To meet growing labor demands, Virginia landowners relied heavily on indentured servants—European migrants who exchanged years of labor for passage to the colony. These men and women worked in harsh conditions, often alongside enslaved Africans. While some gained freedom, others died from overwork, disease, or poverty. By the late 1600s, lifetime slavery had replaced indentured … Read more
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Step into history with our expert-led walking tours of Alexandria’s most storied cemeteries.
David Heiby
Public Historian & Tour Leader
“This morning’s tour of the Wilkes Street Cemetery with my DAR chapter was outstanding. Historians David Heiby and Madeline Feierstein of Gravestone Stories brought early U.S. and Virginia history to life with depth and insight. Truly fascinating!"
— Amy D., Daughter of the American Revolution member
We offer engaging historical talks tailored to museums, genealogical societies, preservation groups, and other organizations interested in Alexandria’s rich past.
“Gravestone Stories brings forgotten voices back into view.”
We were recently featured in Emerging Civil War, a national publication that spotlighted our work uncovering the untold history of Alexandria’s Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex.
The final resting places of four civilian victims of the Black Diamond disaster are located at Alexandria National Cemetery, part of the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex.
In the chaotic days following Lincoln’s assassination, tragedy struck the Potomac River. In the early morning hours of April 24, 1865, the coal-carrying barge Black Diamond—positioned as part of a naval blockade to prevent John Wilkes Booth’s escape—was accidentally rammed by the steamer Massachusetts just before 1:00 a.m. Eighty-seven lives were lost, including paroled Union prisoners of war and four civilian employees of the U.S. Quartermaster Department from Alexandria, whose service and sacrifice are now largely forgotten.
A Private in the 126th Ohio Infantry, Martin Swick was mortally wounded at the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse in May 1864. Evacuated to Alexandria, he died at the Grosvenor Branch Hospital—now the Lee-Fendall House Museum, where his name appears in the original hospital register. Swick is buried in Grave A 816-60 at Alexandria National Cemetery. His wartime Bible, preserved by a descendant, is currently featured in a special exhibit at the Lee-Fendall House.
Buried in The Alexandria National Cemetery →
In 1869, hundreds gathered at Alexandria National Cemetery to honor the fallen. The tradition endures—one gravestone at a time.
Are you wondering who lies beneath the stones? These featured stories offer just a glimpse into the lives buried in our historic cemeteries.
Step through the city’s past—one decade at a time. This interactive timeline connects the lives of those buried in Alexandria to the national and global events that shaped them.
Alexandria was the first Southern city seized by Union forces—just one day after Virginians voted to secede. Its cemeteries, hospitals, and historic homes became central to the Civil War’s human story.
Explore the lives of soldiers, civilians, contrabands, and spies who shaped Alexandria’s wartime legacy.
Want to explore on your own schedule?
Download our printable brochure and enjoy a self-guided walk through Alexandria’s most historic cemeteries—featuring 35,000+ stories in one extraordinary complex.
Our recent spring talks have wrapped up—but we’re already planning new events for later this year. Stay tuned for announcements!
May 7 – Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex Walking Tour
Nine members of the Mount Vernon Genealogical Society joined David Heiby for a guided walk through seven of the 13 historic cemeteries that make up the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex. The group explored stories spanning the Revolutionary War to the Civil Rights era—so many, in fact, that a second tour is already being discussed!
May 6 – D.A.R. Chapter Talk (Private)
A private presentation for the Richard Bland Lee Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution—an especially fitting audience given the chapter’s namesake family ties to the Lee-Fendall House.
May 2 – Lee-Fendall House Museum Wine & Art Night
David Heiby, Vice President of the Virginia Trust for Historic Preservation—which owns and operates the museum—attended this spring fundraiser celebrating women artists and local winemakers. The evening was featured in The Zebra, with photos capturing the vibrant gathering.
Read the article in The Zebra →
April 15 – Mount Vernon Genealogical Society
A full house joined us at the Hollin Hall Senior Center for a deep dive into Alexandria’s Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex—home to more than 35,000 stories of American history.
April 5 – Honoring Civil War Sacrifice
We marked the 160th anniversary of Grosvenor Branch Hospital’s closure at the Lee-Fendall House, reading the names of 10 Union soldiers buried in Alexandria.
Alexandria’s rich history is preserved and interpreted by dedicated organizations that engage the community through research, education, and historic site preservation.
