Gravestone Stories press coverage includes national, regional, and local recognition for its original research, historian-led cemetery tours, and work documenting Alexandria’s historic burial grounds. The archive also includes selected media mentions of founder David Heiby’s related work in public history and historic preservation.
This page serves as a growing archive of press mentions reflecting how the Gravestone Stories mission resonates with audiences interested in public history, preservation, genealogy, tourism, and community memory.
In Print: The Gazette Packet Column
A twice-monthly history column in the Alexandria Gazette Packet that tells the stories of those buried in Alexandria’s historic cemeteries.
September 17, 2026 — “The Colonel at the Cornerstone” — Colonel George Gilpin, Fairfax Resolves signer, surveyor of Alexandria, and honorary pallbearer at Washington’s funeral, whose grave was lost for two centuries and may have been found in Christ Church Episcopal Cemetery, part of the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex. Read the column (page 10).
September 3, 2026 — “The August Alexandria Would Rather Forget” — Anthony Charles Cazenove, accused of treason by the Gazette in 1815 and vindicated by a letter found in the Alexandria Library’s Special Collections this year, with Catherine Weinraub’s discovery. Read the column (page 2).
August 6, 2026 — “The Tea Party Patriot Buried in Alexandria” — Major Samuel Cooper, Boston Tea Party participant at rest on Wilkes Street. Read the column (page 10).
2026
Visit Alexandria Features Gravestone Stories in the Alexandria Insider
Visit Alexandria, “Alexandria Insider” Newsletter — October 2026
Visit Alexandria’s newsletter for travelers featured Gravestone Stories in its fall issue, under the headline “Uncover Alexandria’s Hidden History with Gravestone Stories,” alongside Art on the Avenue and the city’s other seasonal events. The newsletter introduced readers to David Heiby, who grew up among the gravestones of the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, and to the guided cemetery tours, digital archive, and self-guided resources covering Revolutionary War patriots, Civil War soldiers, and African Americans whose stories have long gone untold. The feature follows Visit Alexandria’s February 2026 “Unlock Your Story” profile of Gravestone Stories.
The Zebra Press — “A Heavenly Scent of History at the Lee-Fendall House” — October 2026
The Zebra Press covered the Scent of History evening at the Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden on September 26. In Kelly MacConomy’s article, Pat McCarthy of Pat’s Whiskeys leads a whiskey tasting that recalled the house’s past as a Prohibition-era speakeasy, and Arielle Weinberg of Arielle Shoshana – The Perfume Playground provides fragrances created for the evening. David Heiby, Treasurer of the Virginia Trust for Historic Preservation, which owns and operates the museum, appeared in character as E. E. Downham. He is pictured on the staircase with Museum Director Jenny Waters, Program Manager Sophie McCarthy, Arielle Weinberg, and Pat McCarthy, who hosted the evening together. The caption names him “Alexandria’s historical tour guide extraordinaire.”
The Zebra Press — “Alexandria to Honor Firefighter Charles Glasscock 174 Years After His Death” — September 29, 2026
The Zebra Press previewed the Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association’s wreath-laying for Charles Glasscock, Alexandria’s first firefighter to die in the line of duty. The free public ceremony will be held Sunday, October 4, 2026, from 2 to 3 p.m. at his burial place in the Methodist Protestant Cemetery, 1500 Wilkes Street, with October 5 as the rain date. It will include the first public look at a bronze plaque in his memory, which will be displayed at the Friendship Firehouse Museum. Mary Wadland’s article recounts the June 1852 accident in which Glasscock was struck by the wheels of the company’s hand-drawn 1851 Rodgers suction engine. It then credits the 2024 work that located his unmarked grave: David Heiby of Gravestone Stories, working with Friendship historian Catherine Weinraub and archaeologist Mark Ludlow, combined a cemetery record of the fire company’s plot purchase on the day Glasscock died with a ground-penetrating radar survey of the plot. The article links readers to David’s firsthand account of that investigation.
“Seeking Historic Recognition for the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex”
Historic Alexandria Quarterly — September 2026. The Office of Historic Alexandria’s newsletter reports on the National Register nomination for the complex, including the Virginia Department of Historic Resources’ June 2026 finding that the site is eligible for the National Register and the Virginia Landmarks Register. The article pictures the August 24 tour of the complex, led by David Heiby, with the Department’s Northern Region Architectural Historian, Aubrey Von Lindern. Read the article (PDF) →
Visit Alexandria 30th Anniversary Annual Meeting — September 16, 2026
Gravestone Stories appeared in “Our Story, Shared By Members,” a short video shown at Visit Alexandria’s 30th anniversary annual meeting, highlighting how members benefit from the organization. David was interviewed on camera in August 2026; the segment used his account of meeting visitors in the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex who arrive with a Gravestone Stories brochure picked up at the Alexandria Visitor Center. Visit Alexandria’s Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report, released the same evening, includes AARP among the national outlets that covered Alexandria during the year, with the AARP logo in the media lineup on page 4 and the headline of the May 2026 story “The 10 Best States for Older Workers,” in which Gravestone Stories was featured, on page 5. Gravestone Stories is listed among Visit Alexandria’s members on page 16.
Visit Alexandria Highlights Gravestone Stories as a Member Success Story
Visit Alexandria, “News You Can Use” Member Newsletter — August 3, 2026
Visit Alexandria highlighted Gravestone Stories in its weekly member newsletter as an example of the success of its “Unlock Your Story” campaign.
After featuring Gravestone Stories as one of the campaign’s first member profiles, Visit Alexandria’s Marketing and Communications team pitched the story to a national writer at AARP, resulting in additional national media coverage.
Visit Alexandria wrote:
“One of our first member stories, Gravestone Stories, was featured on the Unlock Your Story page. Our Marketing and Communications team was able to pitch the story to a national writer at AARP, resulting in additional media coverage.”
Read the Visit Alexandria newsletter →
“Jenny Waters Named Museum Director at Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden”
The Zebra — August 3, 2026
David Heiby, founder of Gravestone Stories and Treasurer of the Virginia Trust for Historic Preservation, was quoted in The Zebra’s announcement naming Jenny Waters as Museum Director of the Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden.
Heiby praised Waters’s leadership during a challenging transition, highlighting the museum’s membership growth, success in securing new funding, and development of a stronger staff and volunteer team.
“Recent Events at the Cemetery”
Ivy Hill Cemetery Preservation Society — Spring 2026 Newsletter, shared May 31, 2026
Featured in the Society’s Spring 2026 newsletter as the opening lecture of Ivy Hill’s 2026 season, presenting on the lost burial and final resting place of Philip Richard Fendall and offering insight into the history, mystery, and legacy of one of Alexandria’s notable early residents.
“The 10 Best States for Older Workers”
AARP — May 7, 2026
AARP featured Gravestone Stories founder David Heiby in a national article ranking the ten best states for older workers, with Virginia earning the #10 spot. Heiby was selected to represent Virginia in a story about building a second chapter rooted in purpose, place, and community.
The feature highlights how Gravestone Stories grew from a passion project into a historian-led cemetery tour experience, grounded in Heiby’s lifelong connection to Alexandria, the Presbyterian Cemetery, and the historic burial grounds that preserve much of the city’s story.
“Carrying Forward the Legacy of George Washington”
DAR National Blog — February 20, 2026
David Heiby’s photography was selected as the header image for DAR President General Ginnie Sebastian Storage’s official blog post honoring George Washington’s birthday and the 2026 Alexandria celebrations. Heiby was present at the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary Soldier at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, assisting with the event and leading tours of the historic burial ground for DAR attendees following the ceremony.
Alexandria Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Ceremony
The Zebra Press — February 16, 2026
Coverage of the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier in Alexandria as part of America250 commemorations. The article features remarks by Gravestone Stories founder David Heiby, who said, “This isn’t just a ceremony—it’s a real connection to 1776. It connects our faith, our history, and the enduring promise of our country.”
“Gravestone Stories” — Visit Alexandria
Visit Alexandria — February 2026
Gravestone Stories was featured as part of Visit Alexandria’s “Unlock Your Story” campaign, highlighting historian-led cemetery tours, original archival research, and preservation work uncovering Alexandria’s buried history. The feature positions Alexandria’s historic cemeteries as living “outdoor archives” and introduces Gravestone Stories as a distinctive cultural experience within the city.
2025
Ivy Hill Historical Preservation Society Celebrates Listing on the National Register of Historic Places
The Zebra Press — June 2, 2025
The Zebra highlights Ivy Hill Cemetery’s official listing on the National Register of Historic Places and the community celebration that followed. The article features Ivy Hill’s preservation leadership, notable historic figures buried on the grounds, and a photo mention of David and Christine Heiby of Gravestone Stories.
“13 Cemeteries, 35,000 Stories: The Untold History of Alexandria’s Wilkes Street Complex”
Emerging Civil War — May 8, 2025
Emerging Civil War published an in-depth profile on Alexandria’s Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex and the ongoing preservation, documentation, and public history work led by Gravestone Stories.
“Celebrating Women in Wine and Art at the Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden”
The Zebra Press — May 2, 2025
Coverage of the Lee-Fendall House’s spring Wine & Art Night, hosted by the Virginia Trust for Historic Preservation, which owns and operates the museum. David Heiby—Vice President of the Trust and founder of Gravestone Stories—and his wife, Christine, were among the featured guests. The photo-filled article highlights Alexandria’s vibrant preservation and arts community.
“Walking Through History: Celebrating 50 Years of Alexandria Archaeology”
Alexandria Times — April 3, 2025
Our June 2024 public tour was featured on the front page of the Alexandria Times. The article was published on April 3, 2025, in celebration of the Alexandria Archaeology Commission’s 50th anniversary.
Additional Recognition
Gravestone Stories research has also been cited by the Dictionary of Virginia Biography, further reflecting the site’s role as a growing public-history and research resource for Alexandria’s historic cemeteries.
Media Inquiries
If you are a journalist, researcher, editor, podcaster, or content creator interested in covering Gravestone Stories, Alexandria’s historic cemeteries, or the ongoing work to document more than 35,000 lives preserved in the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex, please contact us.
