Historic Alexandria - Candlelight Tours

ONE NIGHT ONLY
December 13, 2008
5:00 to 9:00 pm

Adults $20
Senior Citizens (65 years and older) $15
Children (ages 6-17) $5

Discount available when purchased before December 1st!

To purchase tickets, please call Gadsby's Tavern Museum at 703-838-4242 or ORDER ONLINE
Make Historic Alexandria Candlelight Tours part of your family's 2008 holiday celebration. Take a break from the fast pace of the season and experience the unique charm and history of Old Town Alexandria. Tour Gadsby's Tavern Museum, Carlyle House, Lee-Fendall House and Old Presbyterian Meeting House as part of your holiday celebration. Enjoy evening candle-lit tours of each site (some in period costume), live musical performances, seasonal greenery and displays, and hot cider. You may tour these sites in any order, between 5:00 and 9:00 p.m. A shuttle runs on a continuous loop between the sites.

Historic Sites on Tour this Year:

Lee-Fendall House

The Lee-Fendall House, built in 1785, served as home to 37 members of the Lee family. Labor leader John L. Lewis also made this his home during the height of his power, 1937 to 1969. This year, guests are invited to celebrate a traditional Early Victorian Christmas. The Lee-Fendall House will feature holiday music from a capella group Tonic & Gin. Greenery will be hung in seasonal displays and the Christmas tree will be trimmed with ribbons, antique toys, and gilded ornaments in the style of the 1850s. Guides will explain early Victorian holiday customs and tell of famous visitors to the historic home such as "Light Horse" Harry Lee, the Washingtons, and John Quincy Adams.

Carlyle House Historic Park

John Carlyle and his family will celebrate with friends and family in the house he built in 1753. During the season beginning Christmas Eve and ending Twelfth Night, Virginians in the 18th took advantage of this winter down period, for planters and merchants like Carlyle to enjoy festive entertainments. A Christening will be the reason the Carlyle family is entertaining this season. Candles will grandly illuminate the house and a beautifully appointed dining table will display a dessert collation. Desserts being the most elegant and expensive fare for an evening party, it will illustrate the family’s wealth and position in Virginia society. Musical entertainment and a taste of Martha Washington's great cake will add to the ambience of the evening.

Gadsby's Tavern Museum

The warm hospitality of the tavern will be highlighted by the serving of hot cider to guests who will also enjoy the history of this site. The scent of fresh greens and flickering candlelight bestow the tavern rooms - made famous by visits from the first five American Presidents - with a true holiday ambience. As you tour the ca. 1785 tavern and 1792 City Tavern, now known as Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, you will also be greeted with the seasonal sounds of choral music. A highlight of your visit will include enjoying the entertainment in “Mr. Wise’s New Room” – the largest meeting and entertainment space in Alexandria in 1785.

Old Presbyterian Meeting House

The Old Presbyterian Meeting House welcomes visitors to its elegant, candle-lit sanctuary, decorated with Christmas greenery. The tours will include seasonal music and tours conducted by docents in 18th-century dress. The Church, still active today, has a history that reaches back to the arrival of Scottish settlers who made Alexandria their home in the 18th century. Founded in 1772, the Church was attended by such distinguished early Alexandrians as John Carlyle and Dr. James Craik, personal physician to George Washington. Many of these early citizens are buried in the church yard, which also contains the grave of the unknown soldier of the American Revolution. The current building dates from 1837, built in place of the original structure, which was destroyed by fire in 1835.



Historic Alexandria Candlelight Tours Gadsby's Tavern Museum \| Carlyle House \| Lee Fendall House \| Christ Church ONE NIGHT ONLY December 13, 2008 5:00 to 9:00 pm Adults $20 Senior Citizens (65 years and older) $15 Children (ages 6-17) $5 Discount available when purchased before December 1st! To purchase tickets, please call Gadsby's Tavern Museum at 703-838-4242 or ORDER ONLINE Make Historic Alexandria Candlelight Tours part of your family's 2008 holiday celebration. Take a break from the fast pace of the season and experience the unique charm and history of Old Town Alexandria. Tour Gadsby's Tavern Museum, Carlyle House, Lee-Fendall House and Old Presbyterian Meeting House as part of your holiday celebration. Enjoy evening candle-lit tours of each site (some in period costume), live musical performances, seasonal greenery and displays, and hot cider. You may tour these sites in any order, between 5:00 and 9:00 p.m. A shuttle runs on a continuous loop between the sites. Historic Sites on Tour this Year: Lee-Fendall House The Lee-Fendall House, built in 1785, served as home to 37 members of the Lee family. Labor leader John L. Lewis also made this his home during the height of his power, 1937 to 1969. This year, guests are invited to celebrate a traditional Early Victorian Christmas. The Lee-Fendall House will feature holiday music from a capella group Tonic & Gin. Greenery will be hung in seasonal displays and the Christmas tree will be trimmed with ribbons, antique toys, and gilded ornaments in the style of the 1850s. Guides will explain early Victorian holiday customs and tell of famous visitors to the historic home such as "Light Horse" Harry Lee, the Washingtons, and John Quincy Adams. Carlyle House Historic Park John Carlyle and his family will celebrate with friends and family in the house he built in 1753. During the season beginning Christmas Eve and ending Twelfth Night, Virginians in the 18th took advantage of this winter down period, for planters and merchants like Carlyle to enjoy festive entertainments. A Christening will be the reason the Carlyle family is entertaining this season. Candles will grandly illuminate the house and a beautifully appointed dining table will display a dessert collation. Desserts being the most elegant and expensive fare for an evening party, it will illustrate the family’s wealth and position in Virginia society. Musical entertainment and a taste of Martha Washington's great cake will add to the ambience of the evening. Gadsby's Tavern Museum The warm hospitality of the tavern will be highlighted by the serving of hot cider to guests who will also enjoy the history of this site. The scent of fresh greens and flickering candlelight bestow the tavern rooms - made famous by visits from the first five American Presidents - with a true holiday ambience. As you tour the ca. 1785 tavern and 1792 City Tavern, now known as Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, you will also be greeted with the seasonal sounds of choral music. A highlight of your visit will include enjoying the entertainment in “Mr. Wise’s New Room” – the largest meeting and entertainment space in Alexandria in 1785. Old Presbyterian Meeting House The Old Presbyterian Meeting House welcomes visitors to its elegant, candle-lit sanctuary, decorated with Christmas greenery. The tours will include seasonal music and tours conducted by docents in 18th-century dress. The Church, still active today, has a history that reaches back to the arrival of Scottish settlers who made Alexandria their home in the 18th century. Founded in 1772, the Church was attended by such distinguished early Alexandrians as John Carlyle and Dr. James Craik, personal physician to George Washington. Many of these early citizens are buried in the church yard, which also contains the grave of the unknown soldier of the American Revolution. The current building dates from 1837, built in place of the original structure, which was destroyed by fire in 1835.