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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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+ […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]