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X-WR-CALNAME:Arlington Historical Society
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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Arlington Historical Society
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260404T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260404T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193643
CREATED:20260116T160621Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260325T230603Z
UID:20388-1775307600-1775318400@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Handmade History Day: Ball-Sellers House Special Event
DESCRIPTION: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. \nThis 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. \nWe’ll have demonstrations of: \n\nBookmending\nDyeing\nKnitting\nPottery\nSewing\nSpinning\nWeaving\nWoodworking\nWoolcarding\n\nLight refreshments served. Free tours of the house and grounds. \nThe 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. \nThe 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. \nThis 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. \nThis event is FREE and open to the public.
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/handmade-history-day-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/2026/01/HandMade-HISTORY-IMAGE-Copy.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Arlington Historical Society":MAILTO:info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260404T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260404T140000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193643
CREATED:20260223T185105Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260325T134747Z
UID:20660-1775309400-1775311200@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Plants to Dye For
DESCRIPTION: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.\n\nCome 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.\n\nSandy 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!\n\n 
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/plants-to-dye-for/
LOCATION:Ball-Sellers House\, 5620 3rd Street\, South\, Arlington VA 22204\, VA\, 22312\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/plants-dye.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260409T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260409T203000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193643
CREATED:20260212T143040Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260212T145719Z
UID:20592-1775761200-1775766600@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Julia Roberts' Freedom Suit
DESCRIPTION: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. \nZachary 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. \nThis April 2026 event will be held at the Marymount University Library Auditorium and via Zoom. \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. \n\nFrom Glebe Road going north\, take a right onto 26th Street.\nPass through the stop light at the intersection of 26th and Old Dominion Drive.\nPass the intersection with Yorktown Road\nEnter the campus through the next gate on your left. The library is to your left as you enter the campus.\nFree 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. \nZOOM 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 \nYou’ll get an email on the morning of the event (Apr 9\, 2026) with Zoom details. \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/julia-roberts-freedom-suit/
LOCATION:Reinsch Library Auditorium\, Marymount University\, 2807 North Glebe Road\, Arlington
CATEGORIES:VA250
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/dcslavery-jail-l.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260418T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260418T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193643
CREATED:20260323T190926Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260323T191035Z
UID:20885-1776506400-1776528000@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Ball-Sellers House Spring Celebration with Glencarlyn Community Garden
DESCRIPTION:The Ball-Sellers House and the Glencarlyn Community Garden celebrate gardening. Free guided tours of the c. 1750 farmhouse from 10 AM – 4 PM. \nAt 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. \nTwo locations: Ball-Sellers House and around the corner at the\nGlencarlyn Library. FREE!
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/ball-sellers-house-spring-celebration-with-glencarlyn-community-garden/
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
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260418T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260418T150000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193643
CREATED:20260209T033348Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T134548Z
UID:20560-1776520800-1776524400@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Julia Sues for Freedom: A Play
DESCRIPTION:An original scripted reenactment brings history alive!\nJoin 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. \nBe 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. \nCast:\n\nLisa Hill Corley as Julia\nKen Jackson as Attorney Christopher Neale\nRicardo Frederick Evans as Attorney Robert J. Brent\nScott Taylor as Judge William Cranch\n\nThis event is free and open to the public. \n \nLisa Hill Corley as Julia \n \nKen Jackson as Attorney Christopher Neale \n \nRicardo Frederick Evans as Attorney Robert J. Brent \n \nScott Taylor as Judge William Cranch \n 
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/julia-sues-for-freedom/
LOCATION:Arlington Central Library Auditorium\, 1015 N. Quincy St.\, Arlington\, VA\, 22201\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Picture1.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260419T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260419T113000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193643
CREATED:20260317T144120Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T144120Z
UID:20851-1776592800-1776598200@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:History of Slavery on Roosevelt Island Walking Tour
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\n\nThis 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. \nThe 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. \nWe 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. \n\nThe 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 \n  \n 
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/history-of-slavery-on-roosevelt-island-walking-tour/
LOCATION:Theodore Rosevelt Island Pedestrian Bridge\, Theodore Roosevelt Island\, Washington\, DC\, United States
CATEGORIES:Geography,VA250
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Mason-mansion.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260425T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260425T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193643
CREATED:20260217T015458Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T143253Z
UID:20610-1777129200-1777132800@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Julia Sues for Freedom: A Play
DESCRIPTION:An original scripted reenactment brings history alive!\nJoin 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. \nBe part of the story\, be part of the jury!\nWe 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. \nCast:\n\nLisa Hill Corley as Julia\nKen Jackson as Attorney Christopher Neale\nRicardo Frederick Evans as Attorney Robert J. Brent\nScott Taylor as Judge William Cranch\n\nThis event is free and open to the public. \n \nLisa Hill Corley as Julia \n \nKen Jackson as Attorney Christopher Neale \n \nRicardo Frederick Evans as Attorney Robert J. Brent \n \nScott Taylor as Judge William Cranch
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/julia-sues-for-freedom-a-play/
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/2026/02/Picture1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260426T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260426T140000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193643
CREATED:20260325T235045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260326T013747Z
UID:20895-1777208400-1777212000@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Dedication of Two Stumbling Stones in Fairlington
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) 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.\n\n\n\nWe 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.\n\nJohn 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. \n\nHarry: Born ca. 1770\nMilley: Born ca. 1755\n\nSee more information about the Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington project: https://enslavedarl.org/s/memorializing-the-enslaved-in-arlington/page/about
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/dedication-of-two-stumbling-stones-in-fairlingtoned-in-arlington-fairlington/
LOCATION:Fairlington Villages Community Center\, 3005 S. Abingdon Street\, Arlington\, VA\, 22204\, United States
CATEGORIES:VA250
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/MEA-LogoDesignDoubleLinesAltThickness.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260509T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260509T170000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193643
CREATED:20260111T145526Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260307T135830Z
UID:20358-1778320800-1778346000@arlhist.org
SUMMARY:Arlington HistoryFest 250
DESCRIPTION: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. \n“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.” \nProgramming 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. \nThe 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. \n“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. \n“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.” \nAdmission: FREE!\nOrganizations wishing to participate\, click here. \nPeople wishing to volunteer\, click here. \nFor More information: https://arlhist.org/arlington-va250/ \nor email AHS at: info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org \n \nOfficial Sponsors:\n \nHosted by Kenmore Middle School\n\nPartners:\n     \n \n 
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/arlington-historyfest-250/
LOCATION:Kenmore MIddle School\, 200 S. Carlin Springs Rd\, Arlington\, VA\, 22204\, United States
CATEGORIES:VA250
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Fest-Final-Logo-v2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260516T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260516T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T193643
CREATED:20260217T020404Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260217T020404Z
UID:20613-1778938200-1778947200@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 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. \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.
URL:https://arlhist.org/event/george-washingtons-forest-guided-walking-tour-2/
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/2026/02/map-of-walk-600x516-1.jpg
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