The Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex is located at the Southwest Corner of S. Payne and Wilkes Street. There are 13 cemeteries within the 82-acre complex.
The creation of the Presbyterian Cemetery was a reaction to the devastating yellow fever epidemic that hit Alexandria in 1803, resulting in the death of hundreds of its inhabitants and surpassing the capacity of the local town and church burial areas. In 1804, the town’s local council implemented a regulation preventing the sale of additional … Read more
Private Charles W. Needham is buried in Section A, Site 875, at the Alexandria National Cemetery. He suffered a fatal head injury during the Battle of Aldie, in a charge led by Captain Charles Francis Adams, the grandson and great-grandson of two American Presidents. Private Needham served in the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry and enlisted at … Read more
Gazaway Bugg Lamar (October 3, 1798 – October 5, 1874) was a prominent figure in the American business landscape of the 19th century, hailing from Georgia. His legacy is etched in various entrepreneurial pursuits, spanning banking, cotton trading, shipbuilding, and steamship technology innovation. Born and initially raised in Augusta, Georgia, Lamar’s business acumen started to … Read more
“I have seen Him in the Watch-fires of a Hundred Circling Camps!” Following the Union’s defeat at the First Bull Run (or Manassas) on July 21, 1861, they embarked on an ambitious project to safeguard their capital city in the event of a Confederate attack. They initiated the construction of a formidable defensive line comprising … Read more
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln held a New Year’s Day Reception at the White House. He shook so many hands of the dignitaries, officials, and members of the general public who attended that afterward, he was afraid his hands would shake when signing The Emancipation Proclamation later that day. The proclamation changed the … Read more
Buried in Alexandria, Virginia’s Presbyterian Cemetery, is Samuel Richard Johnston (March 16, 1833 – December 24, 1899), who some blame for Lee’s defeat at Gettysburg. Born at West Grove Johnston was born at West Grove, his family’s plantation south of Alexandria, now the Belle Haven Golf Course and Country Club site. West Grove was constructed … Read more
The Lee-Fendall House Legacy Philip Richard Fendall II, born on December 18, 1794, and passing on February 16, 1868, was a significant figure in American history. He spent his formative years in the Lee-Fendall House, a historic residence built by his father, Philip Richard Fendall, in 1785. This house stands as a testament to the … Read more
On January 28, 1922, after two days of being stuck at home because of the biggest snowstorm in Washington D.C’s history, Thomas Fleming (January 25, 1851 – January 28, 1922), John Paton Fleming (April 14, 1898 – January 28, 1922), and Mary Lee Fleming (April 7, 1892 – January 28, 1922) decided to go and … Read more
When Marion Isabelle Twiggs, the daughter of United States Army General David E. Twiggs, the commander of the United States forces in Texas, first met one of his staff officers, Colonel Abraham C. Myers, she immediately fell in love, sparking a romance that would leave a legacy in the naming of Fort Myers, Florida. Shortly … Read more
Wilmer McLean (May 3, 1814 – June 5, 1882) Introduction The life and homes of Wilmer McLean are deeply intertwined with the American Civil War’s pivotal moments. From the first shots at Yorkshire to the final surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, McLean’s residences bore witness to the war’s profound impact on the nation. The McLean Legacy: … Read more
The Everleigh Sisters Minna Simms, born on July 13, 1866, and passed away on September 16, 1948, along with Aida Lester Simms, born on February 15, 1865, and passed away on January 3, 1960, managed and ran a well-known brothel in Chicago from 1900 to 1911. Born into a wealthy family from Virginia that lost … Read more
Alexandria’s Mysterious Female Stranger In September of 1816, a couple arrived in Alexandria after a voyage from the West Indies, boarding at Gadsby’s Tavern. The woman, adorned in a black veil, sadly suffered from typhoid or yellow fever. Accompanied by a French-speaking valet and maid, they discreetly requested to keep their identities unknown. To tend … Read more
The Overlooked Battle of the Potomac and its Historical Significance In the early stages of the War of 1812, American forces took decisive action in April 1813. They successfully captured York (present-day Toronto, Canada) and set it ablaze in a controversial move. This aggressive act was not without consequences. Following Napoleon’s defeat in Europe, the … Read more
Often mocked for his unusual looks, John Wilkes was much more than his reputation as the Ugliest Man in Britain. Despite his misaligned eyes and striking features, he was a brilliant political thinker, a fierce advocate for free speech, and a man whose charm won over even his harshest critics. But how did a man once … Read more
In the early 1920s, many countries wanted to be the first to fly Around-the-World- air flight successfully. The British tried in 1922 but failed, and then a French team tried in 1923. That same year, the Italians and the Portuguese said they would also try. The British also decided to give it another shot. The … Read more