Guided Cemetery Tours
Walk Among History's Makers
90-minute historian-led tours through America's most historic cemetery complex — stories unavailable anywhere else.
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★★★★★
"David Heiby is a noted historian and an authority on American history from the colonial era through the 19th century. He is truly a force of nature — we hit the jackpot when we booked this tour."NOIDK · TripAdvisor, January 2026
America 250 · Official Historical Resource
Gravestone Stories is recognized by Visit Alexandria as an official America 250 historical resource, connecting visitors to Alexandria's Revolutionary foundations.
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Private & Group Programs
Bringing History to Your Organization
Custom 90-minute programs for conferences, heritage organizations, DAR/SAR chapters, educational institutions, and America250 events. Starting at $450.
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This Week in Alexandria History
Week of August 28 • 3 stories available
August 20, 1619 (407 years ago)
Arrival of Enslaved Africans in Virginia
A privateer ship, the White Lion, brought approximately 20 enslaved Africans to Point Comfort (modern-day Hampton, Virginia), marking the beginning of African slavery in English North America. These individuals were likely seized from a Portuguese slave ship and traded for provisions. Though initially treated similarly to indentured servants, their arrival laid the foundation for a ...
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Latest Research Story
Featured Blog Story
The Contrabands and Freemans Cemetery: a Historic Burial Ground for Freedmen and Fugitive Slaves in Alexandria, Va
Situated at 1001 S. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, The Contrabands and Freemans Cemetery was founded in 1864 as a resting place for liberated individuals and escaped slaves who sought…
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Spotlight Story
Posted: August 24, 2026
A good Monday at the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex
A good Monday at the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex. I spent Monday midday walking the historic burial grounds with colleagues from the Virginia...
Last updated: Aug 27, 10:00 PM EDT