What Is Gravestone Stories?
A digital museum of Alexandria’s cemetery history — created and curated by public historian and cemetery steward David Heiby, who believes every grave has a story worth telling.
Sharing Alexandria’s Buried History
Our mission is to connect people with the stories of Alexandria’s past through accurate, compelling, and accessible public history — honoring those laid to rest in Alexandria’s historic cemeteries and ensuring their stories endure for generations to come.
Through engaging cemetery tours, rigorous archival research, and innovative digital tools, Gravestone Stories brings to life the people and events that shaped our city and nation — from Revolutionary War patriots and Civil War soldiers to Cold War spies and unsung Alexandrians whose stories have long been overlooked.
Gravestone Stories presents American history through the lens of local memory and burial, integrating digital humanities, archival sources, and community engagement. It serves visitors, researchers, genealogists, educators, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Alexandria’s past. This is more than a tour — it is a living archive that continues to grow through ongoing research and discovery.
We do this by:
Offering guided tours with deep, source-driven interpretation of the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex — the most historic cluster of cemeteries in the United States
Providing free self-guided resources, maps, and narratives for independent exploration
Publishing thoroughly researched biographies and articles that bring untold stories to life
Supporting historic preservation through documentation, digital access, and public engagement
How Gravestone Stories Began
Gravestone Stories began as David’s personal project to preserve and share Alexandria’s forgotten cemetery histories. What started as a small online repository has, since 2022, grown into a comprehensive public-history platform — and one of Alexandria’s most widely used historical resources, reaching thousands of visitors each month from across the country.
Our work is cited by museums, researchers, genealogists, Wikipedia editors, and the Library of Virginia’s Dictionary of Virginia Biography — reflecting the platform’s role as a trusted reference for Alexandria’s cemetery history. This broad engagement helps ensure that the lives and stories buried in these historic grounds remain visible, discoverable, and part of the public record.
What Sets This Archive Apart
Every narrative shared on Gravestone Stories is grounded in primary sources and original fieldwork — not guidebooks, not secondary summaries. Here’s what makes this platform different.
Primary Sources, Every Time
Every narrative is grounded in primary sources — cemetery logs, military records, city archives, descendant letters, family papers, and archaeological documentation.
A Decade of On-Site Stewardship
David has spent more than a decade walking, mapping, and stewarding the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex and has overseen hundreds of funerals as superintendent of the Presbyterian Cemetery. His intimate familiarity with the landscape and records provides insights available nowhere else.
Rooted in Alexandria’s Historical Community
Gravestone Stories works alongside preservation groups, historical societies, educators, and cultural institutions to expand public access to Alexandria’s history.
New Discoveries Every Week
Our digital platform continues to expand weekly — documenting Alexandria’s past through research, biographies, maps, and historical contextualization that no printed guide can keep pace with.
In the Press & On the Stage
Gravestone Stories has been recognized by local and national media outlets, academic institutions, and historical societies — and David Heiby is a sought-after presenter for organizations interested in Alexandria’s buried history.
In the News
Featured in Emerging Civil War, Visit Alexandria’s America250 campaign, The Zebra Press, Alexandria Times, and the DAR National Blog — covering our tours, original research, and preservation work across Alexandria’s historic cemeteries.
Professional Engagements
David Heiby has presented to DAR and SAR chapters, genealogical societies, Civil War roundtables, and historical institutions across the region — with talks on Alexandria’s cemeteries, original discoveries, and the individuals buried within them.
David Heiby, Public Historian
Gravestone Stories is led by David Heiby — public historian, cemetery steward, and founder of the platform. David collaborates with local historians, descendant families, and archival institutions, drawing on years of research in Alexandria’s Special Collections, cemetery records, and primary documents.
- Superintendent, Presbyterian Cemetery & Columbarium
- Treasurer, Virginia Trust for Historic Preservation (Lee-Fendall House Museum)
- Treasurer, Alexandria Historical Society
- Member, Alexandria Archaeology Commission Subcommittee — Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex National Register Nomination
- America250 Alexandria Committee Member
- Community Partner, Lee-Fendall House Museum
An Independent Public History Project
Gravestone Stories is an independent public-history project created and led by David Heiby. The institutional roles listed on this website reflect verified positions within the named organizations.
Editorial Standards
Only individuals explicitly listed on this website are affiliated with Gravestone Stories or authorized to represent its research, tours, or content. Past collaborations or one-time events do not constitute ongoing affiliation.
All narratives, biographies, and interpretive materials are based on primary sources, archival documents, and field research, and are regularly reviewed for accuracy.
External use of the Gravestone Stories name, research, or written content requires prior written permission.
Your Gateway to Alexandria’s Past
Whether you’re a visitor, researcher, student, or local resident — explore Alexandria’s history through our tours, lectures, research, and digital archives, and discover how the past connects to the present.
Only in Alexandria · Only at Wilkes Street
Page last updated: March 2026