Memorializing the Enslaved Stumbling Stone Dedications in November
2025-11-01 15:00 - 2025-11-15 00:00 (America/New_York) | VA
The Black Heritage Museum of Arlington and AHS invite you to the unveiling of “Stumbling Stones.” These bronze markers commemorate the lives of the enslaved people who helped build our county (and our country). The markers are placed in the sidewalk at the last known location where these enslaved people lived. Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington’s research has revealed over 2700 enslaved people and identified 1050 by name.
In November we will be dedicating four “Stumbling Stones.”

November 1 @ 3 PM North Highlands/Dawson Terrace: North Taft and 21 Street
November 8 @ 4 PM Douglas Park: South Quincy and 16th Streets
November 9 @ 1 PM Green Valley: Lomax AME Zion Church, 2704 South 24th Road
November 15 @ 10 AM Lyon Park: North Garfield and 4th Street

Come and learn their stories and commemorate their contributions to build our county and our country.
Learn more at https://enslavedarl.org/s/memorializing-the-enslaved-in-arlington/page/about

15 Minute History: "Where did the name come from?" Let's Talk About Clarendon
2025-11-23 14:00 - 15:00 | Arlington Historical Museum, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington, 22207, United States
Sean Denniston, AHS Vice President, will talk about the history of Clarendon, one of Arlington’s most interesting neighborhoods. He’ll talk about its start as a development of six streets, its dash for independence, growth as a commercial center, and today’s mixed use, walkable, and transit friendly neighborhood. And what’s with the name??

Museum Store Sunday: Shop with Purpose this Holiday Season
2025-11-30 13:00 - 16:00 | VA
Consider shopping small this season and visit the Arlington Historical Museum shop on Museum Store Sunday. Every purchase supports our mission to strengthen our community by building a better understanding of local history. We have unique gift ideas made by local artisans, as well as gift memberships to the Arlington Historical Society and books about Arlington history.
Local Ceramic Artist Jessica Kaplan’s work will be available for purchase. Hope to see you at the museum!

Women of the Ball-Sellers House
2025-12-28 15:00 - 16:30 | Pohick Regional Library, 6450 Sydenstricker Rd, Burke, VA 22015, Burke, VA, 22015, United States
The Ball-Sellers House (in Arlington) was originally in Fairfax County when Lord Fairfax established the county for King George II in 1742. The Arlington Historical Society will share stories of the exceptional women who owned this farmhouse throughout its 280-year history. We’ll learn about Elizabeth Payne Ball, the wife of the builder who took a man to court to sue for her inheritance; Irene Young, a suffragist and divorcee’ when society viewed divorce as ALWAYS being the woman’s fault; and Julia Powell, one of the first women who enlisted in the US Navy in WWI. We can’t help but also talk about Marian Sellers, her life and her legacy at the house. Join us for a unique look at special women in our shared county history on the eve of the 250th Commemoration of the Declaration of Independence. This is a free event and open to the public. Our speaker is Annette Benbow, the director of the Ball-Sellers House Museum since 2012.

1946 Arlington: The First Crack in the Byrd Machine
2026-01-08 19:00 - 20:30 | Reinsch Library Auditorium, Marymount University, 2807 North Glebe Road, Arlington
In 1946, after four years of a world war, the citizens of Arlington focused on local challenges, highlighted in the fall by an aggressive County Board campaign from a political newcomer who challenged the local Byrd Machine in Arlington. The story includes a controversy over our governance structure, extreme unhappiness with the school system, and an election that eventually led to the creation of a new non-partisan political machine that would control Arlington politics for decades.
This is a timely topic as the county board discusses changes in its governance structure. Find out for yourself, its historical foundations.
Bill Fogarty is a retired attorney who has lived and worked in Arlington for more than 40 years. He has taken up a new avocation of writing and teaching about Arlington history, contributing to the Arlington Historical Society both as a presenter and writer. Bill also writes the weekly “Our Man in Arlington” column for the Falls Church News Press.
We are back this month at the Marymount University Library Auditorium.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS and FREE PARKING: Attendees planning to attend the event in-person should enter the Marymount University campus at the library gate on N. 26th Street. From Glebe Road going north, take a right onto 26th Street. Pass the intersection with Yorktown Road and then enter the campus through the next gate on your left. The library is to your left as you enter the campus. Free garage parking is just past the library at the bottom of the small incline. (Handicapped parking is immediately to your right as you enter through the gate onto campus.)

If the university has lowered the garage gates, push the button and let them know you’re here for an Arlington Historical Society event in the library. To leave, push the button and they’ll raise the gate.

ZOOM AVAILABLE: If you can’t be there in person, you can zoom in, but you must register by the end of Wednesday, January 7, 2026 to get the zoom information. Click here to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4GrBjd3h9nX94KQJI8PGVvJIMWQo9CD7RrKUn_-MeiH_lsQ/viewform You’ll get an email on the morning of the event (Jan 8, 2026) with Zoom details.
This event is one of the monthly series of free public programs sponsored by the Arlington Historical Society. This event is hosted courtesy of the Marymount University politics program’s American Heritage Initiative. For more information, please email: info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

15-Minute History: 1961 Arlington Transportation Planning with David Pearson
2026-01-18 14:00 - 14:30 | Arlington Historical Museum, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington, 22207, United States
Join David Pearson, former AHS president, to learn about how Arlington County planned transportation in the early 1960s and what we now have as a result. Our speaker will use the maps in the current Map Exhibit on the second floor to explain the first General Land Use Plan (GLUP), show what was built, paths not taken, and a bridge too far.
FREE! Come for the talk, stay to tour the museum.
2nd floor, Arlington Historical Museum

A Different Look from a Different View Artist Exhibit: Opening Reception
2026-02-01 13:00 - 16:00 | Arlington Historical Museum, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington, 22207, United States
Experience the vibrant, story-filled work of artist Zane Killgo, an Arlington County visual artist whose bold use of color and mixed media explores community, identity, and the changing urban landscape.
Killgo’s paintings and multimedia works reflect the narratives of local neighborhoods in transition, focusing on gentrification, resilience, and the lived experiences of the people who shape our cities. His dynamic style blends acrylic paint, textiles, photography, printmaking, and digital media, creating powerful visual statements that bridge tradition and contemporary culture.
Zane Killgo is a longtime resident of Hall’s Hill and his art is inspired by the people, the community and its transitions.

Sunday, February 1, 1-4 PM, for the opening reception to meet the artist. light refreshments served
Sunday, February 15, 2 PM, Artist Talk
Saturday, March 28, Closing Reception, light refreshments served

Unbroken Genius: The Life and Legacy of Dr. Charles R. Drew
2026-02-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Reinsch Library Auditorium, Marymount University, 2807 North Glebe Road, Arlington
“Genius Unbroken” is the first comprehensive biography to bring the extraordinary life of Dr. Charles Drew, the “Father of the Blood Bank,” into focus. Born into Washington D.C.’s vibrant African American community at the turn of the 20th century, Drew rose on the strength of extraordinary physical and intellectual talents to become a groundbreaking medical research scientist. He lived in Arlington and he and his wife raised their children here. He pioneered methods of blood and plasma storage, leading America’s first large-scale blood bank: innovations that continue to save lives around the world. A gifted surgeon and educator, Drew also became an eloquent and powerful advocate of civil rights, especially equal health care, for African Americans. Tragically, while still a young man, he lost his life while travelling to a medical conference that provided free care to indigent patients.
Researched and developed through a close collaboration with Drew’s daughter, Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis, Miller encapsulates the life of Dr. Drew in a profound exploration of one man’s challenge to institutional barriers in creating lasting change. The story of Dr. Drew’s seminal and life-saving work while his life offers an enduring lesson in resilience, intellectual triumph, and the transformative power of unwavering determination.
Craig A. Miller, MD is a vascular surgeon educated at Northwestern University, Ohio State, and the University of California in San Francisco. He is the author of four books focused on the history of medicine and science. He has received many awards and accolades for his work in research and clinical medicine, as well as in scientific history and biography. He is an attending vascular surgeon with the United States Veterans Administration and lives in Ohio.
Charlene Drew Jarvis is the daughter of Dr. Charles Drew, was the noted blood bank pioneer. She earned her B.A. from Oberlin College, her masters at Howard University and he Ph.D. from the University of Maryland. She was a research scientist at the National Institute of Mental Health, then was elected to the City Council of the District of Columbia, where she served for 21 years. There, she introduced legislation that brought in the Convention Center and the MCI Center to the city. In 1996, Jarvis was named president of Southeastern University in Washington, D.C., the first woman to hold the position. She gave up her seat on the City Council in 2000 to devote her energies solely to the university. Jarvis has received numerous honors for community service and she is a past chair of the DC Chamber of Commerce.
BOOK FOR SALE. This book is available for purchase in the AHS online Museum Store. If you order it after February 5 and want to have it at the Feb 12 event, save your receipt and pick up the book at the event. We’ll reimburse you the shipping fee at the event. You can also buy the book at the Arlington Historical Society Museum Shop (1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Saturdays from 10-4 and Sundays 1-4 PM). Versions for children and teens are also available.

Children’s version: “Charles Drew: The Doctor Who Got the World Pumped Up to Donate Blood” by Mike Venezia
Teen version: “The Life of Dr. Charles Drew: Blood Bank Innovator” by Anne Schraf

This February 2026 event will be held at the Marymount University Library Auditorium and via Zoom.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS and FREE PARKING: Attendees planning to attend the event in-person should enter the Marymount University campus at the library gate on N. 26th Street. From Glebe Road going north, take a right onto 26th Street. Pass the intersection with Yorktown Road and then enter the campus through the next gate on your left. The library is to your left as you enter the campus. Free garage parking is just past the library at the bottom of the small incline. (Handicapped parking is immediately to your right as you enter through the gate onto campus.)

If the university has lowered the garage gates, push the button and let them know you’re here for an Arlington Historical Society event in the library. To leave, push the button and they’ll raise the gate.

ZOOM AVAILABLE: If you can’t be there in person, you can zoom in, but you must register by the end of Wednesday, February 11, 2026 to get the zoom information. Click here to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfNUc-hv8mbWr61aOhTZy3dMbVRO2E7E5Srn1FKf7JhD6j_3g/viewform
You’ll get an email on the morning of the event (Feb 12, 2026) with Zoom details.
This event is in celebration of Black History Month and is one of the monthly series of free public programs sponsored by the Arlington Historical Society. This event is hosted courtesy of the Marymount University politics program’s American Heritage Initiative. For more information, please email: info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Butterfield's Brigade at Mount Olivet Church
2026-02-22 15:00 - 16:30 | Mt. Olivet. United Methodist Church, 1500 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA, 22207, United States
Completed just before the Civil War, by the end of the conflict’s first year Mount Olivet Church’s original structure was reduced to its foundations, variously used and abused by the United States Army as – possibly– a hospital, storehouse, picket post, and stable. Cherrydale neighbor and local historian Michael Schaffner will explore the likely actual uses of the building before focusing on the soldiers camped nearby from September 1861 till May 1862. Their story reveals surprising connections to some of the war’s great battles, the United States Colored Troops, and the Army’s early efforts at graves registration.
This is an in-person only event at Mount Olivet Methodist Church. Please let us know you are coming so we know how big a room to prepare: HERE or cut and paste the following link into your browser: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeWynNI1kDWyguZzFcue16H7E3XrPXj-vLLwa3pXbzfM14CQg/viewform?usp=dialog
This is a free event. Parking is plentiful and also free.
The Arlington Historical Society is proud to partner with Mount Olivet Church, Arlington’s oldest church and help share their rich history with the community as part of the county’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Image: Oliver Willcox Norton of the 83rd Pennsylvania (camped near the church) in the fancy French uniform the regiment received for their performance on the drill ground. He would soon become brigade bugler, later help General Butterfield compose “Taps,” and ultimately receive a commission in the 8th USCT.

Dark Star Park and the Birth of Arlington's Public Art Program
2026-03-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Reinsch Library Auditorium, Marymount University, 2807 North Glebe Road, Arlington
Arlington Historical Society presents Nancy Holt’s Dark Star Park (1979 –1984) and the birth of Arlington’s Public Art Program. AHS hosts Angela A. Adams, Founding Director of Arlington Public Art as she discusses the creation, stewardship, and legacy of Nancy Holt’s Dark Star Park and how it inspired a more than 40-year commitment to public art as placemaking. Her presentation includes screening of Holt’s film: “Art in the Public Eye: The Making of Dark Star Park.”
Angela Anderson Adams has worked as a curator and arts administrator for four decades, serving most of those as Founding Director of Arlington Public Art. Under her leadership, Arlington County’s public art program grew from one of the first developer-sponsored programs in the country to an internationally-renowned, award-winning public and privately funded program that contributes art and design enhancements to most major civic projects undertaken in the County, including buildings, parks and open space as well as infrastructure.
Adams previously served as Adjunct Curator at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC, and Exhibitions Director/Curator for the Museum of Contemporary Art, Arlington. She holds a B.A. in Art History from the College of Wooster, Ohio, and a M.A. in the History of Art from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Adams was born and raised in Washington, DC, and Frederick, MD. Currently she splits her time between south central Vermont and Arlington’s Clarendon-Courthouse neighborhood, serves as Vice President of the Holt/Smithson Foundation and offers mentorship and consultation to the public art field.
LOCATION
We’re back at the Reinsch Library Auditorium at Marymount University’s Main Campus
DRIVING DIRECTIONS and FREE PARKING: Attendees planning to attend the event in-person should enter the Marymount University campus at the library gate on N. 26th Street. From Glebe Road going north, take a right onto 26th Street. Pass the intersection with Yorktown Road and then enter the campus through the next gate on your left. The library is to your left as you enter the campus. Free garage parking is just past the library at the bottom of the small incline. (Handicapped parking is immediately to your right as you enter through the gate onto campus.)

If the university has lowered the garage gates, push the button and let them know you’re here for an Arlington Historical Society event in the library. To leave, push the button and they’ll raise the gate.

ZOOM REGISTRATION
ZOOM AVAILABLE: If you can’t be there in person, you can zoom in, but you must register by the end of Wednesday, March 11. Click HERE to register or cut and paste this link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHFkAeOxdCX2RXCUZVe05H1RzJ5FVYZU8WoXqb3uSEMFlkeg/viewform into your browser to complete your registration. On Thursday morning, Mar 12, the day of the event, AHS volunteer, Martin Suydam, will send you the Zoom registration information in an email, so be on the lookout for it.
This event is in celebration of Women’s History Month and is one of the monthly series of free public programs sponsored by the Arlington Historical Society. This event is hosted courtesy of the Marymount University politics program’s American Heritage Initiative. For more information, please email: info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Handmade History Day: Ball-Sellers House Special Event
2026-04-04 13:00 - 16:00 | Ball-Sellers House, 5620 3rd Street, South, Arlington VA 22204, VA, 22312, United States
The Ball-Sellers House Museum season opening day welcomes you to explore how colonial Virginia made things we now buy. This c. 1750 farmhouse will host demonstrations and “do-it-yourself” experience. From A-Z including pottery, textiles, woodworking, and more.
The event is from 1-4, but don’t miss re-enactor Sandy Newton’s talk about how colonial America used nature to make colorful textiles.
Light refreshments served.
Free tours of the house and grounds.
The Ball-Sellers House is a captivating historical site near the heart of Arlington. Built c. 1750, this farmhouse is the oldest structure in Arlington County. It offers a unique glimpse into the life and times of the 18th century. The Ball-Sellers House is not just a museum; it is a living history experience where you can learn about the challenges and triumphs faced by those who lived in this home.
The house is a testament to the region’s rich history and showcases the lifestyle of early American settlers. Visitors can explore the well-preserved structure, which features original architectural elements and period furnishings that transport you back in time. As you walk through the rooms, knowledgeable guides share intriguing stories and insights about the house’s inhabitants and the historical significance of the property.
The house is a testament to the region’s rich history and showcases the lifestyle of early American settlers. Visitors can explore the well-preserved structure, which features original architectural elements and period furnishings that transport you back in time. As you walk through the rooms, knowledgeable guides share intriguing stories and insights about the house’s inhabitants and the historical significance of the property.
This event is one of the Arlington Historical Society’s events commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It would have been one of the only remaining buildings where the Declaration could have been heard being proclaimed in 1776.
This event is FREE and open to the public.

Arlington HistoryFest 250
2026-05-09 10:00 - 17:00 | Kenmore MIddle School, 200 S. Carlin Springs Rd, Arlington, VA, 22204, United States
The Arlington VA250 Committee has announced plans for Arlington HistoryFest 250, a free, one-day outdoor festival commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. It will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Kenmore Middle School.
“We’re proud to welcome visitors and residents to experience the living legacy of Arlington’s role in America’s founding,” said Peter Vaselopulos, President of the Arlington Historical Society and Chair of the Arlington VA250 Committee. “Arlington HistoryFest 250 is great fun for the whole family. It kicks off a multi-month commemoration, connecting our County’s roots to the modern day, showcasing how Arlington is a place where history lives on.”
Programming will feature live reenactments, musical performances, and historical storytelling, hands-on demonstrations, children’s activities and crafts, and local food vendors. Thousands of attendees from across the Washington, D.C., area are expected, along with dozens of historical reenactors and over 40 exhibitors.
“Arlington HistoryFest 250 is a unique opportunity for students to participate in the 250th anniversary of America and see themselves in the national story through immersive experiences, dynamic storytelling, and a deeper appreciation of Arlington’s local history,” said David MacBride, Principal at Kenmore Middle School.
“As we commemorate the 250th, we’re excited to offer new ways for visitors and locals to connect with Arlington’s history and explore the County,” said Scott Baker, Marketing Manager at Arlington Convention and Visitors Service. “We are thrilled to support programming that highlights Arlington’s historical significance, amplifies diverse stories, and enhances the visitor experience at historic sites across Arlington.”
Support for Arlington HistoryFest 250 is provided through a Virginia Humanities Grant.
Admission: Free
For More information: https://arlhist.org/arlington-va250/
or email AHS at: info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
