Alexandria Guided Tours | Cemeteries, Battlefields & More

Explore Cemeteries, Firefighting Landmarks, Battlefields, and Forgotten Graves with Expert-Led Walking Tours Across Alexandria and the Region

Uncover the stories buried in Alexandria’s most historic cemeteries and beyond. Our Alexandria guided tours bring centuries of American history to life—from the Revolutionary War to the Civil Rights Movement—led by expert historians and storytellers.

Table of Contents

Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex Tour

Location: 1475–1501 Wilkes Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
Schedule: Most Saturdays, April–November
Length: Approximately 90 minutes

Tour Highlights:

Revolutionary War heroes and George Washington’s pallbearers
War of 1812 naval officers and soldiers
Over 3,900 Union burials in the Alexandria National Cemetery
Rediscovered graves and recent archaeological discoveries
Civil Rights pioneers, lynching victims, and enslaved Alexandrians

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Alexandria Firefighting History Tour

Explore Alexandria’s firefighting legacy—from historic firehouses to the scenes of devastating fires that shaped the city’s past.

Hear the story of Charles Glasscock, the firefighter tragically run over by a hand-drawn engine in 1852—his name is still honored each year in Alexandria’s remembrance ceremony
Learn about the legacy of the Friendship Fire Company, one of the nation’s oldest volunteer fire organizations
Visit the sites of several historic firehouses and major 19th-century fire scenes, including:
- The Green Furniture Factory fire of January 18, 1827
- The November 17, 1855 fire that killed seven volunteer firefighters and shocked the community
- The May 19, 1871 fire that destroyed Alexandria’s then-City Hall
Discover rare accounts of bravery, loss, and resilience in the city’s long tradition of volunteer firefighting

Scheduled periodically throughout the year
Email dave@gravestonestories.com to request more information or schedule a group tour
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Old Presbyterian Meeting House Tour

Step into one of Alexandria’s most sacred and historic spaces—where patriotism, faith, and memory converge.

Tour the Meeting House sanctuary, rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1835, and still home to a congregation that dates back to the 18th century
Walk through the historic burial ground, where early Alexandrians and Revolutionary War patriots rest
Visit the final resting place of notable figures, including:
- Rev. James Muir, third minister of the Meeting House and chaplain of George Washington’s Masonic Lodge
- Dr. James Craik, Surgeon General of the Continental Army and close personal friend of George Washington
Learn the moving story of The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution—a memorial dedicated in 1929 to an unidentified Continental soldier whose remains were discovered on site. It is considered the first tomb of an unknown soldier from the Revolutionary War
Hear how the Meeting House shaped Alexandria’s spiritual and civic life in the Revolutionary era—intertwined with the lives of George Washington, John Carlyle, and other Founding Era figures

Private group tours available by request
Email dave@gravestonestories.com to schedule your tour

Beyond Alexandria: Special Battlefield & History Tours

Our full-day excursions explore pivotal moments in American history:

Antietam Battlefield Tour

Walk the hallowed ground where the bloodiest single-day battle in American history unfolded on September 17, 1862. This full-day tour brings you face-to-face with the landscapes, decisions, and sacrifices that shaped the course of the Civil War.

Explore Antietam National Battlefield with stops at:
- North Woods
- East Woods
- Miller’s Cornfield
- The West Woods
- Bloody Lane
- Burnside’s Bridge
- Antietam National Cemetery
Gain context and clarity with expert insights from David Heiby, a Civil War historian with over 25 years of battlefield guiding experience
Optionally combine this tour with a visit to the South Mountain battlefields, where the Confederate defense began just days earlier—perfect for a broader understanding of the Maryland Campaign

This is a full-day driving and walking tour. Transportation not provided.
Email dave@gravestonestories.com to inquire about dates, group bookings, or custom combinations

South Mountain Battlefield Tour

Climb into history as you explore the rugged terrain and strategic gaps that set the stage for Antietam. Fought on September 14, 1862, South Mountain was the opening battle of the Maryland Campaign, where Union and Confederate forces clashed across steep passes and wooded ridges.

Enjoy commanding views from the mountain landscape that shaped the battle
Visit Washington Monument State Park, used as a Union signal station during the campaign
Walk the historic fields and mountain passes of:
- Crampton’s Gap
- Fox’s Gap
- Turner’s Gap
Learn how these critical skirmishes influenced the outcome at Antietam just three days later
Tour led by David Heiby, a seasoned Civil War historian with over 25 years of battlefield guiding experience

This is a half-day to full-day driving and walking tour. Can be combined with Antietam for a complete Maryland Campaign experience.
Email dave@gravestonestories.com for scheduling and group options

Harpers Ferry Tour – John Brown’s Raid & the 1862 Campaign

Travel to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, where history converges at the crossroads of abolition, rebellion, and war. This strategically vital town witnessed John Brown’s 1859 raid, a moment that electrified the nation, and the 1862 battle that became part of the Confederate invasion of the North.

Trace the path of John Brown’s final stand and its national consequences
Visit key sites including:
- Kennedy Farm House – where Brown and his men prepared for the raid
- John Brown’s Fort – the raid’s final battleground
- The Point – where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet
- Bolivar Heights – site of the 1862 battle and Confederate victory
- Jefferson’s Rock – famously visited by Thomas Jefferson in 1783
- Jefferson County Courthouse – site of Brown’s trial and sentencing
Learn how Harpers Ferry influenced the coming of the Civil War and the war’s shifting tides
Guided by David Heiby, a public historian with over 25 years of Civil War tour experience

This is a full-day driving and walking tour. Can be combined with Antietam or South Mountain for an extended experience.
Email dave@gravestonestories.com to request availability or plan a custom group tour

Throughout the journey, Civil War historian David Heiby shares detailed commentary and behind-the-scenes insights drawn from over 25 years of research and battlefield guiding experience.

This is a full-day, multi-location driving and walking tour. Custom group bookings available.
Email dave@gravestonestories.com to schedule your tour or inquire about availability

The Lincoln Assassination Tour – Following Booth’s Escape Route

Step into the shadows of one of the most dramatic manhunts in American history. This full-day guided tour traces John Wilkes Booth’s escape route following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865.

Begin at Ford’s Theatre, where Lincoln was shot—and where Booth picked up his mail as a familiar figure in the theater’s social circle
Walk through Baptist Alley, Booth’s escape route on horseback
The Petersen House – – where Lincoln died the morning after the shooting

Explore key Washington locations tied to the conspiracy:

Surratt Boarding House – the central meeting point for Booth and his fellow conspirators
Kirkwood House Hotel – where Vice President Andrew Johnson was staying on the night of the assassination

Follow Booth’s path through Southern Maryland:

Surratt’s Tavern – where Booth and David Herold stopped for weapons and supplies
Dr. Samuel Mudd House – where Booth’s broken leg was treated and splinted
Additional remote locations where Booth hid and received aid from Confederate sympathizers

End the tour at Pope’s Creek on the Potomac River, where Booth and Herold attempted to cross into Virginia under cover of darkness

Throughout the journey, Civil War historian David Heiby shares detailed commentary and behind-the-scenes insights drawn from over 25 years of research and battlefield guiding experience.

This is a full-day, multi-location driving and walking tour. Custom group bookings available.
Email dave@gravestonestories.com to schedule your tour or inquire about availability