About

Even before the founding of the City of Alexandria in 1749, Africans and their descendants, enslaved and free, have lived and worked along the waterfront, making significant contributions to the local economy and culture. The two African American Heritage Trails comprise interconnecting routes along the waterfront, illuminating the history of the African American community over a span of several centuries. This history is told through online StoryMaps and can also be experienced in-home on your computer or on your smartphone as you walk the trail along the Potomac River.