Archeology Museum Opens ‘Community Digs Its Past’
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Archeology Museum Opens ‘Community Digs Its Past’

The Alexandria Archaeology Museum opened a new permanent archaeology exhibit called A Community Digs its Past: The Lee Street Site. Cases and panels display artifacts and reveal the archaeological process and the history of Alexandria as seen through the lens of the Lee Street Site (archaeological site number 44AX180) and several other waterfront sites. The exhibit answers questions like: what is urban archaeology; what did Alexandria look like in the past; and what do archaeologists do? The exhibition was made possible by a grant from Historic Alexandria Foundation and is the cornerstone of the museum. 

The City’s archaeology museum has been in the Torpedo Factory Art Center for nearly 40 years. The museum studies and interprets archaeological sites from across the city. 

“We’re looking forward to welcoming residents and visitors to our museum and public laboratory where there’s always something new to learn about Alexandria’s buried past,” said Dr. Eleanor Breen, City Archaeologist.  

Alexandria Archaeology partnered with local graphic design firm StudioA to create a more modern, visually pleasing exhibit. 

Museum staff redeveloped the content of the exhibit to be more accessible to visitors and to tell a more inclusive history of the port city, while explaining the archaeological process. 

The newly designed exhibit centers the experiences of free and enslaved African Americans in Alexandria. 

Visit the Archaeology Museum’s new A Community Digs its Past: The Lee Street Site and for more information on this exhibit and archaeology in Alexandria, visit https://www.alexandriava.gov/Archaeology.