Young was unique, her role as a suffragist, and how we know about her. Stop in for the talk and stay for a tour of the oldest structure in the county.
