Arlington Historical Society

Julia Sues for Freedom: A Play
2026-04-18 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Arlington Central Library Auditorium, 1015 N. Quincy St., Arlington, VA, 22201, United States
An original scripted reenactment brings history alive!
Join us for an original performance depicting an 1842 trial – Julia Roberts v. Austin Adams and Anne Harding – in which Julia Roberts, an enslaved woman, sues to win her freedom. This script is based on original documents, notes on the testimony from the 1842 trial, and research by Jessica Kaplan, Zachary Newkirk, and the Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington team. Julia Sues for Freedom is a partnership between the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington and Guillotine Theatre, with the support of the Arlington Historical Society.
Be part of the story, be part of the jury! We will be asking attendees to be part of the jury. If you would like to be on the jury, let us know when you arrive.
Cast:

Lisa Hill Corley as Julia
Ken Jackson as Attorney Christopher Neale
Ricardo Frederick Evans as Attorney Robert J. Brent
Scott Taylor as Judge William Cranch

This event is free and open to the public.

Lisa Hill Corley as Julia

Ken Jackson as Attorney Christopher Neale

Ricardo Frederick Evans as Attorney Robert J. Brent

Scott Taylor as Judge William Cranch

History of Slavery on Roosevelt Island Walking Tour
2026-04-19 10:00 - 11:30 | Theodore Rosevelt Island Pedestrian Bridge, Theodore Roosevelt Island, Washington, DC, United States
See Theodore Roosevelt Island with a new lens. Walk the places where enslaved people lived and worked on “Mason’s Island” plantation from 1792-1860s.

This guided walking tour is sponsored by The Memorializing the Enslaved (MEA) Project, a joint effort of the Arlington Historical Society and the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington.
The tour will educate visitors about the history of slavery on, what is now known as, Theodore Roosevelt Island. The tour will focus on the island as a plantation and summer home of John Mason and his family. We will learn about the people enslaved by John Mason who built, planted, and tended to the land including the gardens and buildings.
We will cover approximately 1.5 miles over sometimes-uneven terrain. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear, bring water, and dress for the weather. There are bathrooms on the island and we will walk by them at the conclusion of the tour. There is a parking lot on Roosevelt Island. This tour is limited to 25 people.

The event is free but you must reserve your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/history-of-slavery-on-roosevelt-island-walking-tour-tickets-1984728049022?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_source=email&utm_medium=sparkpost&utm_campaign=postpublish

Julia Sues for Freedom: A Play
2026-04-25 15:00 - 16:00 | Ball-Sellers House, 5620 3rd Street, South, Arlington VA 22204, VA, 22312, United States
An original scripted reenactment brings history alive!
Join us for a performance of an original play depicting an 1842 trial – Julia Roberts v. Austin Adams and Anne Harding – in which Julia Roberts, an enslaved woman, sues to win her freedom. This script is based on original documents, notes on the testimony from the 1842 trial, and research by Jessica Kaplan, Zachary Newkirk, and the Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington team. Julia Sues for Freedom is a partnership between the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington and Guillotine Theatre, with the support of the Arlington Historical Society.
Be part of the story, be part of the jury!
We will be asking attendees to be part of the jury. If you would like to be on the jury, let us know when you arrive.
Cast:

Lisa Hill Corley as Julia
Ken Jackson as Attorney Christopher Neale
Ricardo Frederick Evans as Attorney Robert J. Brent
Scott Taylor as Judge William Cranch

This event is free and open to the public.

Lisa Hill Corley as Julia

Ken Jackson as Attorney Christopher Neale

Ricardo Frederick Evans as Attorney Robert J. Brent

Scott Taylor as Judge William Cranch

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 is hosting an 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, from 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 will be 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, local organizations sharing their history, 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.
The Virginia State Mobile Museum will also be on site. A hands-on, interactive, and immersive “museum on wheels,” the VA250 Mobile Museum Experience titled “Out of Many, One” is housed in a quad-expandable tractor trailer that is traveling throughout Virginia. The mobile museum brings key stories of Virginia’s rich history to schools, museums, local events, fairs, and more, highlighting every region of the state.
“Arlington HistoryFest 250 will be 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.”
Admission: FREE!
Organizations wishing to participate, click here.
People wishing to volunteer, click here.
For More information: https://arlhist.org/arlington-va250/
or email AHS at: info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org

Official Sponsors:

Hosted by Kenmore Middle School

Partners:

George Washington’s Forest Guided Walking Tour
2026-05-16 13:30 - 16:00 | Ball-Sellers House, 5620 3rd Street, South, Arlington VA 22204, VA, 22312, United States
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 mini tour of the Ball-Sellers House (the oldest building in Arlington built c. 1750), 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.

The 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:

Wear sturdy shoes
Bring water
Dress for the weather.
