The Alexandria Forum The Alexandria Forum In the 1950s, the Alexandria Association imagined the Alexandria Forum as an annual showcase for the study of architecture, the related arts, and life in and around Alexandria. The first one was held in 1959 in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation called “Early Architecture of Alexandria and Northern Virginia.” The Forum explored everything from Period Decorative Arts to the Alexandria Waterfront, with its last session in 2010. The Office of Historic Alexandria is resuming this conference and its mission to share research insights into Alexandria’s rich and complex history. Alexandria Forum 2026 “Nothing But Independence”: Alexandria and the Revolutionary War September 18, 2026 Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum The American Revolution in Virginia was more than a war – it was a Revolution of Ideas that continues today. From the creation of the Fairfax Resolves to the hometown of George Washington, Alexandria and this region played a unique role in the birth of the new nation. The Alexandria Forum, in partnership with Emerging Revolutionary War, will share the history of Alexandria and Northern Virginia during this critical time in history, showcasing how these moments in time reverberate through today. Tickets are $60 per person, $40 for OHA members and students. | 9 a.m. | Welcome | | The 25 Who Signed: Researching the Fairfax Resolves Signers Kerry Mitchell | | | Break | | | A Tory in Old Town, The Revolutionary War Journal of Nicholas Cresswell Ken Bancroft | | | 11:30 a.m. | Lunch in Old Town Alexandria | | 1:30 p.m. | Alexandria City Hall, Market Square, and Slavery Greg Beaman | | Break | | | Prelude to Yorktown: Lafayette and the 1781 Virginia Campaign John Maass | | | Concluding Remarks | | | 4 p.m. | Reception at The Lyceum | After the Forum, join us at the Gadsby's Tavern Museum's Tavern Games Night! Game night includes historic tavern games, a brief presentation, and trivia. You'll also be able to enjoy a beer or cider and light snacks! Cost is $10 – and Forum attendees will receive one free drink! Game night starts at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance. 2023: The Waterfront Revisited: Birth and Rebirth, 1730-2023 The 2023 symposium explored the theme of revisiting the history of the Alexandria Waterfront through new research lenses, technologies, excavations, and sources. Presentations wove together the many strands of historical evidence currently under examination, from deeds to store ledgers, from manifests to material culture, to provide new insights.