Past Events

The Power of Place: Built by the People Themselves

Reinsch Library Auditorium, Marymount University 2807 North Glebe Road, Arlington

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 […]

Can’t You Hear Me Calling: Tales and Tunes from Arlington’s Bluegrass History

Reinsch Library Auditorium, Marymount University 2807 North Glebe Road, Arlington

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 […]

Free

Early Days of the Civil War Defenses of Washington: From Fort Sumter to First Bull Run

Reinsch Library Auditorium, Marymount University 2807 North Glebe Road, Arlington

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 […]

Annual AHS Member Meeting

Reinsch Library Auditorium, Marymount University 2807 North Glebe Road, Arlington

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 […]

Who Owns the Potomac and Why?

Reinsch Library Auditorium, Marymount University 2807 North Glebe Road, Arlington

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 […]

The Outstanding Women of the Ball-Sellers House

Reinsch Library Auditorium, Marymount University 2807 North Glebe Road, Arlington

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 […]

Columbia Pike Documentary Project: The Road We’re On

Reinsch Library Auditorium, Marymount University 2807 North Glebe Road, Arlington

The Columbia Pike Documentary Project (CPDP) is a multidisciplinary history of Columbia Pike, one of America's oldest roads and most ethnically diverse communities. Team members Paula Endo, Lloyd Wolf, Mimi Xang Ho, Duy Tran, Aleksandra Lagkueva, Lara Ajami, Sushmita Mazumdar, and Moises Gomez have been using photography and oral history to document life along the […]

United States Colored Troops at Camp Casey, 1863-1865

Reinsch Library Auditorium, Marymount University 2807 North Glebe Road, Arlington

During the Civil War Camp Casey on Arlington Heights saw the organization of the Second and Twenty-Third United States Colored Troops – the only regiments raised in Arlington County during the conflict. Although the camp and the regiments went unmentioned in the history of Arlington published during the US bicentennial, they played an important role […]

Copyright 2025 Arlington Historical Society. All rights reserved.