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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250821T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250821T183000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250722T193437Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250818T203257Z
UID:18802-1755801000-1755801000@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Around the Hearth: An Original Play about the Ball-Sellers House
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a reading of an original play about the oldest structure in the county\, the Ball-Sellers House\, a farmhouse built around 1750. Washington Liberty grads\, Layla Johnson and Matteo Hope researched\, written\, produced\, and directed this play in 2024 for their high school and now will produce it at the Ball-Sellers House to help celebrate our 50th year since the house was donated to the Arlington Historical Society by Marian Sellers. \nThis play depicts scenes from the lives of the residents of the house from the Ball family to the Powell family.  If you saw it at WLHS in 2024\, it has been revised with a few new scenes. There is no better location for this play than at the Ball-Sellers House. Bring your chair or blanket and prepare for a fabulous night out under the wisteria watching history unfold in front of you. \nLight summer refreshments provided.  The cost is free but donations are always welcome.
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/around-the-hearth-an-original-play-about-the-ball-sellers-house/
LOCATION:Ball-Sellers House\, 5620 3rd Street\, South\, Arlington VA 22204\, VA\, 22312\, United States
CATEGORIES:VA250
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Hearth.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250815T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250816T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250725T005850Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250814T235401Z
UID:18906-1755273600-1755370800@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:The Arlington Historical Society is at the County Fair
DESCRIPTION:The Arlington Historical Society is at the Arlington County Fair. We have an indoor booth from Friday at 4 pm through Sunday at 7 pm. Stop by and say hello and talk about history!\n\nSee artifacts from the AHS collection\nPlay the Arlington Chrono Game and try to put local history events in the order they occurred\nSee Then and Now images and try to guess where these historic building were (or still are!)\nLearn about Upcoming AHS events\nFind out about Memorializing the Enslaved of Arlington\, the joint project with the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington\, to learn where stumbling stones are or will be placed.\nFind your home on an 1865 map\nAnd more!\n\nIndoor booths are open:Friday\, August 15:  4 – 10 PMSaturday\, August 16: 11 AM – 9 PMSunday\, August 17:  11 AM – 7 PM
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/the-arlington-historical-society-is-at-the-county-fair/
LOCATION:Thomas Jefferson Community Center\, 3501 Second Street\, South\, Arlington\, VA\, 22204\, United States
CATEGORIES:VA250
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ACF-Logo-Full-Color.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250809T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250809T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250720T002346Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250815T002941Z
UID:18766-1754744400-1754755200@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Neighbors in Arms:  The Fairfax Muster
DESCRIPTION:Join us at the Ball-Sellers House as we rediscover how\, 250 years ago\, the Fairfax militia prepared to fight the British. \n\nHistory Spotlight at 2:00. Local historian Kevin Vincent will give a brief talk about the muster\, who from what is now Arlington would have served in it\, what they were called to do\, and what its historical significance is to the founding of our country.\nReenactors will show you how the militia would have dressed\, lived\, and prepared to protect Virginia against British attack.\nMeet the muster clerk and sign up for duty protecting Alexandria and the county against the British crown.\nCamp followers\, the wives\, mothers\, and sisters\, who followed the militia will show you the tools they used and the conditions they worked under to help feed\, clothe\, and take care of the men.\n\nWhen the Assembly of Virginia met in July 1775\, after being disbanded in 1774 by Governor Lord Dunmore\, the first law Virginians passed was “An Ordinance for Raising and Embodying a Sufficient Force for the Defense and Protection of the Colony.” It authorized forming Continental regiments\, minute men battalions\, and the county militia. The law made militia duty mandatory for all free men\, hired servants\, and apprentices between the ages of 16 and 50. In each county the Committee of Safety was to commission officers\, a Colonel\, a Lieutenant Colonel\, and a Major to lead the men. Once formed\, the commissioned officers would name a Captain\, a Lieutenant\, and an Ensign. Government officials\, clergymen\, and professors were exempt from militia duty. The Fairfax militia included men from what is now Arlington and protected all of Northern Virginia.
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/neighbors-in-arms-the-fairfax-muster/
LOCATION:Ball-Sellers House\, 5620 3rd Street\, South\, Arlington VA 22204\, VA\, 22312\, United States
CATEGORIES:VA250
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Cowpens-reenactors-scaled-1-1280x848-Copy.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250727T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250727T143000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250626T231451Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T231532Z
UID:17776-1753624800-1753626600@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:15-Minute History Spotlight: The Family Tea House
DESCRIPTION:Join us on Sunday\, July 27 when high school student and AHS volunteer\, Caroline Tso\, will discuss her new exhibit at the Arlington Historical Museum\, “The Family Tea House: Where Culture and Cuisine Met in Arlington.” This young historian from Woodson High School will talk about the restaurant\, the first Chinese restaurant in the county\, it’s place in history\, and what she found out about it. \nThis initially began as a project to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Ms. Tso was interested in the history of Asian Americans in Arlington and found advertisements for Chinese restaurants from the late 1940s and 1950s. She grew curious about how these restaurants started in Arlington and how they differed from\, yet were similar to\, the numerous Chinese restaurants we have today\, decades later. \nThis is one of a new series of brief talks at the Arlington Historical Museum on select Sundays each month. Come to the talk and learn history you won’t learn in school\, then stay to tour all the new exhibits at the re-envisioned museum.
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/15-minute-history-spotlight-the-family-tea-house/
LOCATION:Arlington Historical Museum\, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road\, Arlington\, 22207\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/tea-house-ad-Arl-Citizen-19570201.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250726T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250726T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250624T005921Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250624T012418Z
UID:17250-1753538400-1753545600@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:What's Buried in Your Dirt?
DESCRIPTION:Have you unearthed something in your garden or your lawn or somewhere else in Arlington and wonder what it is? Bring it to the Ball-Sellers House on July 26 from 2-4 PM and Tim Landis will tell you what it is. Landis began as a metal detector-ist as a kid and now he boasts an extensive collection of the thousands of things he’s found in and around Arlington and Northern Virginia. He’ll identify anything anyone brings to him that they found buried somewhere in Arlington. He’ll apply his decades of experience and knowledge to identify bits of metal\, ceramics\, pottery\, glassware of any type\, even plastics\, because he’s found it all first as a kid growing up in Arlington\, and now with permission from some builders. Each unearthed artifact helps everyone understand more about Arlington’s history. \nSo bring your “find” and your curiosity to learn more about what it is\, what it is not\, and its role in Arlington history. Then stay for a free guided tour of this c.1750 farmhouse.
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/whats-buried-in-your-dirt/
LOCATION:Ball-Sellers House\, 5620 3rd Street\, South\, Arlington VA 22204\, VA\, 22312\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/WP_20161105_15_04_38_Pro.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250713T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250713T143000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250624T000619Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250814T235850Z
UID:17239-1752415200-1752417000@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:15-Minute History Spotlight: Camp Casey 
DESCRIPTION:Join us on Sunday\, July 13 at 2 PM at the Arlington Historical Museum to uncover the powerful story of Camp Casey—a Civil War training ground for newly freed Black men who joined the US Army during the Civil War in the new US Colored Troop (USCT) Regiments. Michael Schaffner\, a reenactor with the USCT\, has spent the last several years hunting through military and government records to locate this uniquely Arlington site. \nLocated near today’s Pentagon\, Camp Casey was more than just a military post—it was a symbol of freedom\, hope\, and change during a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. Hear the story and what we know about it and then see the artifacts related to it–all in the Arlington Historical Museum. \nThis is one of a new series of brief talks at the Arlington Historical Museum on select Sundays each month. Come to the talk and learn history you won’t learn in school\, then stay to tour all the new exhibits at the re-envisioned museum. Come rediscover the hidden stories that helped shape Arlington.
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/15-minute-history-spotlight-camp-casey/
LOCATION:Arlington Historical Museum\, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road\, Arlington\, 22207\, United States
CATEGORIES:VA250
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Map.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250710T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250710T203000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250612T134711Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250627T003602Z
UID:16420-1752174000-1752179400@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:The Power of Place: Built by the People Themselves
DESCRIPTION:In her discussion of the “Power of Place: Suburbanization\, Segregation\, and Community Development in Arlington\,” Dr. Lindsey Bestebreurtje will help us explore segregation and racialized zoning and planning laws in Arlington to see how these policies impacted the County’s growth during the 20th Century. She’ll investigate the race-based policies of early boosters at the dawn of Arlington’s suburban growth\, and continue into discussions of restrictive covenants\, planning laws\, and how Arlington’s communities – both Black and white – grew together and in opposition. The majority of this research comes from Bestebreurtje’s book Built by the People Themselves: African American Community Development in Arlington from the Civil War through Civil Rights (USC Press\, 2024). \nDr. Lindsey Bestebreurtje is a historian of African American community development and the built environment in the 19th and 20th century American South. She holds a Ph.D. in History and a Masters in Museum Studies from George Mason University. For the last 15 years she has worked at various public history sites\, including the Historic American Landscape Survey\, the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media\, and the National Park Service. Bestebreurtje has worked as a Curatorial Assistant at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture since 2015. Dr. Bestebreurtje also serves on the Arlington Historical Society’s Advisory Board. \nThis event will be in-person and via Zoom. AHS will have the book for sale so attendees can buy it and have the author sign it. If you do not plan to attend in person\, you can buy the book on the AHS website: https://arlhist.org/product/book-built-by-the-people-themselves/ \nPREREGISTER FOR ZOOM ACCESS. You can attend this event on Zoom or in-person on the Marymount University Main Campus.  If you want to attend this event virtually\, please CLICK HERE to register. You can also cut and paste this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdHop4BcGF7GbbnShuHNO4DGYiB1WyNQqL8zxITWK5Zp3lBfg/viewform into your own browser and complete it there. Please register by Wednesday\, July 9.  Zoom access information will be sent to you in an email on the morning of the event on Thursday\, July 10. \nDRIVING 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.) \n\nIf 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.\n\nThis 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.
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/built-by-the-people-themselves/
LOCATION:Reinsch Library Auditorium\, Marymount University\, 2807 North Glebe Road\, Arlington
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/book-cover-Copy.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250704T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250704T170000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250606T125151Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250612T125847Z
UID:16164-1751634000-1751648400@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Reading the Declaration of Independence and Making Revolutionary Protest Signs
DESCRIPTION:“We hold these truths to be self-evident…” help read the Declaration of Independence out loud for all to hear at one of the only structures in the county that is still in existence to hear the document read aloud in 1776: the Ball-Sellers House (c.1750). Lend your voice and/or that of your family to read the words that helped start this nation’s “great experiment” in democracy. If you’d like to read a portion of the “Declaration\,” please email info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org and let us know! \nYou can also make protest signs that colonial Virginians could have used as they protested the king’s actions. We’ll have the materials for posters and signs and information about what the colonists were complaining about–and they had a LOT of complaints! Join us for this historic way to celebrate this important date. \nReading the Declaration of Independence starts at 1:00 pm. Making protests signs starts at 1:00 till 3:30.  Come for the history\, stay for the free guided tour of this 275-year-old house. \n  \n 
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/declaration-of-independence/
LOCATION:Ball-Sellers House\, 5620 3rd Street\, South\, Arlington VA 22204\, VA\, 22312\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/180628174143-02-declaration-of-independence-1776.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250628T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250628T150000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250526T015820Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250526T015820Z
UID:15339-1751119200-1751122800@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Cheesy History at the Ball-Sellers House
DESCRIPTION:The Ball-Sellers House is celebrating 50 years of ownership of this c.1750 farmhouse when Marian Sellers donated it to the Arlington Historical Society. We have so much history to share\, we’re launching a new mini history series called “15 Minute History” twice a month on select Saturdays at 2:00 pm. \nOn June 28 come and see a reenactment demonstration of how the Ball girls would have made cheese. Sandy Newton will demonstrate the steps it took to make the cheese we now take for granted at our grocery store. Sandy has worked at Mount Vernon for 32 years as a guide\, farm supervisor\, and character interpreter. She knows! how 18th century farms worked and what they were able to produce. \nWe’re also open for FREE guided tours from 1-4.  Step back in time with us! All ages welcome!
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/cheesy-history-at-the-ball-sellers-house/
LOCATION:Ball-Sellers House\, 5620 3rd Street\, South\, Arlington VA 22204\, VA\, 22312\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Snap13.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250622T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250622T143000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250612T011554Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250618T183759Z
UID:16385-1750600800-1750602600@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:The Secret Trip of the Declaration of Independence: 15 Minute History at the Museum
DESCRIPTION:Did you know that the Declaration of Independence was once hidden in Arlington? Join us for a 15-minute history talk at the Arlington Historical Museum on Sunday\, June 22 at 2PM to uncover the fascinating story of how the nation’s founding document found safety during the War of 1812 here in what became Arlington County. \nOur county is loaded with history! Come and rediscover it where it happened. Our newly redone museum has so much history\, we’re starting a series of brief talks at the Arlington Historical Museum on select Sundays each month. They’re free and fun and you’ll learn some fascinating tidbits to WOW your friends and family! Then continue touring the museum (on both floors!) on your self-guided tour of the rest of Arlington’s history. History is for everyone! \n#America250 #ArlingtonVA #DeclarationOfIndependence #LocalHistory #FourthofJuly #CivicSpirit #ArlingtonHistory #VA250
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/the-secret-trip-of-the-declaration-of-independence-15-minute-history-at-the-museum/
LOCATION:Arlington Historical Museum\, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road\, Arlington\, 22207\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Picture1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250619T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250619T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250516T195716Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250619T164005Z
UID:14897-1750348800-1750359600@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:LOCATION CHANGE DUE TO WEATHER Juneteenth Community Day
DESCRIPTION:THIS EVENT HAS BEEN MOVED INDOORS TO WAKEFIELD HIGH SCHOOL DUE TO WEATHER FORECASTS \nHonor and celebrate the strength\, determination\, resilience and integrity of those who weathered in the pursuit of liberation and freedom! \nYou’re invited to the Annual Juneteenth Community Day! \nThis family-friendly event commemorates the emancipation of Africans who were enslaved and honors African American culture and heritage. Join us to honor and celebrate the strength\, determination\, resilience\, and integrity of those who weathered in the pursuit of liberation and freedom! \nJune 19th will be a day of celebration and reflection at Metropolitan Park as we commemorate Juneteenth\, a pivotal moment in American history. This in-person event will feature live music\, cultural performances\, delicious food\, and activities for all ages. \nKickoff will start promptly at 4:00 pm!! Don’t miss our special guest speakers and more at 4:30!!! Please consider using public transportation. Be sure to register and invite a friend! \nLet’s honor the past\, celebrate the present\, and look toward a brighter future together. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to come together as a community and celebrate freedom! \nAHS will bring artifacts info on African American local history from enslavement to  empowerment! Plus\, information on upcoming local history events and how to preserve your family’s history. \nAdmission: Free and open to the public. Rain or Shine! \nPlease sign up to reserve your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-juneteenth-community-day-tickets-1348280797159 \nHost: Challenging Racism www.challengingracism.org  \nCo-Hosts: \n\nArlington Coalition of Black Clergy\nArlington Historical Society: https://arlhist.org/\nBlack Heritage Museum of Arlington: https://arlingtonblackheritage.org/\nNAACP Arlington Branch: https://www.arlingtonnaacp.com/\n\nCommunity Sponsors: Arlington Community Foundation: https://www.arlcf.org/ \nMedia Sponsor: WHUT: https://www.whut.org/
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/juneteenth-community-day/
LOCATION:Wakefield High School\, 1325 S\, Dinwiddie Street\, Arlington\, VA\, 22207\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/event-6229757195066781748.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250614T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250614T143000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250526T012507Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250815T002518Z
UID:15336-1749909600-1749911400@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Who Were the Enslaved People at the Ball-Sellers House?
DESCRIPTION:The Ball-Sellers House is celebrating 50 years of ownership of this c.1750 farmhouse when Marian Sellers donated it to the Arlington Historical Society. We have so much history to share\, we’re launching a new mini history series called “15 Minute History” twice a month on select Saturdays at 2:00 pm. \nOn June 14\, come and hear about the least known residents of this 275 year old farmhouse: the three known enslaved people. Jessica Kaplan research lead for the Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington project will talk about who they were and what we know. This joint project between the Arlington historical Society and the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington laid the first “stumbling stones” at the Ball-Sellers House to honor their memory. Find out what we now know. Also! free tours of the house from 1-4. All ages welcome! \nAll mini events will begin at 2:00 at the Ball-Sellers House located at 5620 3rd Street\, South\, in Arlington
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/who-were-the-enslaved-people-at-the-ball-sellers-house/
LOCATION:Ball-Sellers House\, 5620 3rd Street\, South\, Arlington VA 22204\, VA\, 22312\, United States
CATEGORIES:VA250
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG_8258-wTOP-Copy.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250612T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250612T210000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250416T133255Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250515T021150Z
UID:14085-1749754800-1749762000@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Can’t You Hear Me Calling: Tales and Tunes from Arlington’s Bluegrass History
DESCRIPTION:Although now an international phenomenon\, Bluegrass music would have never reached such popularity without the musical community that formed in the DC area. Local bands\, radio stations\, and music venues\, reverberated these melodies round the whole world. Join Zack Youcha\, Andrew Acosta\, Randy Barrett\, Michael Jaworek\, and Don Rusnak on a musical exploration of Arlington’s Bluegrass history. Through song and conversation\, they will demonstrate and discuss Arlington’s important contributions to the cultural explosion of a beloved American genre.  Due to the performance nature of this event\, this will be an IN-HOUSE ONLY event and not available on Zoom. \nRandy Barrett is president of Bluegrass Country radio\, America’s oldest bluegrass\, old time and Americana station (formerly operated by WAMU FM). Streaming worldwide\, it offers a unique blend of musical offerings old and new curated by expert deejays from a library of more than 100\,000 recordings. He is also a musician\, songwriter\, luthier and co-author\, with Ben Eldridge\, of the celebrated book On Banjo: Recollections\, Licks and Solos. \n Michael Jaworek has been a concert promoter for over 50 years\, presenting pop/jazz/blues/world beat music\, as well as dance companies.  His activities currently are focused in the Washington DC/Baltimore MD markets\, where he is promoter for The Birchmere along with other venues.  He has been nominated many times as “Nightclub Talent Buyer of the Year” by Pollstar Magazine\, the publication of record for the concert promotion industry.  Mr. Jaworek was also a co-founder of the Washington Area Music Awards.  He has been a NARAS member & served on the Wash DC Board of Governors for philanthropy of NARAS.  He has received the International Talent Buyers Association “Club Buyer of the Year” Award. \nAndrew Acosta is a Falls Church native. Born in 1952\, he formed his first band The Dusters in 1975 with the encouragement of local bluegrass bandleader Benny and Vallie Cain. He attended college at VCU and Clinch Valley College (now UVA Wise) where he soaked up the deep musical traditions of southwest Virginia. In 1999\, he formed The New Old Time String Band with banjoist Pat MacCauley\, then added fiddle player Roy ‘Speedy’ Tolliver. They performed extensively in northern Virginia and also the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage and The Smithsonian Folk Life Festival in 2007\, which is also the year the legendary Arlington bluegrass guitarist John Kaparakis joined the group. Andrew still resides in Falls Chuch\, performs often\, has produced four CD’s and is very thankful for the many blessings music has brought into his life. \nDon Rusnak is a lifelong banjo player\, steeped in the history and lore of Arlington and Alexandria. After moving here as a kid\, Don leapt into the Bluegrass and Country music scenes\, becoming a regular performer\, as well as a banjo maker and repairman. Through the community that developed around his instrument shop\, Vintage Music\, Don founded the Capital Area Bluegrass and Oldtime Music Association (CABOMA) in 1978. It is still thriving and open to the public. \nZack Youcha is the executive director of Music is Culture\, a non-profit record label and publishing company supporting the preservation of traditional music worldwide. His own work preserving the songs of his Sephardic ancestors led to collaborations with museums\, universities\, archives\, and governments around the world. He wrote an article for the Arlington Historical Magazine’s 2024 edition titled: “From the Seldom Scene to the Seldom Heard of: An Interview about Arlington Bluegrass with CABOMA Founder\, Don Rusnack” that inspired this presentation. You can find an ongoing publication of his research through the Jewish Music Research Centre. \n     \nThis is an in-person event only. Zoom is not being offered due to the performative nature of this event. \nDRIVING 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.) \n\nIf 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.\n\nThis 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. \n 
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/cant-you-hear-me-calling/
LOCATION:Reinsch Library Auditorium\, Marymount University\, 2807 North Glebe Road\, Arlington
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/famous-bluegrass-music.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250608T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250608T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250516T022839Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250516T201725Z
UID:14833-1749384000-1749398400@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Living History at Fort C.F. Smith Park
DESCRIPTION:The Union Army has come to Arlington and set up camp at Fort C.F. Smith Park. Join us for a day of living history that will include drilling activities\, specialized fort tours and more. Come learn about Civil War life in Arlington County and beyond at this free event. Cancelled if raining.\n\n\nThe Arlington Historical Society will show artifacts and talk about what life was like for some of the thousands of US Army troops stationed in and around Arlington to protect the Capital City from potential Confederate attack.\nMatthew Brady\, the renowned Civil War photographer who had a studio in Arlington\, will be there to take your picture like he did thousands of US Army troops in Arlington (Re-enacted by AHS President\, Peter Vaselopulos).\nAnd MORE!\n\nFort C.F. Smith is the best preserved Civil War fort in Arlington and one of the best preserved of all the Washington defenses. Between 1863 and 1865\, Fort C. F. Smith was built to bolster  defenses of the nation’s capital. It was called the Fort McDowell\, but in June 1863\, it was named to honor Major General Charles Ferguson Smith who had died in battle.\n\n\nDrilling Activities\nSpecialized Fort Tours\nCivil War Artifacts!\nRe-enactors!\nHistorians!\nHooray!
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/living-history-at-fort-c-f-smith-park/
LOCATION:Fort C.F. Smith\, 2411 24th Street\, North\, Arlington\, VA\, 22207\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CXropped-Flyer.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250607T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250607T170000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250527T203746Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250528T134511Z
UID:15440-1749312000-1749315600@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Memorializing the Enslaved of Arlington: Columbia Pike
DESCRIPTION:The Arlington Historical Society and the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington 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 2750 enslaved people and identified 1045 by name. \nPlease join us for the Dedication Ceremony honoring two once enslaved individuals: \n\nThornton Check: Born ca. 1823\, Died August 12\, 1889\nDaniel Check: Born ca. 1826\n\nTheir Story  \nBrothers\, Thornton and Daniel Check\, were enslaved by Bazil Williams whose large farm straddled Columbia Pike in what is today the Foxcroft Heights – Arlington View areas of Arlington.  Two additional brothers\, Jackson and Lewis\, were also enslaved by Williams. Thornton was born around 1820 and Daniel ca. 1826. Their mother’s name is unknown; their father was Emanual Check. \nBazil Williams\, bought land along Columbia Pike beginning in 1816. His farm grew and by 1830 he enslaved 11 people. At his death in 1854\, Williams enslaved roughly 23 individuals.  He freed all but three in his will and gave them each $20 to help them move to Liberia or the Western United States. None of them resettled in Liberia. \nThornton was married to Julia Check\, a woman enslaved at neighboring Arlington House. They had two daughters\, Catherine and Susan and a son\, Henry. In 1864\, Thornton enlisted in the 117th US Colored Troops and was discharged a year later. In 1878\, he entered the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers near Dayton\, OH\, where he died in 1889. He was buried at the Soldiers Home Cemetery. \nDaniel Check was born around 1826 in Virginia. He lived in both Arlington and Washington\, DC after gaining his freedom in 1855. In 1873\, he married Henrietta Baker\, and they had one known daughter\, Mary H. Check. Daniel’s date of death is unknown\, but entries in District of Columbia directories point to his having lived there continuously until 1899. \nJoin us as we celebrate and honor Thornton and Daniel and gain a greater understanding of Arlington’s complicated past. Brief remarks will be offered. \nMemorializing the Enslaved in Arlington seeks to shed light upon these early Americans who contributed so much to the economic\, social\, and cultural development of our county. For more information\, please contact Jessica Kaplan from the Arlington Historical Society at ahsedlink@gmail.com. \n 
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/memorializing-the-enslaved-of-arlington-columbia-pike/
LOCATION:1515 Columbia Pike\, 1515 Columbia Pike\, Arlington\, 22204\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/f20bcf5d80b26a5d7ed579caf2e55ac3b43a9d09.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250531T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250531T143000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250522T132550Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250526T020508Z
UID:15276-1748700000-1748701800@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:From Fleece to Cloth: Reenactment at Ball-Sellers House
DESCRIPTION:The Ball-Sellers House is celebrating 50 years of ownership of this c.1750 farmhouse–Marian Sellers donated it to the Arlington Historical Society for $10. We have so much history to share\, we’re launching a new mini history series called “15 Minute History” twice a month on select Saturdays at 2:00 pm. \nOn May 31\, come and see a demonstration of how colonial Virginia women turned sheep’s wool into cloth. Reenactor Sandy Newton will show you how our colonial forebears who lived in THIS house would have turned sheep’s wool into material for all sorts of things used in the house. She’ll show you wool carding and spinning and even help you make a take home “bouncy ball” of felted wool. Also: take a free guided tour of the house from 1-4 pm. \nAll ages welcome! \nAll mini events will begin at 2:00 at the Ball-Sellers House located at 5620 3rd Street\, South\, in Arlington
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/mini-history-at-ball-sellers-house-from-fleece-to-cloth/
LOCATION:Ball-Sellers House\, 5620 3rd Street\, South\, Arlington VA 22204\, VA\, 22312\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Sandy-Newton-Copy.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250531T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250531T130000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250516T020731Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250516T020731Z
UID:14827-1748685600-1748696400@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Drew Day at Dr. Charles Drew Elementary
DESCRIPTION:The Arlington Historical Society is proud to be helping to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Charles R. Drew. We’ll have a table\, artifacts\, a quiz\, and lots of info on the man who became known as the Father of the Blood Bank. Find out how an Arlington elementary school appreciates its namesake. \nVisit our table and say\, “HI!”
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/drew-day-at-dr-charles-drew-elementary/
LOCATION:Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School\, 3500 23rd Street\, South\, Arlington\, VA\, 22206\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Drew-stamp.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250517T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250517T140000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250331T175817Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250501T003207Z
UID:13956-1747486800-1747490400@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Dedication of Eagle Scout Project Ball-Sellers House Benches
DESCRIPTION:Join us as we dedicate one of the four new wooden benches designed and built by Connor Jones as his Eagle Scout project. He conducted historical research and coordinated with the Ball-Sellers House to identify an appropriate style for the colonial era in which the house was built (c.1750). Then he planned\, led\, and managed a team of scouts from Arlington’s Scout Troop 647 to build and install four benches. He also refurbished two older benches that look so good\, we dare you to guess which ones are old and which are the new ones! He also designed and built a new kitchen table for inside the museum. The six benches are installed around the Ball-Sellers House property for visitors to enjoy during tours\, special events\, or just to appreciate the history of the site. \nThe dedication ceremony is open and free to the public to appreciate the work of this young man. We will serve refreshments and hear brief remarks by the Scout leader and AHS officials. \nWe will be dedicating one of the benches to a historic figure in Connor’s family\, Ralph Jones (1625-1692) from Plymouth Massachusetts. This ancestor\, one of the first European children born in the colonial America\, inspired Connor’s interest in history and drew him to the Ball-Sellers House to complete his Eagle Scout Project for a historic site. (Photo at right is Connor Jones and his dad and assistant\, Bill with three of the four new benches.) \nCome for the dedication and stay for the free tours of the c. 1750 farmhouse.
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/dedication-of-eagle-scout-project-ball-sellers-house-benches/
LOCATION:Ball-Sellers House\, 5620 3rd Street\, South\, Arlington VA 22204\, VA\, 22312\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250328_163643.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250510T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250510T153000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250331T171043Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250331T171043Z
UID:13954-1746882000-1746891000@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:George Washington's Forest Guided Walking Tour
DESCRIPTION:Walk in the footsteps of George Washington on a guided walking tour with local historian\, Kevin Vincent. In 1775\, George Washington bought 1200-acres of forest in what is now Arlington. After the Revolutionary War\, he returned home and surveyed his property. On the walk you’ll start with a tour of the Ball-Sellers House (the oldest building in Arlington)\, visit the survey markers used by Washington in 1785\, see historic springs\, see the site of a mill built by George Washington’s step-grandson\, and more. \n\nThe walk begins at the Ball-Sellers House. It is about a three hour walk encompassing about three miles with a couple hills. There are several places where you can peel off the walk.  So: \n\nWear sturdy shoes\nBring water\nDress for the weather.\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n Add to calendar
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/george-washingtons-forest-guided-walking-tour/
LOCATION:Ball-Sellers House\, 5620 3rd Street\, South\, Arlington VA 22204\, VA\, 22312\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/map-of-walk.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250508T191500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250508T204500
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250328T192002Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T011433Z
UID:13934-1746731700-1746737100@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Early Days of the Civil War Defenses of Washington: From Fort Sumter to First Bull Run
DESCRIPTION:Arlington was key to the defenses of Washington during the Civil War. Bryan Cheeseboro will describe the threats to the Capital City that spurred building the ring of defenses—inside DC and in Virginia. The Civil War Defenses of Washington (CWDW) were composed of 68 forts and 93 batteries. But this was the strength of the defenses by the end of the war. How did the CWDW begin? Where was the first fort built and when was it completed? How many forts were built in the first few months of the war? Was a Confederate attack on the city\, like the British had done in the War of 1812\, really possible?  He’ll explain where the forts were built and the fear and danger to the Capital City after the abysmal US Army defeat at the Battle of First Bull Run. \nBryan Cheeseboro is a historian of the American Civil War and a reenactor with Company B\, 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He has been featured on American Battlefield Trust’s Zoom Goes the History series and Antietam Live! programs.  He has written for the Emerging Civil War blog.  His presentations to the Rock Creek\, DC Civil War Round Table include the programs “Outside of Lincoln’s White House: Civil War Men and Women of the DC Metro Area;” “The Grand Reviews of the Civil War;” and the “1st United States Colored Infantry.”  He is also a former board member of the Alliance to Preserve the Civil War Defenses of Washington.  He is currently a Park Ranger with the National Park Service.  His site is the Civil War Defenses of Washington.  \nPREREGISTER FOR ZOOM ACCESS. You can attend this event on Zoom or in-person on the Marymount University Main Campus.  If you want to attend this event virtually\, please click here to register: https://forms.gle/UGEVTB3hCpfViSc98  You can also cut and paste this link: https://forms.gle/UGEVTB3hCpfViSc98 into your own browser and complete it there. Please register by Wednesday\, May 7.  Zoom access information will be sent to you on the morning of the event on Thursday\, May 8. This presentation immediately follows a brief AHS members’ meeting. \nDRIVING 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.) \n\nIf 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.\n\nThis 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. \n 
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/early-days-of-the-civil-war-defenses/
LOCATION:Reinsch Library Auditorium\, Marymount University\, 2807 North Glebe Road\, Arlington
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/event-6128566148311881653.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250508T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250508T193000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250328T185451Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250507T135702Z
UID:13931-1746730800-1746732600@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Annual AHS Member Meeting
DESCRIPTION:The Arlington Historical Society will hold its annual meeting of members on Thursday\, May 8\, 2025\, at 7:00 pm. The meeting will be held BOTH on Zoom and in person at the Reinsch Library Auditorium on the main campus of Marymount University.  If you are a member and plan to attend by Zoom\, please register at this link: https://forms.gle/UGEVTB3hCpfViSc98 (This is the same link for Zoom access to the monthly event which will immediately follow the brief members’ meeting: “Early Days of Civil War Defenses of Washington: From Fort Sumter to First Bull Run” with Bryan Chesebrough. See more details about that presentation here: https://arlhist.org/event/early-days-of-the-civil-war-defenses/ \nAgenda:  \n\nReport of Financial Status\nApprove Slate of Officer and Board Members\n\nI. AHS Financial Status \nOutgoing AHS President David Pearson will give a brief summary of the AHS financial situation from a report prepared by treasurer Richard Samp. Click here to follow along and view details: AHS Income and Expenses 7-1-24 to 4-23-25  \nII. Approve Slate of Officer and Board Members \nThe Nominating Committee nominates the following for election as officers and directors at the meeting. Click here to read a brief bio on each proposed officer and board member: https://arlhist.org/arlington-historical-society-2025-2026/ \nOfficers \n\nPresident: Peter Vaselopulos\nVice President: Sean Denniston\nTreasurer: Richard Samp\nSecretary: Harry Evans\n\nMembers of the Board of Directors \n\nGeorge Axiotis\nBethany Baker\nAnnette Benbow\nJessica Kaplan\nAndy McLeod\nAnnette Scherber\nMartin Suydam
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/annual-ahs-member-meeting/
LOCATION:Reinsch Library Auditorium\, Marymount University\, 2807 North Glebe Road\, Arlington
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/AHS-Logo.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250504T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250504T120000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250430T235402Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250430T235841Z
UID:14156-1746356400-1746360000@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington: Dedication at Westover
DESCRIPTION:The Arlington Historical Society and the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington 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 2750 enslaved people and identified 1050 by name. \nPlease join us for the Dedication Ceremony honoring two once enslaved individuals \n\nLiza: Born 1828\nJinny: Born June 7\, 1853\n\nWe will be honoring them at 11:00am\, Sunday May 4\, 2025 at the Northeast Corner of Washington Boulevard and North Longfellow Street. \nTheir Story \n Liza and Jinny were enslaved by Nicholas and Amanda Febrey.  During the 1850s\, the Febreys moved from their farm near Upton’s Hill to what is now Westover. During this period\, they enslaved 6-7 people. \nVery little is known about Liza and Jinny. The 1853 Virginia Birth Index records the birth of Jinny on June 7\, 1853. Liza is listed as her mother and her father is listed as a “slave.”  In the 1860 Census – Slave Schedule\, Jinny appears as an eight-year-old enslaved by Nicholas Febrey\, but Liza is not enumerated. Perhaps she was hired out to another family or had died. Liza (if still alive) and Jinny were likely freed by the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863.  They then disappear from the records. \nJoin us as we celebrate and honor Liza and Jinny and gain a greater understanding of Arlington’s complicated past. Brief remarks will be offered. \nMemorializing the Enslaved in Arlington seeks to shed light upon these early Americans who contributed so much to the economic\, social\, and cultural development of our county. For more information\, please contact Jessica Kaplan from the Arlington Historical Society at ahsedlink@gmail.com.
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/memorializing-the-enslaved-at-westover/
LOCATION:Northeast Corner of Washington Boulevard and North Longfellow Street\, 5837 Washington Blvd\, Arlington\, 22205\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CNC-Machine-300x290-1-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250503T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250503T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250327T144950Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250416T204627Z
UID:13917-1746266400-1746288000@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Grand Re-Opening of the Arlington Historical Museum
DESCRIPTION:Come rediscover our local history at the Arlington Historical Museum! After closing last summer for preservation and renovation work\, we reopen on May 3 at 10:00 AM with the debut of all-new exhibits.  \nYou’ll also have an opportunity at 1:00 PM to hear from local author Barbara Noe Kennedy\, author of “100 Things to Do in Arlington Before You Die.” (You can leave with just 99 left!) The book is for sale in our updated and expanded museum shop and she looks forward to signing your book. \nThe exhibits tell new stories uncovered about Arlington’s past and build on much of the history we have always shared. You’ll see Arlington history from the time of Native peoples through the thriving multicultural community it is today. One new exhibit AHS is proud to introduce is the Memorializing the Enslaved exhibit highlighting the special research project that has shed light on the lives of enslaved individuals who lived and labored in Arlington\, honoring their contributions and resilience. Through historical records\, artifacts\, and personal stories\, the project and the exhibit seek to ensure that their voices are acknowledged and remembered as part of Arlington’s complex history. \nBut that’s not all! The museum shows new views and artifacts of its farming past\, its role in the formation of Civil War US Colored Troops\, and the defense of Washington. You’ll get a new appreciation of our leading role in the nation’s history of transportation\, communications\, and businesses as well as a new perspective on where we’ve been and where we are now. \nWe’ve also opened space on the second floor for use as an education center\, community gathering room\, and a place to feature revolving exhibits\, including those co-curated with community groups! This will be a dynamic part of the museum\, where you will be able to attend events on special topics\, and view exhibits told in the voices of the groups presenting them. To kick start what the Second Floor can be\, AHS\, in celebration of the Ball-Sellers House 50th Anniversary\, is presenting an illustrated history of this c. 1750 farmhouse highlighting its colonial builders through today as the story of the history of all of Arlington. \nVisit us at the Arlington Historical Museum for the big reveal! The museum is in the oldest existing schoolhouse at 1805 S. Arlington Ridge Road. It’s free and parking is free.
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/grand-re-opening/
LOCATION:Arlington Historical Museum\, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road\, Arlington\, 22207\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/for-ads.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250419T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250419T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250310T185200Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250330T152032Z
UID:13886-1745056800-1745078400@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Spring Celebration with the Glencarlyn Community Garden
DESCRIPTION:The Arlington Historical Society/Ball-Sellers House is partnering with the Glencarlyn Library Garden to celebrate gardening. We are in TWO locations for this fun event: \n\nThe Ball-Sellers House at 5620 3rd St.\, South\, 10 – 4\nGlencarlyn Library at 300 S. Kensington St. South\, 10 – 3 \n\nAt the Ball-Sellers House you’ll see how colonial gardeners planted vegetables and herbs and learn about how herbs were used\, see our model beehives\, and a modern rain garden at work. You’ll also be able to tour the house FREE! and learn how colonial families lived. The Ball-Sellers House works with the Friends of Urban Gardeners. They have helped us re-create a colonial style vegetable garden like the one early owners of this c.1750 farmhouse would have had outside their front door. \nAt the Glencarlyn Library\, we’ll help you practice using a quern or a mortar and pestle to grind corn like our ancestors did. You’ll learn more about gardening today and about native plants\, tour the magnificent Glencarlyn Community Garden\, and even buy some plants for your own garden! \n 
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/spring-celebration/
LOCATION:Ball-Sellers House\, 5620 3rd Street\, South\, Arlington VA 22204\, VA\, 22312\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Spring-Celebration.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250410T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250410T203000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20241217T182953Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250327T153023Z
UID:13540-1744311600-1744317000@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Who Owns the Potomac and Why?
DESCRIPTION:Have you ever looked at maps and wondered why the boundary line between Virginia and Maryland on the Potomac River is so odd? It is not in the middle of the river\, like it is in most places\, and it doesn’t really follow the curves of one shoreline or the other. Michael Nardolilli\, the Executive Director of the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin will explain the weird history behind Arlington’s boundary along the Potomac River. \nPREREGISTER FOR ZOOM ACCESS. You can attend this event on Zoom or in-person on the Marymount University Main Campus.  If you want to attend this event virtually\, please click here: https://forms.gle/AsYooukSag7BeR8k9 to register. You can also cut and paste this link\, https://forms.gle/AsYooukSag7BeR8k9  into your own browser and complete it there. Please register by Wednesday\, April 9.  Zoom access information will be sent to you on the morning of the event on Thursday\, April 10. \nDRIVING 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.) \n\nIf 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.\n\nThis 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.
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/who-owns-the-potomac/
LOCATION:Reinsch Library Auditorium\, Marymount University\, 2807 North Glebe Road\, Arlington
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Potomac-VA.org_.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250406T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250406T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250327T151513Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250330T150337Z
UID:13921-1743951600-1743955200@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington: Dedication for Humphrey Albert and Priscilla Willis
DESCRIPTION:The Arlington Historical Society and the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington 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 2750 enslaved people and identified 1050 by name. \nPlease join us for the Dedication Ceremony honoring two once enslaved individuals: \n\nHumphrey Albert: Born ca. 1841\nPriscilla Willis: Born ca. 1852\n\nWe will be honoring them at on Sunday\, April 6\, 2025 at 3:00 pm at the Northwest Corner of Key Boulevard and North Highland Street \nHumphrey Albert and Priscilla Willis were enslaved by Robert and Catherine Cruit and later their heir\, Susan Cruit. Humphrey’s mother was Betsey Docket from Maryland\, whom Cruit had “purchased from a negro pen.” In 1859\, Priscilla was bought by the Cruits for at the age of six. In the 1850s\, the Cruits enslaved at least five other people\, who will be honored at another time. Robert Cruit\, a \n  \nGeorgetown resident\, bought property in what is now Arlington in 1847 as a second home. Robert used enslaved laborers to operate his dairy farming operation. The Cruit farmhouse still stands today at 1614 North Highland Street. \nOn April 16\, 1862\, Humphrey and Priscilla gained their freedom when the D.C. Compensated Emancipation Act was signed by President Lincoln. The Cruits had fled to D.C. early in the Civil War when Union troops defending the capital overwhelmed most of Arlington. They took several of their enslaved people\, including Humphrey and Priscilla\, with them. Enslaved people remaining in Arlington remained in bondage until the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1\, 1863. \nThe markers will be embedded in the sidewalk. They were designed and fabricated by the students at Arlington Tech of Arlington Public Schools and installed by the Arlington County Department of Environmental Services\, who also provided helpful advice on the design. \nJoin us as we celebrate and honor Humphrey and Priscilla and gain a greater understanding of Arlington’s complicated past. Brief remarks will be offered. \nMemorializing the Enslaved in Arlington seeks to shed light upon these early Americans who contributed so much to the economic\, social\, and cultural development of our county. For more information\, please contact Jessica Kaplan from the Arlington Historical Society at ahsedlink@gmail.com.
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/memorializing-the-enslaved-albert-willis/
LOCATION:Intersection of Key and N. Highland\, 3103 Key Boulevard\, Arlington\, 22201\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CNC-Machine-300x290-1-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250405T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250405T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250115T152929Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250327T135031Z
UID:13708-1743858000-1743868800@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Ball-Sellers House Opening Day
DESCRIPTION:During our 2025 season (April through October) the Ball-Sellers House will celebrate the 50th anniversary of becoming a free public museum and we are planning a series of commemorative events at the house starting with our opening day on Saturday\, April 5 at 1:00 pm. The Ball-Sellers House is hosting the Early American music group\, Bedlam\, for two concert shows at: \n\n1:30 pm\n3:00 pm\n\nBedlam was founded in 1989 and specializes in Early American music\, including songs and tunes of the 17th\, 18th and 19th centuries. Its unusual name comes from a bittersweet ballad about the infamous mental asylum\, the Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem\, London\, popularly known throughout history as Bedlam. The group is based in Maryland and performs throughout the DMV region. They perform a wide range of tavern songs\, romantic ballads\, lively dance tunes\, and instrumental selections on guitars\, recorders\, and percussion. \n Join us as we celebrate our history and our anniversary. The house will be open for free guided tours\, we’ll have colonial re-enactors keep it real! And we’ll offer free colonial era sweet treats. We are at 5620 3rd Street\, South in Arlington. \nOn February 24\, 1975\, the Arlington Historical Society (AHS) held a public Acceptance Ceremony at the house to accept the key from the donor\, Marian Sellers. Despite the chill in the winter air\, the AHS board of Directors\, the Arlington County board\, and the public watched as Mrs. Sellers handed the key to Donald Orth\, the AHS President\, in return for a handshake and $10.  Since then\, AHS has researched the house history\, refurbished the original 1750 farmhouse as it may have looked during the colonial period\, and opened it to the public for free tours. We hope you’ll join us for this and future events this season as we appreciate the selfless act of generosity to our community of this gift of a historic treasure of a house.
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/ball-sellers-house-opening-day/
LOCATION:Ball-Sellers House\, 5620 3rd Street\, South\, Arlington VA 22204\, VA\, 22312\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/462700306_8993194494066315_9124192599506757793_n.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250318T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250318T200000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250302T040739Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250302T041612Z
UID:13827-1742324400-1742328000@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:In Defense of Freedom
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\nPeter 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.
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/in-defense-of-freedom/
LOCATION:Glencarlyn Library\, 300 S. Kensington Street\, Arlington\, VA\, 22204\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Fort_Craig_VA_Map.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250315T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250315T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20250302T034911Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250302T043138Z
UID:13821-1742050800-1742054400@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Memorializing the Enslaved of Arlington: Dedication Honoring Three
DESCRIPTION:The Arlington Historical Society and the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington invite you to the unveiling of the first of a new series 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 2750 enslaved people and identified 1050 by name. \nPlease join us for the Dedication Ceremony honoring three once enslaved individuals \n\nMargaret Hyson: Born ca 1825\, Died July 11\, 1891\nGeorge Hyson: Born ca 1851\, Died June 1900\nCharlotte Hyson: Born Nov. 10\, 1853\, Died June 9\, 1921\n\n We will be honoring them at the Northeast Corner of Little Falls Road and Harrison Street\, North. Arlington VA 22207 \nTheir Story  \nMargaret\, George\, and Charlotte Hyson were enslaved by William and Catherine Minor. From 1803 through the Civil War\, their 110-acre farm\, “Springfield\,” (see image in later years) encompassed a portion of what is now the Yorktown Civic Association neighborhood. When William Minor died in 1859\, 29 enslaved men\, women\, and children were part of his estate. \nMargaret’s origins are unknown although an unmarried woman her age was listed on the Minor family census records from 1830-1860. Margaret married a free Black man\, Thornton Hyson\, and gave birth to George and Charlotte in 1853. When William Minor died\, the enslaved people were given to his children\, but the Hysons remained with Catherine. The Hyson family was likely freed by the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863.  They eventually settled in the Hall’s Hill/High View Park community of Arlington where their descendants still live today. \nHyson family descendants and some of the Arlington Public School students who helped design and manufacture the bronze markers will offer brief remarks about this important milestone.  County officials and others involved with the project will speak as well. \nMemorializing the Enslaved in Arlington seeks to shed light upon these early Americans who contributed so much to the economic\, social\, and cultural development of our county. For more information\, please contact Jessica Kaplan from the Arlington Historical Society at ahsedlink@gmail.com
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/memorializing-the-enslaved-of-arlington-dedication-honoring-three/
LOCATION:Little Falls Road\, 5498 Little Falls Road\, Arlington\, VA\, 22207\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CNC-Machine-300x290-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250313T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250313T203000
DTSTAMP:20260403T142623
CREATED:20241217T162845Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250116T152936Z
UID:13531-1741892400-1741897800@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:The Outstanding Women of the Ball-Sellers House
DESCRIPTION:The Arlington Historical Society (AHS) is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of receiving the John Ball House from its last owner\, Marian Sellers. Mrs. Sellers donated it to AHS for $10 back in 1975. So we’re highlighting Women’s History Month by sharing stories of some of the women who lived there. We’ll shine a spotlight on women who have a special place in the history of the house\, in the county\, and in even our nation’s 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 was a “dirty word” and saw it as ALWAYS being the woman’s fault; and Julia Powell\, one of the first enlisted US Navy Yeomen in the First World War. 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 Arlington’s history and images and family photos rarely shown in public. \nAnnette Benbow has served as the Chair of the Ball-Sellers House Committee and the director of this local historical treasure since 2012. She has written for the Arlington Historical Magazine and has presented Arlington historical topics to a wide variety of Arlington audiences. She retired in 2020 after 35 years of service in the Central Intelligence Agency where she was a political and security analyst and managed inspections in the Office of the Inspector General. She has a Bachelor’s degree in history from the University of New Hampshire and Masters Certificate in Public Policy from the University of Maryland. \nPREREGISTER FOR ZOOM ACCESS. You can attend this event on Zoom or in-person on the Marymount University Main Campus.  If you want to attend this event virtually\, please click HERE to register. You can also cut and paste this link into your own browser   https://forms.gle/mUaeBPHaSDw1PUXo8 and complete it there. Please register by Wednesday\, March 12.  Zoom access information will be sent to you on the morning of the event on Thursday\, March 13. \nDRIVING 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.) \n\nIf 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.\n\nThis 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.
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/women-of-the-ball-sellers-house/
LOCATION:Reinsch Library Auditorium\, Marymount University\, 2807 North Glebe Road\, Arlington
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Oldesrt-house.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR