Arlington Historical Society

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

New Exhibit: Community Ofrenda/Ofrenda Comunitaria
2025-10-11 10:00 - 2025-11-08 16:00 (America/New_York)
Community Ofrenda at the Arlington Historical Museum
Join us in honoring loved ones during this season of remembrance. Our community ofrenda (altar) celebrates the Central and South American traditions of Día de los Difuntos and Día de los Muertos — times to remember, reflect, and celebrate those who came before us.
Únase al Museo Histórico de Arlington y agregue su foto o pequeño recuerdo a nuestra Ofrenda Comunitaria, que celebra las tradiciones del Día de los Muertos de América Central y del Sur.
Visitors are invited to bring a photo of a loved one or small memento to add to the altar. Together, we’ll build a shared space of memory and connection that reflects the many cultures that make up Arlington today.
Juntos recordamos a quienes han partido y celebramos las historias que nos unen.
Free and open to all. Gratis y abierto a todo público
The Community Ofrenda exhibit is open Saturdays 10-4 and Sundays 1-4 through November 7. Photos and mementoes can be picked up on November 8 and 9.
