Alexandria Archaeology Museum

Alexandria Archaeology Museum The Alexandria Archaeology Museum is a division of the City's Office of Historic Alexandria and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

In the 18th and 19th centuries if you needed to light a fire or a candle, instead of reaching for a lighter or a match y...
05/27/2026

In the 18th and 19th centuries if you needed to light a fire or a candle, instead of reaching for a lighter or a match you may have used a strike-a-light. Archaeologists found this example while conducting a conservation assessment of the collection from the Robinson Landing Site (44X235, FS 987). The user would strike a flint against this iron object producing a very hot spark that could then be used to ignite kindling.

Alexandria Archaeology Summer Camp is officially one month away! There are only a few spots left for ages 13 - 15 to lea...
05/22/2026

Alexandria Archaeology Summer Camp is officially one month away! There are only a few spots left for ages 13 - 15 to learn archaeological field and lab methods on a real archaeological site. Learn more and register at alexandriava.gov/go/1583.

Archaeologists came across an old friend while conducting a conservation assessment of the Robinson Landing Site (44AX23...
05/20/2026

Archaeologists came across an old friend while conducting a conservation assessment of the Robinson Landing Site (44AX235) collection. This Westerwald mug or tankard was found in the land fill material below ship 3 (Feature 159). Serendipitously, it was actually found while our collections manager was digging a small hole around and below the keel of the ship in order to loop through some strapping for removing the keel from the site back in 2018. A few months ago, she found it again while assessing the Robinson Landing collection.

Four Mile Run is surrounded by history! Learn how the local landscape has changed over the centuries through photos, map...
05/15/2026

Four Mile Run is surrounded by history! Learn how the local landscape has changed over the centuries through photos, maps, and objects. Come find Alexandria Archaeology at Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market, 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 17.

Archaeologists came across this lead bale seal while conducting a conservation assessment of the collection from the Rob...
05/06/2026

Archaeologists came across this lead bale seal while conducting a conservation assessment of the collection from the Robinson Landing Site (44AX235). Lead seals were placed on bags or bales of goods to show either that the product met a quality standard, that the tax on the goods had been paid, or to indicate ownership. This one was excavated from a cleaned out privy (Feature 157, FS 1142), though it came from modern construction fill near the top of the feature, making it difficult to connect this artifact to historic uses of the site.

To wrap up Records Management Month, we wanted to highlight our partnership with our colleagues over at Archives. Archae...
04/28/2026

To wrap up Records Management Month, we wanted to highlight our partnership with our colleagues over at Archives. Archaeological collections are more than just artifacts, they also include field records, maps, and project correspondence. We retain physical and digital versions of these in our offices but send originals to the City Archives for long-term curation. One of our interns this spring has been digitizing records and found these 1988 field notes from the 44AX105 site that humanize the work that has been done in the past. By making multiple copies and storing them in different locations, we ensure that project documentation remains accessible even if one of these spaces were to suffer a disaster. Digitizing these records and storing them on networks that are regularly backed up provides not just "Joy, Rapture!," but adds another layer of protection too.

While assessing the Robinson Landing Site (44AX235) collection, staff came across this bone artifact that may be part of...
04/21/2026

While assessing the Robinson Landing Site (44AX235) collection, staff came across this bone artifact that may be part of a puppet. The foot/shoe has a hole through it which may have originally had a string attached to help articulate the puppet, like a marionette. It was found within the footprint of a waterfront warehouse (Feature 125). Puppet shows were a fashionable form of entertainment for all ages in the 18th and 19th centuries, as seen in this May 1846 newspaper announcing Signor Veronias' show at the Lyceum. While this foot may not have belonged to a theatre-worthy puppet as it is fairly simple, it did likely provide amusement for those living and working on the waterfront.

Do you have taxes on the mind? So do we! 18th and 19th century tax lists are a valuable source of information for unders...
04/14/2026

Do you have taxes on the mind? So do we! 18th and 19th century tax lists are a valuable source of information for understanding and tracking early Alexandrians. In 1782, Virginia revised its tax laws, including those on land, as well as personal property like horses, cattle, wheeled vehicles like carriages and riding chairs, and tavern (ordinary) licenses. People were also considered tithables, depending on their s*x, race, and age, and were tallied in the documents as such. Starting in 1787, tax collectors walked from door to door to collect taxes, providing a better idea of who lived near each other. This 1787 tax record lists Robert Harl as a free Black Alexandrian who owned one cow, and either a horse or mule.

April is Records Management Month! We have been digitizing slides as part of our efforts to preserve our collections an...
04/08/2026

April is Records Management Month! We have been digitizing slides as part of our efforts to preserve our collections and make them more accessible. While we work, we can't help but think like archaeologists. Street views with cars provide information about when the image may have been taken - much like a diagnostic ceramic found in the ground. Both can help determine the earliest possible date after which an event may have happened, also known as the TPQ (terminus post quem). See if you can ID the circled car in front of 419 Prince Street. We'll drop the answer in the comments on April 9.

Potomac Yard was once the location of the Alexanders mid-1700s Preston Plantation. Despite Charles Alexander's stipulati...
03/31/2026

Potomac Yard was once the location of the Alexanders mid-1700s Preston Plantation. Despite Charles Alexander's stipulation that his daughters would not inherit his land, the estate was largely managed by women after his death and until its sale to the railyard in 1906. On the last day of Women's History Month, take a moment to learn more about their role in the estate and about the lives of the enslaved women, children, and men who were held in bo***ge there. A new sign about the Women of Preston was installed two weeks ago at North Potomac Yard Park, to the north of East Reed Avenue, and will soon be added to the Alexandria Historical Sign Finder interactive map. You can also read more about the site's history at alexandriava.gov/go/1699.

Address

105 North Union Street #327
Alexandria, VA
22314

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 4pm
Wednesday 11am - 4pm
Thursday 11am - 4pm
Friday 11am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm

Telephone

+17037464399

Website

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