Historic Alexandria invites Homeschool Families Behind the Scenes

Explore four City museums through monthly program

The Office of Historic Alexandria is welcoming homeschool families “behind the scenes” of four of the City of Alexandria’s historic sites through the 2014-2015 Homeschool Class series.   From December through April, each month participants will have the opportunity to see collection items not typically on display, meet with museum staff, and engage in hands-on activities and discussions. 

All classes are designed for family groups, recommended for ages 6 and up, and will be hosted on select Tuesdays from 1-2:30 p.m. with check-in opening at 12:45 p.m.  Tickets are $8 per child, adults free.  Pre-registration is required, and tickets can be purchased online at shop.alexandriava.gov or by calling 703.746.4242. 

The dates, themes, and locations are as follows:

Tuesday, December 16—Chocolate: From Bean to Drink.  Learn how chocolate goes from cocoa bean to beverage in the 18^th century.  Participants will participate in the process and taste a final product.  Hosted at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal Street.

Tuesday, January 27—The Making of an Exhibit.  Meet the curator of The Lyceum’s new exhibit, Explore the Attic, and learn how an exhibit goes from concept to script to objects on display.  Hosted at The Lyceum, Alexandria’s History Museum, 201 S. Washington Street.

Tuesday, February 17—Bringing History to Life: Recreating Washington’s Birthnight Ball.  In honor of George Washington’s birthday, learn how the citizens of Alexandria would celebrate his birthday in the late 1790s at Gadsby’s Tavern.  Includes opportunity to wear reproduction clothing and a period dance lesson.  Hosted at Gadsby’s Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal Street.

Tuesday, March 17—How Museums Care for Objects.  Learn how museums store, care for, and treat an object in order to preserve it for generations to come.  Hosted at Friendship Firehouse Museum, 107 S. Alfred Street.

Tuesday, April 21—Honoring the Past: Alexandria Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery.  Join the Director of the Alexandria Black History Museum as she takes you through the 20-year process from rediscovering to reopening and remembering this significant part of Alexandria’s story.  Hosted at Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street.

The Office of Historic Alexandria enhances the quality of life for City residents and visitors by preserving and interpreting Alexandria’s historic properties, archaeological sites, cultural resources, artifact collections, objects, archives, records, and personal stories, and by encouraging audiences to appreciate Alexandria's diverse historic heritage and its place within the broader context of American history.  For more information about the Office of Historic Alexandria, it’s museums, and upcoming events, visit historicalexandria.org.