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Alexandria, MBA | History + Culture | Researcher + Storyteller

@exploringwithalexandria

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I Educate. I Create.
Grad Studies: @historyvcu
Social Media | African-Am. History Committee:
@chesterfieldhistoricalsv | Virginia📍| My Portfolio:

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Exploring another layer of Virginia history at @stjohnschurchfoundation! I’m excited to continue learning more about this part of Black history connected to the site and share my research along the way. 📚

— Alexandria | 2026 Ambassador, St. John’s Church Foundation

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#StJohnsChurch #HistoricRichmond
#VirginiaHistory #RichmondHistory #BlackHistory taken in St. John's Church Foundation by @exploringwithalexandria

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5 months ago

Where does a historical researcher get married? The Virginia Museum of History & Culture, of course. @virginiahistory 🤍

Dress | @olegcassini
Flowers | @ethosfloralevents
Veil | @thearchive.vintagebridal taken in Virginia Museum of History & Culture by @exploringwithalexandria

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a month ago

Here’s how I spent a perfect historic weekend in the Richmond Region, filled with inspiring local history and Revolutionary-era stories!

📍 Virginia Museum of History & Culture: The perfect place to begin a history-filled weekend. I explored several of the museum’s exhibitions, including their two limited-time exhibitions, Un/Bound: Free Black Virginians, 1619–1865 and Give Me Liberty. Both offer a powerful look at the people and stories that shaped Virginia’s history.
Instagram: @virginiahistory

📍 Historic St. John’s Church: In 1741, this landmark hosted the Second Virginia Convention, where Patrick Henry delivered his famous “Give me liberty or give me death!” speech. Visitors can take tours year-round and enjoy live reenactments every Sunday from Memorial Day to Labor Day, plus select dates throughout the year. (Check the website for schedule updates.)
Instagram: @stjohnschurchfoundation

📍 The New Kent Ordinary and James Armistead Lafayette Monument: A 1730s inn that welcomed George Washington and French officers during the war. Just across the road, the newly unveiled monument honors James Armistead Lafayette, the influential enslaved Black Virginian turned spy whose intelligence and bravery helped secure American independence.
Instagram: @newkentordinary

📍 Half Way House Restaurant: One of America’s oldest taverns, built in 1760 as a stagecoach stop and inn. It hosted guests like George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and Ulysses S. Grant, and served as a headquarters during both the Revolutionary War and Civil War. Today it remains one of Virginia’s landmark fine-dining experiences.
Instagram: @thehalfwayhouserestaurant

Save this itinerary for your next getaway, and plan your own historic weekend at VisitRichmondVA.com, especially as we approach America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. Come see why the Richmond Region has always been revolutionary! ✨

#visitrichmondva #richmondregion
#rva #virginiahistory #thingstodoVA taken in Richmond, Virginia by @exploringwithalexandria

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a year ago

Opening Night: The 14th Annual Middleburg Film Festival 🎞️

I must say, these four 2.5-hour drives to and from Richmond this week were very much worth it!

This year marks my first time volunteering at the festival, which I actually discovered after reading @officialsheilajohnson’s memoir. I bought her book from the gift shop during a stay at Salamander Middleburg a couple of years ago, and her story has stayed with me ever since.

Having read about Sheila’s journey and the founding of the festival, it was particularly special to experience it firsthand as a volunteer and a Black woman.

“The Debut,” directed by Jesse Eisenberg, was amazing! Such a great way to kick off @middleburgfilm. 🎬

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#SalamanderHotelsandResorts #BlackHistory #MiddleburgVA #MiddleburgFilmFestival #SheilaJohnson taken in Salamander Middleburg by @exploringwithalexandria

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a day ago

My millennial heart fell in love with the Barbie™: A Cultural Icon exhibition at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture! 💕

@VirginiaHistory invited me to a Pink Carpet Preview of the exhibition, and the attention to detail, down to the music playlist, storytelling, representation, and connections to Virginia history were simply beautiful.

As someone who combines historical research with storytelling, it is always so special to me when history is presented in a way that captivates and engages the public. I brought my sister along, and we loved learning more about the history and cultural impact of a doll we spent so much of our childhoods playing with.

My inner child left feeling so happy and excited for others to experience the exhibition, which opens to the public on Saturday, October 17th! I may be turning 30 next month, but I’ll always love Barbie. ✨

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#VirginiaMuseumOfHistoryAndCulture #BarbieHistory #BarbieACulturalIconExhibition #VMHC taken in Virginia Museum of History & Culture by @exploringwithalexandria

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2 days ago

This week marked a year since our engagement… ✨

Engaged 10.12.2025
Married 08.13.2026
Vows 08.29.2026

So much can change in a year 🤍 by @exploringwithalexandria

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3 days ago

A stop by @salamanderresort in Middleburg yesterday evening for dinner after orientation for this week’s Middleburg Film Festival. ✨

It’s been a couple of years since I last stayed at the resort and ate at its Gold Cup Wine Bar. I’ve been inspired by its CEO, Sheila Johnson, since purchasing her book, “Walk Through Fire: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Triumph.”

Sheila co-founded BET, founded Salamander Hotels & Resorts, and became the first African American woman billionaire. Reading about her journey and everything she overcame, you can’t help but respect her resilience.

Walking through her Middleburg resort again after reading her book, I found myself looking at it through a different lens knowing the many hurdles she faced. You can see her standards reflected in the attention to detail and service as well. I highly recommend reading!

I actually learned about the festival from reading her book and knew I wanted to apply to volunteer this year. 🤍

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#SalamanderResort #BlackHistory
#MiddleburgVA #MiddleburgFilmFestival
MiddleburgMomen taken in Salamander Middleburg by @exploringwithalexandria

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4 days ago

Built in 1760, the Williamsburg Bray School in @colonialwmsburg is the oldest known surviving building in North America dedicated to the education of Black children, both enslaved and free.

After many posts and visits to the site, I finally got to step inside this past weekend!

I’ve been wanting to experience its interior for a while, so it was really special to finally do so. Stepping into history and imagining what took place in that very spot centuries ago is something that will always captivate me. 🤍

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#WilliamsburgBraySchool #BlackHistory #VirginiaHistory #VisitVirginia #ColonialWilliamsburg taken in Colonial Williamsburg by @exploringwithalexandria

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5 days ago

@ancestry = the 🐐 LOL

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#HistoricalResearch #HistoricalResearcher
#Ancestry #GenealogyResearch #Historian taken in Virginia by @exploringwithalexandria

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10 days ago

Finally got to see a @garyowencomedy show! He has been one of my favs for years 👏🏽

And can we talk about the architecture? Omg, Carpenter Theatre reminded me so much of the Byrd Theatre in Carytown! It’s within the Dominion Energy Center and nearly a hundred years old. So gorgeous. ✨

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#GaryOwen #GaryOwenComedy #RVA
#CarpenterTheatre #DominionEnergyCenter taken in Dominion Energy Center for the Performing Arts by @exploringwithalexandria

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13 days ago

A Coffee + Rainy Fall Day in a historic district heals me. ☕️🤍🍁 @shyndigzdessert

Shyndigz: 1912 W Cary Street | The Fan📍

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#TheFanDistrict #RVACoffee #RVADesserts
#VisitRichmondVA #HistoricRichmond taken in Shyndigz by @exploringwithalexandria

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13 days ago

It’s finally October, and I’m craving another @postcardcabins trip for some cozy vibes in the country. 🤍🍂

Shenandoah | Stanardsville, VA📍 taken in Stanardsville, Virginia by @exploringwithalexandria

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16 days ago