ALEXANDRIA HISTORY TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Slavery and Freedom at Woodlawn: Unearthing Lives Behind the Facade
A one-hour guided exploration at Woodlawn and Pope‑Leighey House that examines the lives of the enslaved and the plantation’s evolution into an antislavery community.
Slavery and Freedom at Woodlawn: Unearthing Lives Behind the Facade.
Set on grounds once tied to George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Woodlawn’s rooms and landscapes hold traces of lives too often left at the margins of history. This guided, one-hour special tour uses original sources, objects, and historic places to trace the property’s arc from plantation to an antislavery community and to foreground the people whose labor and stories shaped that history.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
From Plantation to Antislavery Community
The tour traces Woodlawn’s transformation over the 19th century, situating the site within its origins as a plantation once linked to George Washington and its later role as an antislavery community.
Original Sources and Objects
Visitors examine original documents and objects on view that illuminate the daily lives, work, and family networks of the people enslaved at Woodlawn.
Guided Discussion on Legacy
The tour invites meaningful discussion about the legacy of slavery in America, using the site’s material history and places to prompt reflection and dialogue.
What the day feels like
What the tour feels like
This concise, interpretive experience moves through interior spaces, exhibits of original materials, and historic places on the property, pairing close readings of objects with guided conversation to situate individual lives within broader 19th‑century transformations.
THE HISTORY
From Plantation to Antislavery Community
The tour traces Woodlawn’s transformation over the 19th century, situating the site within its origins as a plantation once linked to George Washington and its later role as an antislavery community.
THE ARTIFACTS
Original Sources and Objects
Visitors examine original documents and objects on view that illuminate the daily lives, work, and family networks of the people enslaved at Woodlawn.
THE CONVERSATION
Guided Discussion on Legacy
The tour invites meaningful discussion about the legacy of slavery in America, using the site’s material history and places to prompt reflection and dialogue.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this tour is right for — and who might want a different kind of outing.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Duration listed as one hour; confirm seasonal hours and availability with the operator.
Confirm any specific requirements with Woodlawn and Pope‑Leighey House prior to arrival.
Operated by Woodlawn and Pope‑Leighey House in Alexandria, Virginia; check the operator for meeting details and accessibility information.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Special Tour: Slavery and Freedom at Woodlawn?
The tour is one hour in duration.
Where does this tour take place?
At Woodlawn in Alexandria, Virginia, operated by Woodlawn and Pope‑Leighey House.
Who operates the tour?
The tour is offered by Woodlawn and Pope‑Leighey House.
What topics does the tour cover?
It explores the lives of the people enslaved at Woodlawn through original sources, objects, and historic places and traces the site’s transformation into an antislavery community over the 19th century.
Will I see original artifacts on the tour?
Yes — the tour includes examination of original sources and objects related to the lives of the enslaved at Woodlawn.