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Explore Alexandria’s Buried History
David Heiby
Public Historian & Cemetery Steward
The historian who rediscovered Washington's lost pallbearer — a 200-year mystery solved in 2024.
As steward of Alexandria's Presbyterian Cemetery and seasoned public historian, David brings over 25 years of expertise to his renowned Gravestone Stories tours. With access to 300+ exclusive stories found nowhere else, he transforms historic burial grounds into compelling narratives of Alexandria's past.
Where history lives and discoveries still happen.
Raised Among the Stones
My parents rest in the Presbyterian Cemetery, alongside many others who helped raise me. Caring for this ground grew into Gravestone Stories—a mission to preserve and share Alexandria’s buried history.
Leadership & Expertise
- Superintendent, Presbyterian Cemetery & Columbarium
- Treasurer, Virginia Trust for Historic Preservation
- Member, Alexandria Archaeology Commission Subcommittee for the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex National Register Nomination
- America250 Alexandria Committee Member
- Treasurer, Alexandria Historical Society
- Community Partner, Lee-Fendall House Museum
Leading preservation efforts and sharing Alexandria’s hidden history, grounded in my lifelong connection to the Old Presbyterian Meeting House and Presbyterian Cemetery.
New to the site? Start here:
👉 Book a Tour
👉 Explore the Interactive Maps
👉 Browse Notable Burials by Cemetery
👉 Read Historical Blog Stories
America 250 Recognition
Gravestone Stories is featured in Visit Alexandria’s America 250 campaign, recognized as one of the city’s premier historical tour experiences for the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Join a Cemetery Tour
Step into history with our expert-led walking tours of Alexandria's most storied cemeteries—led by the historians who uncovered these stories through years of research and fieldwork.
What You'll Experience
- Walk through 13 historic cemeteries in just one square mile
- Hear stories of Washington's pallbearers, Civil War surgeons, and Cold War spies
- Discover recently rediscovered graves and long-forgotten figures
- Experience American history where it actually happened—with the people who lived it
Current Tour Schedule
Public tours run year-round with times adjusted seasonally for optimal weather and lighting conditions.
Check our live calendar for current availability and times, or book directly through Viator.
Each tour is different—crafted in real time based on the group and season. With over 300 documented stories, there's always something new to uncover.
Tour Information
Get a preview of what awaits you on our historian-led cemetery tours and access essential tour details.
Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex Tours
Download Tour Preview Brochure (PDF)
Book on Viator | View on TripAdvisor
Ivy Hill Cemetery Tours
Download Tour Preview Brochure (PDF)
Book on Viator | View on TripAdvisor
Currently ranked the #1 Cultural Tour in Alexandria on TripAdvisor
Recommended by 100% of Viator travelers
Upcoming Appearance
Public historian David Heiby portraying 19th-century Alexandria merchant and mayor E. E. Downham outside the Lee-Fendall House Museum during a living-history event.
Buried in the historic
Presbyterian Cemetery,
Downham served Alexandria as both mayor and leading merchant during the post–Civil War era.
Read his full story
February 21, 2026 – Lantern Tours at Lee-Fendall House
Lee-Fendall House Museum • Alexandria, Virginia
David will return as E. E. Downham for a special evening of Lantern Tours at the Lee-Fendall House Museum. Step into 19th-century Alexandria by lantern light and explore the stories that shaped the city.
Explore at Your Own Pace
Download our printable brochure and enjoy a self-guided walk through Alexandria's most historic cemeteries—featuring 35,000+ stories in one extraordinary complex.
Interactive History Maps
Explore Alexandria's buried history through our award-winning interactive maps featuring 35,000+ stories.
More Maps:
Decode Cemetery Symbols
Learn to read gravestones like a historian
Discover the hidden meanings behind anchors, lambs, broken columns, and ivy. From Victorian mourning symbols to military honors, every carving tells a story.
- Skull & Crossbones → Mortality reminder
- Anchor → Hope and naval service
- Broken Column → Life cut short
- Ivy → Fidelity and eternal life
Cemetery Folklore & Traditions
Discover the meaning behind mysterious cemetery customs
Why are coins left on military graves? What do oyster shells mean? Learn about the superstitions and folklore that shaped burial traditions for centuries.
- Coins on Graves → Military honor messages
- Oyster Shells → African American traditions
- Black Clothing → Spiritual protection
- Iron Fences → Warding off spirits
Other Historic Sites
Discover Alexandria's other significant burial grounds beyond Wilkes Street.
Exclusive Historical Discoveries
Stories no one else knows—decades of original fieldwork and primary source research recently revealed through our work.
✓ 300+ biographical profiles unavailable elsewhere
✓ Recently rediscovered burial sites lost for centuries
✓ Interactive mapping system of exclusive discoveries
✓ 400+ year timeline of hidden Alexandria history
Perfect for: Genealogy research • Academic study • Family history
Share Your Experience
Help others discover Alexandria's hidden history by sharing your tour experience.
"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
- The Zebra Press – Coverage of our storytelling mission and Ivy Hill's recognition on the National Register
- Frederick Douglass Memorial Cemetery Newsletter – Juneteenth Special Edition acknowledgement in “Special Thanks” (June 2025)
- City of Alexandria – Research cited in the City Manager’s letter supporting National Register nomination for the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex (July 2025)
- Alexandria Historical Society – Featured speaker and research contributions
- Lee-Fendall House Museum – Featured lecturer and Vice President of Virginia Trust for Historic Preservation
Looking for more coverage? Visit our Press Page → for recent features and media highlights.
Invite Gravestone Stories to Speak
Engaging historical talks tailored to museums, genealogical societies, preservation groups, and organizations interested in Alexandria's rich past.
Upcoming Public Lecture
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
Ivy Hill Cemetery Historical Presentation
2823 King Street | Alexandria, VA 22302
David Heiby presenting at Lee-Fendall House Museum
Available for Speaking Engagements
Book David for your organization's next meeting or event. Customized presentations available on Alexandria's history, genealogy, and preservation.
Recent Presentations (September 2025):
- • September 17 – Lee-Fendall House presentation to McLean Newcomers & Neighbors Club
- • September 10 – Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex talk for Northern Virginia Antique Arts Association
- • September 2 – Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex presentation to Richard Bland Lee Chapter, D.A.R.
Popular Talk Topics
• Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex: America's most historic cemetery cluster – 13 cemeteries spanning Revolution to Civil Rights
• Lee-Fendall House Museum: From family home to Civil War hospital
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.
Karen Stone will speak about the book at the Alexandria Historical Society on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Lyceum in Alexandria, VA.
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
Rebuffed in Attempt to Pay Tax on Arlington House
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…
Read the Full Story →Explore More Stories →
Community Partnerships
Trusted partners helping us preserve and share Alexandria's remarkable stories.
Alexandria Historical Society
Promoting research and understanding of Alexandria's past
Learn More →Alexandria Civil War Research
Gravestone Stories highlights the ongoing scholarship that deepens understanding of Alexandria’s wartime history — including new insights into the city’s hospitals, prisons, law enforcement, and cemeteries.
Spotlight Story
Posted: December 27, 2025
Photos from Gravestone Stories's post
December 27, 1864: A Civil Rights Milestone in Alexandria On this day in 1864, one of the earliest organized civil rights actions in American history...
Last updated: Dec 28, 3:00 PM EST
Discover Alexandria's Historic Burials
From Revolutionary War heroes to civil rights pioneers, explore the extraordinary lives of those who shaped Alexandria's history.
Discover Alexandria's Civil War Legacy
Alexandria was the first Southern city seized by Union forces—just one day after Virginians voted to secede. Explore the lives of soldiers, civilians, contrabands, and spies who shaped Alexandria's wartime legacy.
Stay Connected
Get updates on new stories, upcoming tours, and discoveries from Alexandria’s historic cemeteries. Want to hear more? Use our contact form to sign up for occasional alerts or send us a message directly.