Arlington Historical Society

Arlington Historical Society Our mission: strengthen our community through a better understanding of its diverse history. Built in 1891, it is the oldest school building in Arlington. Free.
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The Arlington Historical Society's goal is to help strengthen our community through a better understanding of our history. We do that in many ways: a key one is to promote awareness of Arlington history through our two museums, monthly public presentations, and community outreach. The Arlington Historical Museum is located at 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road at the former Hume School. You can walk

through Arlington history on a self-guided tour from Native Americans through 9/11. The museum is open every Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 pm. The Ball Sellers House Museum is at 5620 3rd Street South in Arlington. You can step back through time to see how middle-class farmers lived in the Colonial era. Knowledgeable docents provide interactive free tours to the public of this home built in the 1750s. It is open Saturdays 1:00-4:00 from April through October. We welcome group tours at both our museums during regular hours or at your convenience and can tailor the experience to your interests. Please contact us for more information.

Arlington’s 2001 bicentennial offered a chance to review the past, look to the futureby Scott McCaffrey for ArlNowWhen p...
06/06/2026

Arlington’s 2001 bicentennial offered a chance to review the past, look to the future
by Scott McCaffrey for ArlNow
When plans were announced for Arlington’s bicentennial celebration in 2001, one question emerged among county residents: It was the bicentennial of what, exactly? The year-long series of events marked the 200th anniversary of the incorporation of modern-day Arlington into D.C. in 1801. To create the federal district, a new “Federal County of Alexandria” consisting of modern-day Arlington and Alexandria was carved out of Fairfax County.
READ MORE: https://www.arlnow.com/2026/06/05/arlingtons-2001-bicentennial-offered-a-chance-to-review-the-past-look-to-the-future/

You can see a 250 Commemorative Exhibit: "Mapping the Federal City" about this event in Arlington's history at the Arlington Historical Museum
1805 South Arlington Ridge Rd, Sat 10-4 and Sun 1-4

15 Minute History: Escuela Key ElementarySun, Jun 7, 2026 @ 2 PMArlington Historical Museum1805 S. Arlington Ridge Rd.Jo...
06/06/2026

15 Minute History: Escuela Key Elementary
Sun, Jun 7, 2026 @ 2 PM
Arlington Historical Museum
1805 S. Arlington Ridge Rd.
Join us for a 15 Minute History exploring the history of Escuela Key Elementary and Arlington’s groundbreaking Spanish immersion program. Hear from longtime educators and administrators Evelyn Fernandez and Dr. Marjorie Myers to learn how Key became one of the world’s most recognized bilingual schools, shaping generations of students through dual-language education.
Evelyn Fernandez helped launch Arlington’s first Spanish immersion program at Key in 1986 and spent decades supporting bilingual education across APS. Dr. Marjorie Myers, principal of Key from 1995–2018, led the school to international recognition as a model immersion program.

Come for the discussion, stay for a self-guided tour of Arlington's diverse history and our new exhibit: "Building Minds, Shaping Futures" the history of Arlington Education as well as the FOUR new exhibits highlighting 250 years showing how Arlington history is American history!
https://arlhist.org/event/15-minute-history-escuela-key-elementary/

An Arlington VA 250 Exhibit: First in Frame: Arlington’s Early ResidentsNow through June 30Discover the people who helpe...
06/06/2026

An Arlington VA 250 Exhibit: First in Frame: Arlington’s Early Residents
Now through June 30
Discover the people who helped shape Arlington. This exhibit highlights early landowners and settlers whose decisions and choices laid the foundation for the county we know today.

The Arlington Historical Museum is commemorating 250+ years of local history. This exhibit is upstairs on the 2nd floor of the museum.

The Museum is open Saturdays 10-4 PM and Sundays 1-4 PM.
1805 S. Arlington Ridge Rd.

The museum has THREE other Arlington VA250 exhibits:
- Mapping the Federal City, 1791: Arlington in the Original District
- Bicentennial 1976
- Who Decides? Governing Arlington Through Time!
See them all PLUS a new permanent exhibit: Building Minds, Shaping Futures: The History of Arlington Education

15 Minute History: Escuela Key ElementarySun, Jun 7, 2026 @ 2 PMArlington Historical Museum1805 S. Arlington Ridge Rd.Jo...
06/05/2026

15 Minute History: Escuela Key Elementary
Sun, Jun 7, 2026 @ 2 PM
Arlington Historical Museum
1805 S. Arlington Ridge Rd.
Join us for a 15 Minute History exploring the history of Escuela Key Elementary and Arlington’s groundbreaking Spanish immersion program. Hear from longtime educators and administrators Evelyn Fernandez and Dr. Marjorie Myers to learn how Key became one of the world’s most recognized bilingual schools, shaping generations of students through dual-language education.
Evelyn Fernandez helped launch Arlington’s first Spanish immersion program at Key in 1986 and spent decades supporting bilingual education across APS. Dr. Marjorie Myers, principal of Key from 1995–2018, led the school to international recognition as a model immersion program.

Come for the discussion, stay for a self-guided tour of Arlington's diverse history and our new exhibit: "Building Minds, Shaping Futures" the history of Arlington Education as well as the FOUR mini exhibits highlighting 250 years showing how Arlington history is American history!
https://arlhist.org/event/15-minute-history-escuela-key-elementary/

Wooden Hulls & Rag-Tag Fleets: From the Continental to the US NavyFriday, Jun 5 @ 7 PMThe Atheneum, 201 Prince Street, A...
06/04/2026

Wooden Hulls & Rag-Tag Fleets: From the Continental to the US Navy
Friday, Jun 5 @ 7 PM
The Atheneum, 201 Prince Street, Alexandria
A free Panel Discussion
Together with the Athenaeum, the ALEXANDRIA Historical Society will host a Free, Family-Friendly, Friday Event as a prelude to the following week’s Sails on the Potomac. Our panel of experts will give us an overview of the dramatic early days of the US Navy and its predecessor, the Continental Navy. The night will include:
• Dr. Tom Sheppard, author of "Commanding Petty Despots" discussing the creation of the Continental Navy, its officer corps, and the accomplishments & struggles of
the American Revolutionary war at sea.
• Mr. Chris Martin from the Naval History & Heritage Command, will describe what
some of the early Navy ships were like.
• A Crewmember of Alexandria's own Tall Ship, The Providence, a reproduction of the
first Continental Navy ship, will share information about the ship and the following
week's Sails on the Potomac, part of Sails 250.
• A taste of LIQUID HISTORY that leads from British/Spanish Caribbean clashes in
the 1750s and the War of Jenkins’ Ear to Alexandria’s local history.
Space is limited so let them know you are coming. READ MORE and: https://www.nvfaa.org/events/wooden-hulls-rag-tag-fleets-from-the-continental-to-the-us-navy

15 Minute History: Escuela Key ElementaryJun 7, 2026 @ 2 PMArlington Historical Museum1805 S. Arlington Ridge Rd.Join us...
06/04/2026

15 Minute History: Escuela Key Elementary
Jun 7, 2026 @ 2 PM
Arlington Historical Museum
1805 S. Arlington Ridge Rd.

Join us for a 15 Minute History exploring the history of Escuela Key Elementary and Arlington’s groundbreaking Spanish immersion program. Hear from longtime educators and administrators Evelyn Fernandez and Dr. Marjorie Myers to learn how Key became one of the world’s most recognized bilingual schools, shaping generations of students through dual-language education.

Evelyn Fernandez helped launch Arlington’s first Spanish immersion program at Key in 1986 and spent decades supporting bilingual education across APS. Dr. Marjorie Myers, principal of Key from 1995–2018, led the school to international recognition as a model immersion program.

Come for the discussion, stay for a self-guided tour of Arlington's diverse history and our new exhibit: "Building Minds, Shaping Futures" the history of Arlington Education as well as the FOUR mini exhibits highlighting 250 years showing how Arlington history is American history!

The Ball-Sellers House folks are walking in this year’s Glencarlyn Heritage Parade. YOU can too!We’ll gather at 11:30 on...
06/03/2026

The Ball-Sellers House folks are walking in this year’s Glencarlyn Heritage Parade. YOU can too!

We’ll gather at 11:30 on Saturday, Jun 6, at the Ball-Sellers House (11:00 if you need to don our outfits) then walk over to the parade line up around the block to join the parade and step off at 12 noon.

This year, in keeping with the 250 theme, you can wear any era of clothing you want. Yes, we have colonial era clothing for you. But you can feel free to peruse your wardrobe for any other style of clothing you want. The Ball-Sellers House had people living in its since at least 1750 until we received it from Marian Sellers in 1975. So all eras of clothing style can represent us! Please email AHS SOONEST to let us know you’re walking with us: [email protected] . Feel free to bring a friend/relative/neighbor to join in or just watch the small town fun commemorating a big time milestone!

Come for the parade, stay for a free guided tour of the oldest building in county (1-4 PM)!

"Bridges of Washington: The Virginia Side"Thu, Jun 11, 2026 @ 7:15Aurora Hills Community Center (adjacent to the library...
06/02/2026

"Bridges of Washington: The Virginia Side"
Thu, Jun 11, 2026 @ 7:15
Aurora Hills Community Center (adjacent to the library)
735 18th Street, South
Join us for a talk about the Virginia bridges to Washington with author Bob Dover hosted by the Arlington Historical Society (AHS).

In the late 1700s, the first bridges, now gone, connected the new Federal City to the outside world. More and bigger crossings arose to support industry, allow the expansion of suburbs, commemorate cultural and civic leaders, and enhance the aesthetics of the District’s waterfronts and parks. Using the city’s bridges as an index of the times, our speaker, author Bob Dover tracks how connecting to Virginia impacted both Virginia and DC from the 1750s to today.

Our speaker’s book “Bridge of Washington, D.C: A History and Guide” will be available sale at this event and the author will be happy to sign it.

See details here: https://arlhist.org/event/bridges-of-washington-dc-the-virginia-side/ on free parking, best public transit options, or Zoom registration. This event immediately follows an brief AHS members meeting.

Address

1805 S Arlington Ridge Road
Arlington, VA
22202

Opening Hours

Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 1pm - 4pm

Telephone

+17038924204

Website

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