Alexandria cemetery tours and historical expeditions led by working historians
America’s Most Historic Cemetery Complex Tour
The Crown Jewel Experience
Walk among 35,000+ stories in the only place where George Washington’s pallbearers, a Soviet spy, and the highest-ranking Confederate general rest within a single square mile.
This is the tour that sets us apart. Led by David Heiby—cemetery superintendent and the historian who rediscovered Washington’s lost pallbearer after 200 years—this exclusive experience reveals discoveries that took decades to uncover.
What Makes This Unique
- Exclusive access to America’s Most Historic Cemetery Complex
- Recently rediscovered graves including George Washington’s pallbearer Col. George Gilpin (2024)
- Stories found nowhere else from archives and records other operators can’t access
- Working historian guide who made the discoveries personally
- 13 historic cemeteries (1796-1933) in one remarkable location
Tour Highlights
- George Washington’s lost pallbearer — rediscovered after 200 years through ground-penetrating radar
- Codename ‘Zhora’: The spy who blinded America — Cold War espionage with devastating consequences
- “The war began in my front yard and ended in my parlor” — history’s most extraordinary Civil War coincidence
- The Female Stranger of Room 8 — Alexandria’s greatest unsolved mystery for over 200 years
- The Confederate general who outranked Robert E. Lee — forgotten story that rewrites Civil War hierarchy
- …and many more extraordinary discoveries waiting to be revealed
Details
Duration: 90 minutes
Location: 1475–1501 Wilkes Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
Schedule: Wednesday through Sunday, various times
Rating: 5.0 on TripAdvisor & Viator | “Among Alexandria’s top-rated attractions”
Pricing
Public Tours
$30 per person
Private Groups (1-6)
$300
Private Groups (7-12)
$400
Exclusive Alexandria Historical Tours
Old Presbyterian Meeting House Tour
Where Patriots Planned Revolution
Step inside one of Alexandria’s most sacred Revolutionary War sites—the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, still an active congregation after 250+ years. Led by David Heiby, lifelong member (60+ years) and working historian.
Exclusive Access
- Private sanctuary tour of the church rebuilt in 1837 after the 1835 fire
- Historic burial ground with Revolutionary War patriots
- Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution (1929)
- Stories of Dr. James Craik (Washington’s personal physician) and other founding fathers
How to Book
No guide fee; please make a donation to the church (suggested $350 per group, up to 10).
Prefer a public tour of the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex? See our FAQ or view dates on Viator
Alexandria Firefighting History Tour
Blazes, Bravery, and Rising from Ashes
Discover Alexandria’s dramatic firefighting legacy with fire historian Catherine Weinraub. From the 1852 tragedy that killed volunteer firefighter Charles Glasscock to the devastating 1871 City Hall fire—stories of courage that shaped the city.
Tour Highlights
- Sites of Alexandria’s most devastating 19th-century fires
- Legacy of the Friendship Fire Company (one of America’s oldest)
- Memorial sites honoring fallen firefighters
- How disasters shaped Alexandria’s development
Pricing
Ivy Hill Cemetery Tour
Victorian Elegance and Notable Lives
Explore Alexandria’s most elegant Victorian cemetery under the expert guidance of Catherine Weinraub, Historian of the Ivy Hill Cemetery Historical Preservation Society. This 90-minute walking tour reveals inspiring stories of resilience and determination from notable individuals who shaped Alexandria’s history.
Tour Highlights
- Apothecary owners, bank founders, and treaty writers who built Alexandria
- Hotel proprietors and numerous veterans from multiple American conflicts
- Victorian funeral customs and practices with unique historical insights
- Exclusive viewing of the historic receiving vault
- Stories of resilience and determination from Alexandria’s notable citizens
Pricing
Civil War Battlefield Expeditions
Full-Day Historical Immersion – Step beyond Alexandria into the heart of Civil War history with 25+ years of battlefield guiding expertise.
Antietam Battlefield Tour
America’s Bloodiest Single Day
Walk the ground where 23,000+ Americans fell on September 17, 1862. Experience the Miller’s Cornfield, Bloody Lane, and Burnside’s Bridge with expert Civil War historian David Heiby.
Tour Highlights
- Miller’s Cornfield where fighting reached unimaginable intensity
- Bloody Lane—a sunken road turned mass grave
- Burnside’s Bridge and the climactic southern assault
- Antietam National Cemetery with on-site interpretation
Options
South Mountain Battlefield Tour
The Prelude to Antietam
Climb the ridges where Union and Confederate forces first clashed in Maryland. Explore Crampton’s Gap, Fox’s Gap, and Turner’s Gap with hiking and historical interpretation.
Options
Harpers Ferry Tour
Where John Brown Ignited a Nation
From Brown’s 1859 raid to the 1862 Confederate siege, explore the flashpoint where moral conviction met military strategy.
Tour Highlights
- Kennedy Farm House (Brown’s preparation site)
- John Brown’s Fort (final standoff location)
- Bolivar Heights (largest U.S. surrender until WWII)
- Jefferson County Courthouse (Brown’s trial site)
Options
Historical Investigation Tours
Lincoln Assassination Escape Route
Following Booth’s 12-Day Manhunt
Trace John Wilkes Booth’s dramatic escape from Ford’s Theatre through Southern Maryland’s backroads. A full-day investigation of America’s most famous manhunt.
Led by historian David Heiby, this immersive experience uncovers the lives of the conspirators, the ordinary civilians caught in the aftermath, and the overlooked tragedies that marked the final days of the Civil War.
Key Stops
- Ford’s Theatre & Baptist Alley – where Booth shot Lincoln and fled on horseback
- The Petersen House – where Lincoln died the following morning
- Surratt Boarding House – the conspirators’ central meeting place
- Kirkwood House Hotel – where Vice President Andrew Johnson stayed the night of the assassination
- Surratt’s Tavern – Booth’s first stop for weapons and supplies
- Dr. Samuel Mudd’s Farm – where Booth’s broken leg was treated
- Remote hideouts in rural Maryland – where Booth received aid and evaded capture
- Pope’s Creek Landing – where Booth attempted to cross the Potomac River into Virginia
Details
Why Choose Our Tours
Working Historians, Not Tour Guides
Our guides are the researchers who made the discoveries, not entertainers reciting scripts.
Exclusive Access & Stories
Visit locations and hear stories unavailable through other operators—from cemetery superintendent privileges to decades of primary source research.
Academic Recognition
Research cited in Dictionary of Virginia Biography and endorsed by City of Alexandria for National Register nomination.
Perfect 5.0 Rating
Consistent excellence across TripAdvisor and Viator with praise for unique discoveries, accuracy, and access.
25+ Years of Expertise
Led by historians with decades of battlefield guiding, archival research, and site-specific knowledge.
Featured Recognition
Featured in Emerging Civil War and research contributed to National Register of Historic Places nominations.
Meet Your Historians
David Heiby
Public historian, cemetery superintendent, and founder of Gravestone Stories
Over 25 years guiding Civil War battlefields and 10+ years as steward of Alexandria’s Presbyterian Cemetery. Research cited by Library of Virginia and featured in Emerging Civil War.
Catherine Weinraub
Fire historian and expert, historian at Ivy Hill Cemetery
Specialist in Alexandria’s firefighting legacy and urban development. Historian at Ivy Hill Cemetery.
Reserve Your Historical Experience
Phone: (703) 869-0872
Email: dave@gravestonestories.com
Available Tours:
Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex (Public & Private) • Old Presbyterian Meeting House (Private Only) • Alexandria Firefighting History • Ivy Hill Cemetery Tour • Civil War Battlefield Expeditions • Lincoln Assassination Investigation • Custom Historical Experiences
Group Options:
Corporate and educational group discounts available • Custom itineraries for special interests • Multi-day historical immersion experiences • Academic and genealogical research tours
Most tours available year-round by advance request. Public cemetery tours run Wednesday through Sunday.
Explore our interactive maps or browse 50+ notable burial profiles featured on our tours.
Have questions? Visit our FAQ page for tour details and booking information.
Select tours visit nationally recognized sites including Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site and Antietam National Battlefield.
