It looks like nothing was found at this location. Maybe try searching?
Explore More on This Site
First time here? Use the sections below or browse the main menu to start exploring.
Join a Cemetery Tour
Step into history with our expert-led walking tours of Alexandria’s most storied cemeteries.
David Heiby
Public Historian & Tour Leader
Reflections from a Recent Tour
“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
"Put this tour on your MUST see and do list if coming to DC! Dave is not just incredibly knowledgeable—he’s a master storyteller who brings history to life.”
— Jessica C., Google Review 
“This was a fascinating walk through history. The guide, David Heiby, was extremely knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and entertaining… The tour includes the first Veterans Memorial cemetery, which predates Arlington but is very similar in design. I never knew it existed in Old Town. It’s a tour worth taking!”
— Recent Google Review
Invite Gravestone Stories to Speak
We offer engaging historical talks tailored to museums, genealogical societies, preservation groups, and other organizations interested in Alexandria’s rich past.
Featured in the News
“Gravestone Stories brings forgotten voices back into view.”
— Emerging Civil War
Gravestone Stories has been recognized in both national and local outlets for its dedication to preserving Alexandria’s cemetery history:
- Emerging Civil War – National feature highlighting our work in the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex
- Visit Alexandria – Official tourism listing of our guided tours and historical research
- The Zebra Press – Coverage of our storytelling mission and Ivy Hill’s recognition on the National Register
Looking for more coverage? Visit our Press Page → for recent features and media highlights.
Book Spotlight: Shipwreck on the Potomac: Disaster in Pursuit of Lincoln's Killer
Historian Karen Stone sheds new light on the Black Diamond tragedy of April 24, 1865—one of the Civil War’s final and most overlooked maritime disasters. The collision occurred off St. Clements Island in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, and claimed 87 lives, including four civilian Quartermaster Department employees now buried in the Alexandria National Cemetery
The book explores the wider aftermath of Lincoln’s assassination and the lives lost in pursuit of his killer.
David Heiby, public historian and creator of Gravestone Stories, and Catherine Weinraub, fellow historian and site guide, are both acknowledged for their research contributions to this important historical recovery.
This new release was recently featured in Emerging Civil War →
Featured Blog Story
The First Union Monument South of the Mason-Dixon
The gravestone of Private Charles Needham, 1st Massachusetts Cavalry, lies in Alexandria National Cemetery—a solemn reminder of a fierce cavalry clash just days before Gettysburg.
On June 17, 1863, during the Battle of Aldie, Union cavalry under Captain Charles Francis Adams—grandson of President John Quincy Adams—clashed with Fitzhugh Lee’s Confederate brigade. Needham was wounded in the fight and transported by the Orange & Alexandria Railroad to Alexandria.
He was treated at the Lee-Fendall House, then known as the Grosvenor Branch—one of more than 30 buildings in Alexandria repurposed as military hospitals during the Civil War. Over 1,700 soldiers were treated there, and more than 1,600 survived. Needham was among those who did not. He died at Grosvenor Branch and was later buried in Section A, Site 875 of Alexandria National Cemetery, alongside many others who never made it home.
In 1891, fellow soldiers dedicated the first Union regimental monument on a Southern battlefield at Aldie, with Needham’s name among the fallen.
Featured Gravestone
Dr. Holmes Offley Paulding
Army Surgeon — St. Paul’s Cemetery
This month’s featured gravestone (June 2025) highlights Army surgeon Dr. Holmes Offley Paulding.
Captain Holmes Offley Paulding, a U.S. Army assistant surgeon, bore witness to the aftermath of the Battle of the Little Bighorn in June 1876. His detailed diary offers a rare firsthand perspective on the tragic loss of Custer and the 7th Cavalry. A descendant of Revolutionary War hero John Paulding and grandson of Rear Admiral Hiram Paulding, Holmes forged his own path in military medicine. He died in 1883 at just 30 years old and is buried in Lot 187 of Alexandria’s St. Paul’s Cemetery.
Buried in St. Paul’s Cemetery →
From the Alexandria Timeline
The Founding of Presbyterian Cemetery
On June 22, 1809, Alexandria’s burial ban led to the creation of a new resting place just beyond town limits—now one of the city’s oldest active cemeteries.
Learn More About the Presbyterian Cemetery
Visit the official site for burial information, visitor access, and cemetery history:
prescemeteryalex.org →
Discover Alexandria’s Burials by Cemetery
Are you wondering who lies beneath the stones? These featured stories offer just a glimpse into the lives buried in our historic cemeteries.
- Major Samuel Cooper – Boston Tea Party participant and Revolutionary War officer
- Wilmer McLean – His homes witnessed both the first and last battles of the Civil War
- Fields Cook – African American leader in education and civil rights
- Julius Campbell – Star player of the 1971 T.C. Williams Titans, portrayed in Remember the Titans, and a powerful symbol of Alexandria’s struggle and progress in civil rights
- Joseph Bruin – Slave trader involved in the 1848 Pearl escape attempt
Recent Discoveries & Rediscovered Graves
- Col. George Gilpin Rediscovered (2024)
Revolutionary War officer and Washington’s pallbearer found after more than 200 years.
Read the Full Story → - Winter Archaeology at Wilkes Street
Ground-penetrating radar revealed long-lost burials—including firefighter Charles Glasscock and the Adam, Irwin, Dundas, and Black family plots.
Explore the Discoveries →
Explore the Full Alexandria Timeline
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.
Discover Alexandria’s Civil War Legacy
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.
Explore at Your Own Pace
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.
Gravestone Stories in the Community
No Upcoming Talks (for now!)
Our recent spring talks have wrapped up—but we’re already planning new events for later this year. Stay tuned for announcements!
Recent Appearances
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.
Local Info
Alexandria Weather
Check Current Forecast »
Crime Reports: AVAware App
Stay informed with up-to-date crime reports and incident maps in Alexandria.
Download on iOS »
Explore Alexandria
Discover events, attractions, and activities in Alexandria.
Visit Alexandria »
Live Traffic Conditions
Check real-time traffic updates and road closures before you head out.
Check VA Traffic »
Community Partners
Alexandria’s rich history is preserved and interpreted by dedicated organizations that engage the community through research, education, and historic site preservation.
- Alexandria Historical Society
Promoting the city’s past through lectures, publications, and the upcoming Alexandria Digital Museum. - Lee-Fendall House Museum
Interpreting over 200 years of Alexandria history through one of its most storied homes. Owned and operated by the Virginia Trust for Historic Preservation.
