Gravestone Stories is a digital museum of Alexandria’s cemetery history—created and curated by public historian and cemetery steward David Heiby, who believes every grave has a story worth telling.
Through engaging cemetery tours, rigorous archival research, and innovative digital tools, we bring to life the people and events that shaped our city and nation—from Revolutionary War patriots and Civil War soldiers to Cold War spies and unsung Alexandrians whose stories have long been overlooked.
Gravestone Stories presents American history through the lens of local memory and burial, integrating digital humanities, archival sources, and community engagement. It serves visitors, researchers, genealogists, educators, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Alexandria’s past.
This is more than a tour—it is a living archive that continues to grow through ongoing research and discovery.
How Gravestone Stories Began
Gravestone Stories began as David’s personal project to preserve and share Alexandria’s forgotten cemetery histories. What started as a small online repository has, since 2022, grown into a comprehensive public-history platform including:
- 300+ documented biographies
- 80+ in-depth research articles
- 113+ curated timeline entries
- Five interactive maps
- Extensive cemetery documentation and original discoveries
Today, Gravestone Stories combines field research, primary-source analysis, and on-the-ground stewardship—making Alexandria’s buried history accessible to scholars and the public alike.
Gravestone Stories Today
Gravestone Stories has grown into one of Alexandria’s most widely used public-history resources, reaching readers from across the country who seek reliable, accessible research on the city’s cemeteries and the people connected to them. Each month, thousands of visitors explore our biographies, maps, and original research—often discovering stories not found in printed guides or institutional archives.
Our work is cited by museums, researchers, genealogists, Wikipedia editors, and the Library of Virginia’s Dictionary of Virginia Biography, reflecting the platform’s role as a trusted reference for Alexandria’s cemetery history. This broad engagement helps ensure that the lives and stories buried in these historic grounds remain visible, discoverable, and part of the public record.
Our Mission: Sharing Alexandria’s History
Our mission is to connect people with the stories of Alexandria’s past through accurate, compelling, and accessible public history.
We do this by:
- Offering guided tours with deep, source-driven interpretation of the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex, the most historic cluster of cemeteries in the United States
- Providing free self-guided resources, maps, and narratives for independent exploration
- Publishing thoroughly researched biographies and blog posts that bring untold stories to life
- Supporting historic preservation efforts through documentation, digital access, and public engagement
Through education and preservation, Gravestone Stories works to honor Alexandria’s past and ensure its stories endure.
Who We Are
Gravestone Stories is led by David Heiby, public historian, cemetery steward, and founder of the platform. His roles in Alexandria’s historical community include:
- Superintendent, Presbyterian Cemetery & Columbarium
- Treasurer, the Virginia Trust for Historic Preservation (Lee-Fendall House Museum)
- Treasurer, Alexandria Historical Society
- Member, Alexandria Archaeology Commission Subcommittee advancing the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex National Register nomination
- America250 Alexandria Committee Member
- Community partner, Lee-Fendall House Museum
David collaborates with local historians, descendant families, and archival institutions, drawing on years of research in Alexandria’s Special Collections, cemetery records, and primary documents.
Learn more about our team on our Meet Our Guides page →
Why Gravestone Stories Is Unique
Research-Driven Storytelling
Every narrative shared on Gravestone Stories is grounded in primary sources—cemetery logs, military records, city archives, descendant letters, family papers, and archaeological documentation.
Exclusive Access & Field Expertise
David has spent more than a decade walking, mapping, and stewarding the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex and has overseen hundreds of funerals as superintendent of the Presbyterian Cemetery. His intimate familiarity with the landscape and records provides insights available nowhere else.
Community Partnerships
Gravestone Stories works alongside preservation groups, historical societies, educators, and cultural institutions to expand public access to Alexandria’s history.
A Growing Public History Archive
Our digital platform continues to expand weekly—documenting Alexandria’s past through research, biographies, maps, and historical contextualization.
Affiliations & Accuracy
Gravestone Stories is an independent public-history project created and led by David Heiby. The institutional roles listed on this website reflect verified positions within the named organizations.
Only individuals explicitly listed on this website are affiliated with Gravestone Stories or authorized to represent its research, tours, or content. Past collaborations or one-time events do not constitute ongoing affiliation.
All narratives, biographies, and interpretive materials are based on primary sources, archival documents, and field research, and are regularly reviewed for accuracy.
External use of the Gravestone Stories name, research, or written content requires prior written permission.
Join Us
Explore Alexandria’s history through our tours, lectures, research, and digital archives—and discover how the past connects to the present.
Whether you’re a visitor, researcher, student, or local resident, Gravestone Stories is your gateway to Alexandria’s past.
👉 Book a Tour • Browse Stories • View Interactive Maps • Explore the Timeline • Burials by Cemetery
