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. His work is built on 300+ original biographical profiles tied to individual burials, alongside in-depth research essays that place those lives within the broader sweep of Alexandria and American history.
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:
👉 Join a Guided Tour
👉 Explore the Alexandria History Timeline
👉 Explore the Interactive Maps
👉 Browse Notable Burials by Cemetery
👉 Read Research-Based Historical Stories
America 250 Recognition
David Heiby serves on the Alexandria America 250 Committee
“Unlock Your Story” Featured Profile
February 7, 2026
Visit Alexandria selected Gravestone Stories as an official spotlight feature for its America 250 campaign, recognizing David Heiby’s documentation of more than 35,000 individuals buried in Alexandria’s historic cemeteries.
As part of Alexandria’s commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, Gravestone Stories is recognized as a significant historical resource connecting visitors and residents to the city’s Revolutionary foundations, Civil War legacy, and the individuals who shaped its history.
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
Private Group & Conference Programming
In addition to public tours, Gravestone Stories offers expert-led private group programs in Alexandria’s Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex—designed for conferences, heritage organizations, educational institutions, and America250 events.
Ideal For
- Association & conference programming
- DAR, SAR & genealogical societies
- Heritage tourism groups
- Educational institutions
- VIP cultural add-on experiences
Plan Your Group Experience
Customized 90-minute historical programs tailored to your organization’s interests.
Public Programs & Appearances
Public historian David Heiby portrays 19th-century Alexandria merchant and mayor E. E. Downham during living-history programs at the Lee-Fendall House Museum.
Buried in the historic
Presbyterian Cemetery,
Downham served Alexandria as both mayor and leading merchant during a pivotal era of post–Civil War civic rebuilding.
Read his full story
In February 2026, David brought Downham to life during two sold-out evening Lantern Tours at the Lee-Fendall House Museum . By lantern light, guests explored the house's history from its 1785 founding through its final years as a private residence — Downham guiding them through the intertwined stories of Alexandria's civic leaders, merchants, and the historic cemeteries where many of them now rest.
The program's success prompted an invitation to return for additional living-history tours on April 18 and October 10, 2026, further extending the Downham portrayal as part of the museum's public programming.
Many of these figures rest within the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex, where their stories continue through ongoing research and guided interpretation.
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:
- The Zebra Press – Coverage of the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House burial ground, featuring remarks by founder David Heiby as part of Alexandria’s official America250 commemorative observances (February 2026)
- 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 (May 2025)
- Visit Alexandria "Unlock Your Story" – Featured spotlight profile for America 250 campaign (February 2026)
- 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.
Public historian David Heiby delivering a historical presentation at the Lee-Fendall House Museum — where he serves as Treasurer of the Virginia Trust for Historic Preservation.
Available for Speaking Engagements
Book David for your organization's next meeting or event. Customized presentations available on Alexandria's history, genealogy, preservation, and newly uncovered cemetery discoveries.
Recent Presentations:
-
• February 17, 2026 – “Uncovering the Mystery: Does Philip Richard Fendall Rest in Ivy Hill Cemetery?”
Ivy Hill Cemetery Historical Preservation Society – 170th Anniversary Kickoff Lecture - • February 7, 2026 – Dr. Elisha Cullen Dick presentation to Dr. Elisha Cullen Dick Chapter, D.A.R.
- • September 17, 2025 – Lee-Fendall House presentation to McLean Newcomers & Neighbors Club
Popular Talk Topics
Historic Sites & Cemetery Complexes:
• Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex – America's most historic cemetery cluster spanning Revolution to Civil Rights
• Lee-Fendall House Museum – From family home to Civil War hospital
Biographical & Investigative Presentations:
• “Uncovering the Mystery: Does Philip Richard Fendall Rest in Ivy Hill Cemetery?” – A research-driven investigation into burial records, archival evidence, and rediscovery
• Dr. Elisha Cullen Dick – Physician who attended George Washington's deathbed
• Dr. James Craik – Washington's personal physician and lifelong friend
• Colonel George Gilpin – Washington's "lost" pallbearer rediscovered through ground-penetrating radar
Custom talks available on other Alexandria historical figures
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
Discover the Untold Story of Thomas Tretcher: from Teenager on Captain Cook’s Third Voyage to Merchant Ship’s Captain in Alexandria
In Alexandria's Presbyterian Cemetery lies Thomas Tretcher (1760 – October 15, 1815), a notable figure with a fascinating history. During his teenage years, Tretcher served as an Able Seaman (AB),…
Read the Full Story →Explore More Stories →
Community Partnerships
Trusted partners helping us preserve and share Alexandria's remarkable stories.
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: February 25, 2026
William Newton (1763–1814) was a Revolutionary War veteran whose life—and family—were claimed by one of Alexandria’s deadliest e
William Newton (1763–1814) was a Revolutionary War veteran whose life—and family—were claimed by one of Alexandria’s deadliest epidemics....
Last updated: Feb 27, 9:00 AM 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
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