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Alexandria’s Freedom House Museum reopened Nov. 8 following an extensive exterior rehabilitation that restored the landmark’s appearance to its pre-1861 form.

City leaders marked the completion of the project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the museum, located at 1315 Duke Street. The building documents Alexandria’s role in the domestic slave trade while honoring the enslaved and free Black people who lived in or were trafficked through the city.

From 1828 to 1861, thousands of men, women and children were trafficked through the building and sent to labor markets in the Deep South, according to Gretchen Bulova, director of the Office of Historic Alexandria.

The property originally served as the headquarters of Franklin & Armfield, one of the nation’s largest slave-trading firms. Five other slave dealers later operated there.

“This work is about more than bricks and mortar,” Bulova said. “It’s about ensuring that this space continues to bear witness to the history of the domestic slave trade and the strength of the people whose lives were forever changed here.”

Alexandria purchased the building in 2020 and worked with community members to plan the museum’s future. The first phase of restoration focused on sealing and preserving the structure’s exterior, including repointing its brickwork and restoring its windows.

Work began in June 2024 and finished ahead of schedule. Crews changed the roofline to a side-gable design, adjusted window openings to correspond with Civil War-era photographs, and renewed the woodwork and siding.

Mayor Alyia Gaskins said the museum represents a commitment to confronting slavery’s racism, trauma and terror while also sharing stories of Black resilience, perseverance, hope and beauty.

“This museum is an intentional declaration that we will not forget our history,” Gaskins said.

Oak Grove Restoration Company and architect emeritus Al Cox led the rehabilitation. Funding came from the Commonwealth of Virginia, a Save America’s Treasures grant and individual donors.

With the exterior complete, the city plans to raise money for interior improvements. Proposed work includes making the basement and second floor accessible and redesigning the exhibitions to more fully explain the domestic slave trade.

Bulova said she is optimistic that the next phase can be completed within three years.