Arlington Historical Society

Commemorative Plans for the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
2026-02-21 02:30 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Glencarlyn Library, 300 S. Kensington Street, Arlington, VA, 22204, United States
Glencarlyn Library will host Arlington History Society President Peter Vaselopulos for a special presentation about upcoming Arlington County events to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
Highlighting what will be a multi-month program of commemoration activities will be Arlington HistoryFest 250, a free, one-day outdoor festival that will take place on Saturday, May 9 at Kenmore Middle School. The History Fest will include live re-enactments, musical performances, historical storytelling, children’s activities, local food vendors, and local history of all sorts!
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.”
Seating at the Glencarlyn Library is limited so please register to attend: HERE or cut and post this link into your browser: https://arlingtonva.libcal.com/event/16190905
The Arlington Historical Society is proud to partner with the Glencarlyn Civic Association and the Glencarlyn Public Library for this event. If you would like AHS to talk to your group about plans for the 250th or host a local historian to talk about another local history topic, please email: info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org

Feel the Heritage Festival
2026-02-21 12:00 - 17:00 | Charles Drew Community Center, 3500 23rd Street, South, Arlington, VA, 22206, United States
The Arlington Historical Society is participating in the county’s Feel the Heritage Festival. This is a vibrant gathering for all ages to celebrate history, culture, and community together! The festival welcomes hundreds each year to learn about the Arlington’s historically African-American neighborhoods while enjoying live entertainment, delicious food and dozens of vendors. This festival brings together live performances of music and dance, local vendors, food, interactive family-friendly activities, engaging cultural experience designed for the whole family, and plenty of opportunities to connect and reflect on the stories that unite us. This year’s festival will celebrate the 2026 national Black History Month theme, ‘”A Century of Black History Commemoration.”
Visit our table focused on Memorializing the Enslaved of Arlington, a joint project with the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington. The project brings our county’s African American history to light. Research into local records has revealed the fortitude and resilience of the local enslaved community and honors the lives and contributions of Arlington’s once enslaved people by placing memorial plaques throughout the county at sites of enslavement.
Visit our table to learn more about who the enslaved were and where they lived and toiled in Arlington County.

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 to 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.

New Exhibit: Collective Voices: Women's Clubs and Local Change
2026-03-01 - 2026-03-30 | Arlington Historical Museum, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington, 22207, United States
Opening on March 1st for Women’s History Month, this exhibit explores the history and impact of the Woman’s Club of Arlington and other women’s clubs across the county. Through service projects, public health campaigns, educational advocacy, and community programs, Arlington’s clubwomen shaped civic life throughout the 20th century. Discover how organized women built networks of leadership and left a lasting mark on the community.
Free and open to the public.
The Arlington Historical Museum is open Saturdays 10-4 and Sundays 1-4 PM.

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.

15-Minute History: Halls Hill/High View Park
2026-03-15 14:00 - 14:30 | Arlington Historical Museum, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington, 22207, United States
Local historian, award-winning civic activist, community leader, and Arlington Historical Society Advisory Board member, Wilma Jones will discuss the history of her beloved Halls Hill/High View Park neighborhood at a talk during her son, Zane’s solo exhibition, “A Different Look From a Different View.” Zane’s artist journey was greatly influenced by his experiences growing up in the Washington metropolitan area during the period when many historically Black neighborhoods began to be greatly gentrified, including the Halls Hill community.
Wilma will talk about the evolution of the neighborhood and the stories of the community that are the basis of her historical memoir, “My Halls Hill Family: More Than a Neighborhood.” Zane will join his mom during the discussion to express his perspective about how growing up in this environment influenced his passion to use art to tell the stories of people from changing neighborhoods across the country.
Free and open to the public.

Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington Fundraiser
2026-03-19 19:00 - 21:00 | Lyon Park Community Center, 414 North Fillmore Street, Arlington, VA, United States
Join us for an evening of art, poetry, music, and history to support our inspiring stumbling stone program and ensure the full history of Arlington is told. The Master of Ceremonies is Monique “Moe” Bryant, Arlington School Board Member and Executive Director of Challenging Racism. All proceeds support the purchase of stumbling stones, research, and educational initiatives. Reserve your spot by purchasing tickets by March 12, 2026 to support this important fundraising effort!
Ticket sales have ended.
Program Includes

Holly Karapetkova, Poet Laureate Emerita of Arlington County
Teri Cross Davis, author of “A More Perfect Union,” winner of the 2019 Charles B. Wheeler Poetry Prize.
Live music performances by:

Mount Salvation Praise Team
Rick Franklin, acoustic blues musician

Project updates and future plans
Artwork raffle featuring an original piece by a local artist
Community conversation

Light refreshments will be served.
For more information contact email Susan Bornstein: MEAfundraiser@gmail.com
Monique “Moe” Byrant (MC)
Holly Karapetkova, Poet Laureate
Teri Cross Davis, poet and author of “A More Perfect Union”
Rick Franklin, acoustic Blues musician

Dedication of Five Stumbling Stones in Alcova
2026-03-22 12:30 - 13:30 | Arlington Presbyterian Church, 918 S. Lincoln Street, Arlington, VA, 22204, United States
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) and are placed in the sidewalk at the last known site of their enslavement. Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington’s research has revealed over 2750 enslaved people and identified 1050 by name.
Dedication Ceremony
We will honor five individuals once enslaved in the Alcova Heights neighborhood: John, Margaret Brown, and three people whose names are unknown.
We will be honoring them at Arlington Presbyterian Church; 918 S. Lincoln Street; Arlington, VA 22204
Memorial Unveilings
After the dedication ceremony, t he memorials will be unveiled at South Lincoln and 9th Streets and at South Randolph and 8th Streets.
Their Story
In 1847, William and Elizabeth Berryman bought 34 acres of land by Columbia Pike and South Glebe Road. To build and maintain their farmhouse and cultivate the fields, the Berryman’s enslaved two young men and a woman, all under the age of 25. They cultivated oats, corn, and grains and took care of their home and family. Financial troubles caused the Berryman’s to sell their tract in 1853. What became of their enslaved people is unknown.
In 1851, John M. Young, a Washington, DC coachmaker, purchased 108 acres of mostly unimproved land north or Columbia Pike and west of the Berryman farm. Young used enslaved laborers John, Margaret Brown, and at least 2 others whose names are unknown to plant and maintain his plentiful peach and apple orchards and cultivate his fields.
John, born around 1805, was the subject of an 1855 Alexandria Gazette “runaway” advertisement. Young offered a $10 reward for John who fled his farm, most probably to visit his wife, enslaved in the District of Columbia.
Margaret, born before 1847, was placed in a Washington jail for two days by Young while he attended to business in the city. Jail records show Young paid $1.68 for imprisoning Margaret.
Help us celebrate and honor John, Margaret Brown, and three individuals whose names are unknown and gain a greater understanding of Arlington’s complicated past. Brief remarks will be offered.
Memorializing 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.

15-Minute History: Women's Clubs in Arlington
2026-03-22 14:00 - 14:30 | Arlington Historical Museum, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington, 22207, United States
Join club member Sandy Newton for a 15-Minute History exploring the rich legacy of women’s clubs in Arlington County. From the founding of the Woman’s Club of Arlington to the growth of neighborhood clubs across the county, these organizations gave women a powerful voice in civic life. Learn how club members championed education, public health initiatives like Red Cross campaigns and voter registration, and community programs that shaped Arlington throughout the 20th century.
Free and open to the public.

Glebe House Day
2026-03-28 10:00 - 13:00 | 4527 17th St., N., Arlington, Virginia, 4527 N. 17th St., Arlington, VA, United States
The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust and the Arlington Historical Society are excited to announce the first-ever Glebe House Day, where community members are welcome onto the grounds to learn about the second-oldest home in Arlington County!
The Glebe House is a historic house with an octagon-shaped wing. The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust holds a conservation easement to help protect and preserve it. The name of the house comes from the property’s history as a glebe, an area of land within an ecclesiastical parish used to support a parish priest.
AHS Historians and NVCT staff will be on site to provide tours of the grounds that cover the property’s history and its conservation story. The home will not be open to the public.
No registration required. We hope to see you there! This event is free and open to the public. Arlington Historical Society members will have an opportunity for a sneak preview at 9:30 am.

A Different Look from a Different View: Exhibit Closing Reception
2026-03-28 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/High View Park and his art is inspired by the people, the community, and its transitions.

Saturday, March 28, Closing Reception, light refreshments served

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” experiences. From A-Z including pottery, textiles, woodworking, and much more.
This FREE event is from 1-4, but don’t miss re-enactor Sandy Newton’s talk at 1:30 about how colonial America used nature to make colorful textiles.
We’ll have demonstrations of:

Bookmending
Dyeing
Knitting
Pottery
Sewing
Spinning
Weaving
Woodworking
Woolcarding

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.
This event is one of the Arlington Historical Society’s events commemorating the 250th Anniversary of our nation’s founding. The house would have been one of the only remaining buildings in the county where the Declaration of Independence could have been heard being proclaimed in 1776. The full history of the house reflects how the county is intertwined with national history from even before 1776.
This event is FREE and open to the public.

Plants to Dye For
2026-04-04 13:30 - 14:00 | Ball-Sellers House, 5620 3rd Street, South, Arlington VA 22204, VA, 22312, United States
The Ball-Sellers House invites you to discover the plants our colonial forebears grew to add color to their clothing. Explore local plants you can use to dye your own fabric in this fun garden talk by Sandy Newton. Learn about natural dyes and color all around you.

Come for Sandy’s talk at 1:30, stay for Handmade History Day when we show you how things were made in early America, and a free tour of the c. 1750 farmhouse. Colonial era sweet treats and beverages.

Sandy Newton is a re-enactor at Mt. Vernon and at Arlington House, planning, planting, and maintaining the kitchen garden for the National Park Service. She is also a keeper of the Ball-Sellers House kitchen garden and is a docent here as well! So she knows the era AND the plants!

Julia Roberts' Freedom Suit
2026-04-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Reinsch Library Auditorium, Marymount University, 2807 North Glebe Road, Arlington
In 1801, a wealthy landowner who lived in present-day Arlington County freed his slaves and their descendants. His deed of emancipation would have ripple effects across Northern Virginia—especially for one woman, Julia Roberts, who sued over her long-promised freedom while living near the Barcroft, Arlington Forest, and Buckingham neighborhoods. Her case eventually wound up before the U.S. Supreme Court in Adams v. Roberts (1844). Her story is one of personal bravery in the face of unimaginable injustice, but it is also a story of how the law was available as a tool for seeking freedom.
Zachary Newkirk is a voting rights and election attorney whose interest in local history began after he and his wife bought an early 1900s farmhouse. He currently serves as the Yorktown Civic Association President and is on the board of the Langston Boulevard Alliance. His article on Julia Roberts’ freedom suit appears in the 2025 issue of The Arlington Historical Magazine.
This April 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 through the stop light at the intersection of 26th and Old Dominion Drive.
Pass the intersection with Yorktown Road
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, April 8, 2026 to get the zoom information. Click here to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqD9Kt0kIgGA5RU7LUdKy1jNKDmA985VGTsUeqz4TTydsDhg/viewform
You’ll get an email on the morning of the event (Apr 9, 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.

New Exhibit: First in Frame: Arlington's Early Residents
2026-04-11 10:00 - 2026-06-29 16:00 | Arlington Historical Museum, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington, 22207, United States
Discover the people who helped shape Arlington. This exhibit highlights early landowners and settlers whose decisions and choices laid the foundation for the county we know today.
The Arlington Historical Museum is commemorating 250+ years of local history. This exhibit is upstairs on the 2nd floor of the museum.
The Museum is open Saturdays 10-4 PM and Sundays 1-4 PM.
It’s FREE!

New Exhibit: Mapping the Federal City, 1791: Arlington in the Original District
2026-04-11 10:00 - 2026-06-29 16:00 | Arlington Historical Museum, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington, 22207, United States
Step into the moment Arlington helped shape the nation’s capital. In 1791, surveyors under President George Washington mapped a 100-square-mile federal district along the Potomac River, placing forty sandstone boundary stones; some of which still stand in Arlington today. Learn about the people who surveyed and mapped this land.
The Arlington Historical Museum is commemorating 250+ years of local history. This exhibit is upstairs on the 2nd floor of the museum.
The Museum is open Saturdays 10-4 PM and Sundays 1-4 PM.
It’s FREE!

Ball-Sellers House Spring Celebration with Glencarlyn Community Garden
2026-04-18 10:00 - 16:00 | Ball-Sellers House, 5620 3rd Street, South, Arlington VA 22204, VA, 22312, United States
The Ball-Sellers House and the Glencarlyn Community Garden celebrate gardening. Free guided tours of the c. 1750 farmhouse from 10 AM – 4 PM.
At 1:00 PM: find out what the residents of this 276-year-old home planted in their kitchen garden over the years. Sandy Newton, Lead Gardener at Arlington House and re-enactor at Mt, Vernon will discuss colonial and early American gardens, the Civil War and Depression era gardening, Victory Gardens of WWII, and more! She’ll show you the plants and historic plots within the Ball-Sellers House kitchen garden.
Two locations: Ball-Sellers House and around the corner at the
Glencarlyn Library. FREE!

The Pike Culture Fest
2026-04-18 12:00 - 18:00 | Arlington MIll Community Center, 909 South Dinwiddie Street, Arlington, VA, 22204, United States
Join AHS as we help Columbia Pike celebrate its first ever Culture Fest — a high energy, outdoor celebration of culture, music, food, and community on the Pike! The Pike will come alive with a day of performances, music, international food, family friendly activities, and a display of AHS artifacts that shows the Pike’s “United Nations” flavor.

Rooted in History: The Ball-Sellers House Garden Story
2026-04-18 13:00 - 14:30 | VA
Find out what the residents of this 276-year-old home planted in their kitchen garden through the centuries. Sandy Newton, Lead Gardener at Arlington House and re-enactor at Mt. Vernon will show you what was often planted in colonial and early American gardens, and what gardening was like during the Civil War and Depression era, the Victory Gardens of WWII, and more!
She’ll show you the plants and historic plots within the Ball-Sellers House kitchen garden.
The Ball-Sellers House will be open for extended hours that day, from 10-4 AND we’ll ALSO be at the Glencarlyn Library around the corner on Kensington Street.
This event is in partnership with the VCE Master Gardeners of the Glencarlyn Community Garden Spring Celebration and Plant Sale: https://arlhist.org/event/ball-sellers-house-spring-celebration-with-glencarlyn-community-garden/

Julia Sues for Freedom: A Play
2026-04-18 14:00 - 15:00 | 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

Living History Day at Fort C. F. Smith
2026-04-25 12:00 - 16:00 | Fort C.F. Smith, 2411 24th Street, North, Arlington, VA, 22207, United States
Join AHS in exploring Civil War life in Arlington. Meet famed war photographer, Mathew Brady, US Colored Troops and learn where Camp Casey was located and why it was so difficult to pinpoint, see AHS artifacts from US Army camps and forts AND MORE!

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

Dedication of Two Stumbling Stones in Fairlington
2026-04-26 13:00 - 14:00 | Fairlington Villages Community Center, 3005 S. Abingdon Street, Arlington, VA, 22204, United States
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) and are placed in the sidewalk at the last known site of their enslavement. Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington’s research has revealed over 2750 enslaved people and identified 1050 by name.

We will honor two individuals once enslaved in what is now the Fairlington neighborhood. These have been approved by the civic association and the Arlington Villages Condo Assoc. The Stones will be laid in the Southeast corner of Abingdon Street and 29th Street, South.

John Carlyle owned a 250-acre plantation called Torthorwald from around 1765-1783 that covered much of Fairlington. Historical records confirm that the following two people were enslaved there.

Harry: Born ca. 1770
Milley: Born ca. 1755

See more information about the Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington project: https://enslavedarl.org/s/memorializing-the-enslaved-in-arlington/page/about

New Permanent Exhibit: Building Minds, Shaping Futures: Opening Reception
2026-04-26 13:00 - 16:00 | VA
Step into Arlington’s classrooms past and present in our newest exhibit exploring the history of public education in the county. From one-room schoolhouses to today’s innovative learning environments, discover how generations of students, teachers, and communities have shaped and been shaped by education in Arlington.
Show your school spirit! Wear something from your alma mater and pose for a school picture at the reception!
Light refreshments served.
The Museum is in the oldest existing schoolhouse in the county, the Hume School. It is open Saturdays 10-4 PM and Sundays 1-4 PM. It’s FREE!

New Exhibit: Bicentennial 1976
2026-05-02 - 2026-08-01 | Arlington Historical Museum, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington, 22207, United States
In 1976, Americans celebrated the nation’s 200th anniversary with parades, festivals, and a surge of patriotic memorabilia. From commemorative glassware to toys and keepsakes, these objects brought history into everyday life. This exhibit invites reflection on how the Bicentennial shaped public memory, and how today’s 250th looks toward a more inclusive future.
The Arlington Historical Museum is commemorating 250+ years of local history. This exhibit is upstairs on the 2nd floor of the museum.
The Museum is open Saturdays 10-4 PM and Sundays 1-4 PM.
It’s FREE!

Dedication Ceremony Honoring Two Once Enslaved People
2026-05-02 13:00 - 14:00 | Lubber Run Community Center, 300 N. Park Drive, Arlington, 22203, United States
Join us for a special dedication for Julia Roberts who will be portrayed by an historical reenactor who will talk about her enslavement and courageous path to freedom. We will also learn about the life of the young boy (his name is unknown) enslaved along with Julia in the Arlington Forest neighborhood.
Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington, 1669-1865
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 2,750 enslaved people and identified 1,045 by name.
Please join us for the Dedication Ceremony honoring two once enslaved individuals:

Julia Roberts: Born ca. 1812
Name Unknown, Boy: Born ca. 1832

Their Story
Julia Roberts, born around 1812, and a boy whose name is unknown, born around 1832, were enslaved on the farm of Anne E. Harding in 1840. Though they lived on the same farm, much is known of Julia’s life and almost nothing of the young boys.
Julia Roberts was promised freedom upon reaching the age of 25 by her first enslaver, Simon Summers. In 1844, when denied manumission, she successfully sued for it in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. The 1860 Census indicates that Julia Roberts was a free woman living in Georgetown and working as a servant. Later public records document she worked as a washer woman and cook. She fades from the records after 1870.
Little is known about the boy enslaved by Anne E. Harding in 1840 beyond his age and gender. It’s unlikely he was a blood relation of Julia Roberts, yet he endured the same dehumanizing treatment as Julia, aspired to be free, and perhaps gained his freedom through Union occupation of Arlington County or through the Emancipation Proclamation.
Both Julia Roberts and the unnamed male are not forgotten, their presence will be memorialized with these two bronze plaques.
Memorializing 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.

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!
Here is the HistFest Program
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.

New Exhibit: Who Decides? Governing Arlington Through Time
2026-05-18 08:00 - 2026-07-31 17:00 | Arlington Historical Museum, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington, 22207, United States
Explore how Arlington has been governed, and who has held the power to make decisions, over time in Who Decides? Governing Arlington Through Time. This exhibit traces the county’s evolving systems of leadership, from its early days as part of the District of Columbia to its return to Virginia and the development of today’s county board system.
Through stories of civic debate, reform, and community action, visitors will discover how Arlingtonians have shaped their government and how questions of representation, voice, and power continue to matter today.

The Arlington Historical Museum is commemorating 250+ years of local history. This exhibit is upstairs on the 2nd floor of the museum. The Museum is open Saturdays 10-4 PM and Sundays 1-4 PM.

It’s FREE!

AHS is Honoring Our Arlington Veterans
2026-05-25 11:00 - 12:00 | Clarendon Memorial, 3199 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington, VA, United States
The Arlington Historical Society is honoring Arlington’s Veterans in partnership with Veterans of Foreign Wars John Lyon Post 3150 in Arlington. Each year, Memorial Day is a time when VFW Posts, families, and neighbors come together to honor service, reflect, and say thank you to our men and women who have sacrificed much for our country.
Wreath-Laying Ceremony
11:00 AM — Clarendon War Memorial
3199 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA
(Irving St / Washington Blvd / Wilson Blvd; in the park by the Clarendon Metro Station.)
Remarks from the Post Commander and local leaders
