Old Town Roots: 250 years of Resilience

Service Description

As the nation celebrates America 250, we invite you to look closer at the Port City of Alexandria. Beyond the near by federal facades lies a 250-year legacy of Black courage, enterprise, and unbreakable spirit. Old Town Roots: 250 Years of Black Resilience From the harrowing history of the domestic slave trade to the thriving neighborhoods of free Black citizens and the revolutionary spirit of the 1939 Library Sit-In, we are tracing the timeline of those who built, shaped, and redefined Alexandria. Tour Highlights: Old Town -- Uncovering the stories of free and enslaved people who persevered in this Southern city. Freedom House Museum -- Gathering a view the site of one of the nation’s largest domestic slave trading firms during the 1800's. The Contrabands & Freedmen Cemetery-- Honoring those who sought refuge in Alexandria during the Civil War. The Parker-Gray Heritage -- Celebrating the educators and icons who built a community that still stands strong today.