Where historical research meets living interpretation.
Gravestone Stories research is increasingly cited by leading institutions, including the Library of Virginia’s Dictionary of Virginia Biography and Wikipedia, underscoring its role as a trusted source for Alexandria’s burial history and biographical scholarship.
Historic Preservation Impact
Through meticulous documentation of more than 300 historically significant individuals, Gravestone Stories contributed substantially to the City of Alexandria’s official endorsement of the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex nomination to the National Register of Historic Places—recognizing it as a “collection of sacred grounds that spans centuries of events, racial, social, and military change.”
“This is an opportunity for our City to add another site of historic significance to the National Register of Historic Places that is both locally and nationally relevant.”
— James F. Parajon, City Manager of Alexandria (July 2025)
National Recognition
“Heiby gives those buried in his, as well as the surrounding sections, a ‘second life,’ not only by recounting their tales on tours, but also online for generations to come through high-quality digitization and plot profiles.”
— Emerging Civil War, May 2025
This research has been recognized for transforming the study of Alexandria’s historic cemeteries into accessible public scholarship that bridges archival investigation, preservation, and interpretation.
Cited and Endorsed By:
Wikipedia |
Library of Virginia |
City of Alexandria |
Emerging Civil War
Connect Research to Your Visit
Experience These Stories Firsthand
Visitors interested in exploring the sites discussed in this research may join a guided walk through the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex—an outdoor archive of American history led by the project’s principal researcher and public historian.
Tickets are available via
Viator.
