Historic Alexandria Sites To Be Featured In Virginia 250 Tourism Campaign

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Virginia, home to numerous Founding Fathers, played a key role in the founding of the United States. A new tourism campaign will encourage visitors to explore Virginia's historic sites amid the celebration of the United States' 250th anniversary in 2026. Alexandria will be one of the sites featured in the Virginia 250 initiative.

The newly launched Virginia 250 Passport will feature 70 participating museums and historic sites in the Northern Virginia, Central Virginia, Shenandoah Valley, Southwestern Virginia and Tidewater regions. The city-run Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, and the Alexandria Black History Museum are among the featured destinations in the Virginia 250 Passport. The passport launches on Nov. 11 and will be active through Dec. 31, 2026.

"This collaboration is a wonderful example of how, when Virginians work together, we can show the world the best of who we are," said Gretchen Bulova, director of the Office of Historic Alexandria. "With support from the Virginia Tourism Corporation and VA250, this statewide effort celebrates Virginia’s pivotal role in shaping America’s past, present, and future—and serves as an inspiring model of collaboration and shared pride."

The statewide tourism initiative is being organized by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, Colonial Williamsburg, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and is supported by the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission and the Virginia Tourism Corporation.

The 64-page Virginia 250 Passport will have descriptions of the 70 participating museums and historic sites. Visitors can collect unique stamps at each passport site. With a stamp in the passport, they can receive a discount of up to 15 percent at other participating sites charging admission. Visitors that collect at least five stamps will be eligible for prizes like year-long museum memberships and cash awards up to $2,500. Drawings will be held in December 2026.

"This statewide partnership between some of the finest history institutions in the nation is an example of how, when we work together, we can create engaging, meaningful experiences for our fellow Virginians," said Rita McClenny, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. "We encourage you to pick up your passport while supplies last and spend a year with us traveling around our great Commonwealth."

Starting Nov. 11, passports are available for free at Virginia Museum of History & Culture, Colonial Williamsburg, Mount Vernon, Monticello, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation’s Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, VA250 Mobile Museum, select VA250 events and all 12 Virginia Welcome Centers along interstate highways. There will be 250,000 passports distributed in all.