Upcoming Public programs at woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House
Looking for house tour information? Click HERE!
Woodlawn Needlework Show
The Woodlawn Needlework Show will run from March 1st until March 31st, 2026 and will be open every day EXCEPT Tuesdays.
General admission tickets are good at any time on the day the ticket is reserved. Tickets may also be purchased on site.
Our Museum Shop will be open and fully stocked!
Our public bathrooms will be open but are not ADA accessible at this time.
Nelly's Café will be open for sit-down, in-person seating inside from 11:30 - 2:00 each day of the Show.
THANK YOU for supporting this popular and exciting fundraising event at the Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House!
If you would like to book for a group of 10+, please reach out to woodlawn@savingplaces.org
For any accessibility questions, please visit our website: http://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/accessibility
Story Quilts with Sheryl Sims
Join us for a special program on March 8th, from 3:00 - 4:00 pm at Woodlawn. This program is included with Needlework Show Admission. Please register in advance to reserve your spot.
Through her raw-edge applique quilts, Sims explores her interest in and journey through family history. This work is informed connections to National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Alexandria Quaker Meeting. These affiliations revealed unexpected ties to Woodlawn through several families that lived and worked here.
Historic Samplers with Barbara Hutson
Join us for a special program on March 22nd, from 3:00 - 4:00 pm at Woodlawn. This program is included with Needlework Show Admission. Please register in advance to reserve your spot.
Barbara Hutson of Queenstown Sampler Designs will be on hand to show and discuss how to identify a Quaker sampler. Barbara will also talk about the Quaker's and the Catholic Oblate Sisters of Providence teaching of free and enslaved peoples.
Coffee and Conversation: George Washington and Public Memory with John Garrison Marks
Join us at Woodlawn this spring for our Coffee and Conversation series, where we bridge the gap between scholarly research and community dialogue. Each session pairs scholarly insight with community dialogue, offering a unique space to learn, reflect, and connect.
When: Third Saturday of the month, 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Tickets: $50 individual/ $120 season package
Bundle & Save: Purchase a Spring Package for $120 to attend all three sessions (a $30 savings!)
How should we remember George Washington’s relationship with slavery? It’s a question Americans have been debating for nearly 250 years.
Join Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House on April 18 for an engaging book talk with historian John Garrison Marks, author of Thy Will Be Done: George Washington's Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory. Through compelling stories and original research, Marks explores Washington’s complicated legacy as both the nation’s most prominent enslaver and the only Founding Father to emancipate the people he held in bondage. From abolitionists and politicians to educators, activists, and the descendants of Washington’s enslaved community, Marks reveals how generations of Americans have argued over, reshaped, and sometimes avoided this history.
1:00 pm: Join a subject matter expert for an in-depth exploration of local history and its national relevance.
2:30 pm: Engage in spirited conversation with the speaker over coffee and light refreshments, participate in a book signing, and explore the house with insight from staff.
To celebrate our kickoff event, guests may attend the lecture portion of the program for free, or purchase a $50 ticket to enjoy the full experience.
Your $50 Ticket Includes:
Lecture & Q&A: Guaranteed seating at the keynote presentation and interactive Q&A session
Signed Book: A copy of Thy Will Be Done, with an exclusive book signing by the author.
Historic Tours: Access to Woodlawn for open-hour tours.
Refreshments: Complimentary coffee and light bites.
About the Speaker:
John Garrison Marks is a historian and writer exploring the United States' histories of race, slavery and public memory. He is the author or editor of three books, and his writing has appeared in the Washington Post, TIME, Smithsonian Magazine, among other publications. His latest book, Thy Will Be Done: George Washington's Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory, explores how generations of Americans have made sense of George Washington's involvement in slavery. Marks currently serves as the Vice President of Research and Engagement for the American Association for State and Local History, the national professional association for public history practitioners and institutions. He earned his Ph.D. in history from Rice University. A New Jersey native, Marks currently lives outside Washington, DC.
Bird Walk at Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House
Join Larry Meade for a nature walk around the grounds of Woodlawn form 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Late April is prime time for bird migration. Colorful birds such as warblers and tanagers will be singing and showing off their breeding plumage. While we are enjoying the birds, we will also be looking for other interesting creatures such as butterflies and dragonflies.
Leading the session will be Larry Meade, the president of the Northern Virginia Bird Club. Larry is a frequent bird walk leader, a writer, a photographer, and program presenter. He also has an interest in butterflies and is the compiler of the Alexandria Butterfly Count which is held is Sepne.
All ticket purchases support the preservation of this historic site.
Coffee and Conversation: Women in Preservation with Amanda Roper
Join us at Woodlawn this spring for our Coffee and Conversation series, where we bridge the gap between scholarly research and community dialogue. Each session pairs scholarly insight with community dialogue, offering a unique space to learn, reflect, and connect.
When: Third Saturday of the month, 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Tickets: $50 individual/ $120 season package
Bundle & Save: Purchase a Spring Package for $120 to attend all three sessions (a $30 savings!)
Public historian Amanda Roper will explore the significant role women have played in preserving America’s past, from Jamestown to Manzanar. By saving places, objects, and stories from the past, women were able to shape public memory and civic identity. In the twentieth century, women used their skills and influence to fight for expanded rights and more inclusion in the historical narrative. This presentation highlights key sites, moments, and women in the history of preservation and ends with a discussion of who counts as a preservationist.
1:00 pm: Join a subject matter expert for an in-depth exploration of local history and its national relevance.
2:30 pm: Engage in spirited conversation with the speaker over coffee and light refreshments or explore the house and special "collection spotlights" curated by our collections team.
Your Ticket Includes:
Lecture & Q&A: Admission to the keynote presentation and interactive Q&A session
Vault Access: A viewing of rarely seen artifacts from the Woodlawn Collection highlighting female stewardship.
Private Tour: A guided tour of Woodlawn highlighting the pivotal role of women in the site's preservation and survival.
Refreshments: Complimentary coffee and light bites
About the Speaker:
Amanda Roper is a public historian who has spent her career preserving historic places and sharing traditionally underrepresented stories from America's past. She holds a degree in history from the College of Charleston and has worked for the National Park Service, the Smithsonian, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, as well as various historic sites in Charleston, SC and Alexandria, VA. Amanda serves on the board of the Historic House Museum Consortium of Washington, D.C., Japanese American Memorial Pilgrimages, and the National Collaborative for Women's History Sites. Amanda is a 2025-2026 Research Fellow at the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon and is currently researching and writing a book about the history of women in preservation.
Wright at Twilight
Enjoy the iconic Pope-Leighey House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, at twilight! Sit back with complimentary snacks and a glass of wine, as you watch the changing light bring out the beautiful architectural details of the house. Play games in the yard, listen to period music, and tour the house at your leisure as the sun slowly sets.
Tickets are $30, with one drink included in the price of your ticket.
Snacks will be provided, but you are also welcome to bring your own food (no outside alcohol). Tables and chairs will be set up around the Pope-Leighey House for you to use.
No food or drink will be allowed inside the house. When you arrive on site, please head directly to the Pope-Leighey House.
Most of the event will be held outside the house, please dress accordingly.
Coffee and Conversation: Woodlawn Quakers during the Civil War with Martha Claire Catlin
Join us at Woodlawn this spring for our Coffee and Conversation series, where we bridge the gap between scholarly research and community dialogue. Each session pairs scholarly insight with community dialogue, offering a unique space to learn, reflect, and connect.
When: Third Saturday of the month, 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Tickets: $50 individual/ $120 season package
Bundle & Save: Purchase a Spring Package for $120 to attend all three sessions (a $30 savings!)
The northern Quakers who had settled at Woodlawn as an antislavery colony in 1846 found themselves in a precarious position when the Civil War disrupted life in their small biracial farming community. Surrounded by slaveholders and Secessionists among whom they had previously co-existed peacefully, they were subjected to Confederate conscription, harassment, and raids. Once the Union Army was able to incorporate the Woodlawn neighborhood into its defenses, their Quaker meetinghouse was commandeered as headquarters for the Union picket guard, and farm goods, livestock, supplies, buildings, and fencing were appropriated. Yet Confederate incursions, kidnappings, and death threats persisted. How did the Friends, as both antislavery and pacifist citizens, navigate these challenges? How did alliances between Quakers and African Americans – both free and enslaved – uniquely serve the Union Army? What choices were they forced to make to survive, to protect their community, or to help the Union cause?
1:00 pm: Join a subject matter expert for an in-depth exploration of local history and its national relevance.
2:30 pm: Engage in spirited conversation with the speaker over coffee and light refreshments, early access of Woodlawn’s new exhibit Friends Gather Here, with special "collection spotlights" curated by our collections team.
Your Ticket Includes:
Lecture & Q&A: Admission to the keynote presentation and interactive Q&A session
Sneak Peek: Early access viewing of the new exhibit Friends Gather Here: A Legacy of Two Communities at Woodlawn with curator-led tours.
Vault Access: A viewing of rarely seen artifacts from the Woodlawn Collection highlighting the Quaker and Free Black Community.
Historic Tours: Access to the Woodlawn estate for open house tours.
Refreshments: Complimentary coffee and light bites
About the Speaker:
A lifelong Quaker, Martha Claire Catlin has served for over thirty years as Historian for her longtime worship community, Alexandria Friends Meeting at Woodlawn. She retired from a career in public history, arts administration, and historic preservation, in Arizona, Montana, and the DC area. From 1987 to 2009, as a federal employee, she was a member of the professional staff to the presidentially appointed Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. In that position, she taught federal preservation law and mediated disputes over federal actions that posed threats to historic places nationwide, including places of religious and cultural significance to Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and traditional African American communities. She holds a master’s degree in American History from Montana State University and a bachelor’s degree in Art History and Philosophy from Northern Arizona University.
She is the author of As They Were Led: Quakerly Steps and Missteps Toward Native Justice 1795-1940, and The Quaker Scout: Testimony of a Civil War Non-Combatant of the Woodlawn Antislavery Colony. The books were published by Quaker Heron Press in 2021 and 2022.
Her current book project, Redeeming George Washington’s Promise: Freedpeople, Quakers, and the Lost Colony of Woodlawn, explores the legacies of families, including those descended from Mount Vernon’s enslaved people, who, over a decade before the Civil War, formed a free Black enclave at Woodlawn, allied with an antislavery colony of Quakers.
Holiday Tours at Pope-Leighey House
Tour the Pope-Leighey House during special evening tours and see the home decorated for a mid-century holiday while enjoying cookies and a cup of hot cider.
These special tours are available on December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, and 20. Tours begin at 5:30, 6:00, and 6:30.
Tickets are $20.
Space is limited, advance registration is recommended!
Holiday Tours at Pope-Leighey House
Tour the Pope-Leighey House during special evening tours and see the home decorated for a mid-century holiday while enjoying cookies and a cup of hot cider.
These special tours are available on December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, and 20. Tours begin at 5:30, 6:00, and 6:30.
Tickets are $20.
Space is limited, advance registration is recommended!
Holiday Tours at Pope-Leighey House
Tour the Pope-Leighey House during special evening tours and see the home decorated for a mid-century holiday while enjoying cookies and a cup of hot cider.
These special tours are available on December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, and 20. Tours begin at 5:30, 6:00, and 6:30.
Tickets are $20.
Space is limited, advance registration is recommended!
All Lit Up Like a Japanese Lantern: The Japanese Aesthetic in Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House
By 1941, the year Pope-Leighey House was completed, Frank Lloyd Wright had studied Japan for almost a half-century. He had become a serious collector of woodblock prints--even writing a book on the subject--and had won acclaim for his design of the Tokyo Imperial Hotel, one of the few buildings to survive the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. On this special tour, visitors will discover how the famous American architect incorporated his love of Japanese art, architecture, and philosophy into Usonian homes, and how this East Asian influence shines in Wright’s Pope-Leighey House.
About the Tour Guide: Kristi Jamrisko Gross is Lead Guide at Woodlawn & Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House and also works as a museum educator for the Office of Historic Alexandria. She holds an M.A. in Art History from the University of Maryland, where she wrote her thesis on Dutch–Japanese material culture exchange in the 1600s. Prior to graduate school, she taught English in rural Japan through the JET Program and worked as a science and nuclear policy analyst at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, DC.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for students (K-12).
Forest Bathing
Forest Bathing, also known as Forest Therapy, is a slow, mindful immersion in Nature. During a two and a half hour period, we move through the Forest and connect with the environment using all of our senses. This practice is deeply grounding and has many health benefits. The total distance traveled is often less than a mile. Forest Bathing is not a hike, and it is not a plant identification walk.
Leading the session will be Emily Hampton, an Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs (ANFT) certified guide. She is a graduate of Stanford University and a 23 year veteran of the U.S. Navy. Emily is also a certified yoga teacher and Nidra meditation teacher.
Tickets are $30, and attendance is capped at 12.
Architecture of Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House
Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House provide a unique opportunity to put two American styles of architecture – separated by over a century – in conversation with one another. Take a close look at both houses to examine what it was that the architects who built these homes were trying to convey about the people who lived here, the period they lived in, and what they thought the future held.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for students (K-12).
Fairy House Festival
Create your own tiny fairy house using natural materials to enchant future visitors at our site! Enjoy a day full of magical activities on the grounds of the Pope-Leighey House, including cider and cookies for all guests. A Storytime will take place at 12:00 PM inside the Pope-Leighey House, designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright as a small, affordable home in harmony with nature. This whimsical event is perfect for children, families, and nature lovers of all ages!
Wright at Twilight
Enjoy the iconic Pope-Leighey House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, at twilight! Sit back with complimentary snacks and a glass of wine, as you watch the changing light bring out the beautiful architectural details of the house. Play games in the yard, listen to period music, and tour the house at your leisure as the sun slowly sets.
Tickets are $30, with one drink included in the price of your ticket.
Snacks will be provided, but you are also welcome to bring your own food (no outside alcohol). Tables and chairs will be set up around the Pope-Leighey House for you to use.
No food or drink will be allowed inside the house. When you arrive on site, please head directly to the Pope-Leighey House.
Most of the event will be held outside the house, please dress accordingly.
Slavery and Freedom at Woodlawn
Explore the lives of the people enslaved at Woodlawn through original sources, objects, and historic places. This tour traces Woodlawn’s transformation as a plantation once part of George Washington’s Mount Vernon, to an antislavery community over the course of the 19th century. Engage in thoughtful discussion about our shared past and the legacy of slavery.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for students (K-12).
Wright at Twilight
Enjoy the iconic Pope-Leighey House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, at twilight! Sit back with complimentary snacks and a glass of wine, as you watch the changing light bring out the beautiful architectural details of the house. Play games in the yard, listen to period music, and tour the house at your leisure as the sun slowly sets.
Tickets are $30, with one drink included in the price of your ticket.
Snacks will be provided, but you are also welcome to bring your own food (no outside alcohol). Tables and chairs will be set up around the Pope-Leighey House for you to use.
No food or drink will be allowed inside the house. When you arrive on site, please head directly to the Pope-Leighey House.
Most of the event will be held outside the house, please dress accordingly.
Wright at Twilight
Enjoy the iconic Pope-Leighey House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, at twilight! Sit back with complimentary snacks and a glass of wine, as you watch the changing light bring out the beautiful architectural details of the house. Play games in the yard, listen to period music, and tour the house at your leisure as the sun slowly sets.
Tickets are $30, with one drink included in the price of your ticket.
Snacks will be provided, but you are also welcome to bring your own food (no outside alcohol). Tables and chairs will be set up around the Pope-Leighey House for you to use.
No food or drink will be allowed inside the house. When you arrive on site, please head directly to the Pope-Leighey House.
Most of the event will be held outside the house, please dress accordingly.
Farewell to Lafayette: A Bicentennial Tribute
Join us for “Farewell to Lafayette,” an all-day commemorative event marking the close of the Marquis de Lafayette’s 1824–1825 Farewell Tour of the United States. The day will honor Lafayette’s legacy and reflect on his enduring influence on American liberty, democracy, and friendship. Welcomed with great fanfare across the new republic, including multiple visits to Woodlawn, Lafayette’s journey was a powerful reaffirmation of the Franco-American bond. Now, two hundred years later, we bid him farewell with history, storytelling, and community.
This event not only marks the end of Lafayette’s national farewell tour anniversary but also invites us to consider how history is remembered and celebrated. At a site rich with connections to Washington, liberty, and civic ideals, “Farewell to Lafayette” is both a tribute and a call to reflection.
Schedule of Events:
(Subject to Change)
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Open House Tours at Woodlawn
Explore the historic 1805 Woodlawn mansion at your own pace. Knowledgeable interpreters will be available throughout the day to share insights into this remarkable site, which was once part of George Washington’s original Mount Vernon estate and later transformed by Quakers into an anti-slavery colony in the years preceding the American Civil War.
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Specialty Presentation: “Lafayette at Woodlawn”
Step into the world of 1824 with a presentation focused on Lafayette’s celebrated visit to America. Learn more about Lafayette's visits to Woodlawn, his relationships with the Custis and Lewis families, and how his progressive personal values impacted the National Tour and influenced those around him on this specialty tour.
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Panel Discussion: “Embodying Lafayette”
Gather for an engaging conversation with a distinguished panel of three Lafayette historical interpreters, Mark Schneider, Michael Halbert, and Benjamin Goldman. They’ll share personal insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and reflections on portraying the Marquis during this bicentennial year. Discover how performance and research bring history to life and why Lafayette’s message still resonates.
Moderated Q&A to follow.
2025 Writers-in-residence reading at woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House
Join us for a free in person program at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House! On Saturday, September 6th at 12:00 p.m., the talented writers-in-residence from The Inner Loop will share new works inspired by their time at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House.
Light refreshments will be available and attendees will receive a discounted tour rate for Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House on the day of the event.
Readings will be held by the Inner Loop’s 2025 Writers-in-Residence:
Violeta Bermudez: in-residence July 6 - 12
Violeta Bermudez is a bilingual emerging writer and storyteller, originally from Nicaragua and based in Washington, D.C. She writes about memory, place, and the magic of ordinary moments. Mostly on Substack, always in her notes app. She’s also a partner at Violet Red Studio, where she leads content and creative growth strategies. Violeta is working on her first novel, a story that just won’t leave her alone.
Matti Ben-Lev: in-residence July 13 - 19
Matti is a queer nonfiction writer and poet currently based in Northern Virginia. His essays and poems have appeared (or are forthcoming) in Rumpus, CRAFT, Ekphrastic Review, Jake, Libre, Anti-Heroin Chic, and elsewhere. His unpublished chapbook manuscript was a semi-finalist in FLP’s 2025 open chapbook contest. He is the assistant nonfiction editor for the intersectional feminist lit mag, So To Speak, and an MFA candidate in CNF from George Mason University.
Emily Haynes: in-residence July 27 - Aug. 2
Emily Haynes is a writer and editor living in Washington, D.C. She has covered philanthropy and nonprofits for the last six years, reporting news and feature articles and producing live journalism and a flagship podcast for the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Emily also writes about ecology, horticulture, and nature. Her work focuses on themes of place and attention; she loves spotlighting the overlooked wildness of the everyday and exploring the reciprocal ways people and landscapes shape each other.
Shannon Jeffries: in-residence Aug. 10-16
Shannon Jeffries (she/her) is a storyteller and community philanthropist from Cleveland, Ohio. In her writing, she explores the complexities and contradictions of life at the margins and intersections. Her essays have appeared in White Wall Review and midnight & indigo. She is also the author of Deep Condition, a novel released in 2018. Shannon is a graduate of The Ohio State University and University of Maryland College Park.
Lani Furbank: in-residence Aug. 17 - 23
Lani Furbank is a strategic communicator advocating for a just and sustainable food system. She is currently farming at Potomac Vegetable Farms and working as a researcher for Food Works Group. She just earned her Masters of Professional Studies in Sustainable Food Systems at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). Lani is a former food journalist whose writing focused on the intersection of food, farming, and the environment.
Questions? Call (703) 780-4000 or email woodlawn@savingplaces.org
Architecture of Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House
Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House provide a unique opportunity to put two American styles of architecture – separated by over a century – in conversation with one another. Take a close look at both houses to examine what it was that the architects who built these homes were trying to convey about the people who lived here, the period they lived in, and what they thought the future held.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for students (K-12).
Wright at Twilight
Enjoy the iconic Pope-Leighey House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, at twilight! Sit back with complimentary snacks and a glass of wine, as you watch the changing light bring out the beautiful architectural details of the house. Play games in the yard, listen to period music, and tour the house at your leisure as the sun slowly sets.
Tickets are $30, with one drink included in the price of your ticket.
Snacks will be provided, but you are also welcome to bring your own food (no outside alcohol). Tables and chairs will be set up around the Pope-Leighey House for you to use.
No food or drink will be allowed inside the house. When you arrive on site, please head directly to the Pope-Leighey House.
Most of the event will be held outside the house, please dress accordingly.
Wright at Twilight
Enjoy the iconic Pope-Leighey House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, at twilight! Sit back with complimentary snacks and a glass of wine, as you watch the changing light bring out the beautiful architectural details of the house. Play games in the yard, listen to period music, and tour the house at your leisure as the sun slowly sets.
Tickets are $30, with one drink included in the price of your ticket.
Snacks will be provided, but you are also welcome to bring your own food (no outside alcohol). Tables and chairs will be set up around the Pope-Leighey House for you to use.
No food or drink will be allowed inside the house. When you arrive on site, please head directly to the Pope-Leighey House.
Most of the event will be held outside the house, please dress accordingly.
Slavery and Freedom at Woodlawn
Explore the lives of the people enslaved at Woodlawn through original sources, objects, and historic places. This tour traces Woodlawn’s transformation as a plantation once part of George Washington’s Mount Vernon, to an antislavery community over the course of the 19th century. Engage in thoughtful discussion about our shared past and the legacy of slavery.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for students (K-12).
Wright at Twilight
EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER
Enjoy the iconic Pope-Leighey House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, at twilight! Sit back with complimentary snacks and a glass of wine, as you watch the changing light bring out the beautiful architectural details of the house. Play games in the yard, listen to period music, and tour the house at your leisure as the sun slowly sets.
Tickets are $30, with one drink included in the price of your ticket.
Snacks will be provided, but you are also welcome to bring your own food (no outside alcohol). Tables and chairs will be set up around the Pope-Leighey House for you to use.
No food or drink will be allowed inside the house. When you arrive on site, please head directly to the Pope-Leighey House.
Most of the event will be held outside the house, please dress accordingly.
Slice of History: Civics Pizza Party at Woodlawn
Celebrate #CivicsSeason with (free!) pizza and history!
Join us for a special open house at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House, a site with a profound legacy of transformation. Take a self-guided tour and learn how Woodlawn, a former plantation once part of George Washington's Mount Vernon, became the site of an anti-slavery colony in the years before the Civil War.
Take a self-guided tour and engage in thoughtful reflection and dialogue about our shared past and its connection to today’s movements for justice.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to view the new exhibit “Saving Pope-Leighey House: How Marjorie Leighey Rescued Her Frank Lloyd Wright Home.”
Come hungry for history and pizza and leave inspired.
This youth event is open to the public and intended for guests ages 16-30.
All Lit Up Like a Japanese Lantern: The Japanese Aesthetic in Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House
By 1941, the year Pope-Leighey House was completed, Frank Lloyd Wright had studied Japan for almost a half-century. He had become a serious collector of woodblock prints--even writing a book on the subject--and had won acclaim for his design of the Tokyo Imperial Hotel, one of the few buildings to survive the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. On this special tour, visitors will discover how the famous American architect incorporated his love of Japanese art, architecture, and philosophy into Usonian homes, and how this East Asian influence shines in Wright’s Pope-Leighey House.
About the Tour Guide: Kristi Jamrisko Gross is Lead Guide at Woodlawn & Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House and also works as a museum educator for the Office of Historic Alexandria. She holds an M.A. in Art History from the University of Maryland, where she wrote her thesis on Dutch–Japanese material culture exchange in the 1600s. Prior to graduate school, she taught English in rural Japan through the JET Program and worked as a science and nuclear policy analyst at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, DC.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for students (K-12).
60 Years of Preservation: Celebrating Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House
Join us on June 7, 2025, for a celebration 60 years in the making!
We’re throwing a party to commemorate the historic move of the Pope-Leighey House from Falls Church, VA, to its current home at Woodlawn—a move that saved this Frank Lloyd Wright-designed gem, thanks to the dedication of Marjorie Leighey and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Now it’s time to party in true 1960s style! Slip into your best 60s-inspired attire—think mod dresses, bell bottoms, bold prints, and vintage vibes—and get ready for a night of great food, drinks, and live entertainment that will transport you back to the era of peace, love, and preservation! Whether you're a history buff, an architecture fan, or just looking for a groovy time, this is one event you won’t want to miss.
Join us for a swingin’ celebration of history, community, and timeless design!
What's included
• All tickets include (1) Complimentary Drink Ticket
• Open House Tours of Pope-Leighey House
• Access to Woodlawn to view our brand new special exhibit: Saving Pope-Leighey House: How Marjorie Leighey Rescued her Frank Lloyd Wright Home
• Food and live entertainment
Pricing
Adult Ticket: $60.00
Students (K-12): $20.00
Children (5 and under): Free
Architecture of Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House
Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House provide a unique opportunity to put two American styles of architecture – separated by over a century – in conversation with one another. Take a close look at both houses to examine what it was that the architects who built these homes were trying to convey about the people who lived here, the period they lived in, and what they thought the future held.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for students (K-12).
Forest Bathing
Forest Bathing, also known as Forest Therapy, is a slow, mindful immersion in Nature. During a two and a half hour period, we move through the Forest and connect with the environment using all of our senses. This practice is deeply grounding and has many health benefits. The total distance traveled is often less than a mile. Forest Bathing is not a hike, and it is not a plant identification walk.
Leading the session will be Emily Hampton, an Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs (ANFT) certified guide. She is a graduate of Stanford University and a 23 year veteran of the U.S. Navy. Emily is also a certified yoga teacher and Nidra meditation teacher.
Tickets are $30, and attendance is capped at 12.
Virtual Program: Saving Pope-Leighey House
Due to technical issues, this event has been rescheduled for May 27th.
Join Elizabeth Reese, Senior Manager of Public Programs and Interpretation at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House virtually to learn more about our new exhibit "Saving Pope Leighey House!"
In 1965, the Pope-Leighey House, a Frank Lloyd Wright designed home, was moved from its original location in Falls Church to Alexandria, Virginia. What, and who, caused this home to be saved?
Join us virtually at 7pm on May 20th to learn more about efforts of Marjorie Leighey and how she saved her Frank Lloyd Wright home from demolition. This free program will be in support of our new exhibit "Saving Pope-Leighey House: How Marjorie Leighey Rescued Her Frank Lloyd Wright Home."
Inalienable Rights: History through the eyes of Enslaved Virginians
On May 24th, Woodlawn will welcome Joe McGill and the Slave Dwelling Project to the site as the centerpiece for a day of free public programming. Inalienable Rights will consist of a group of living historians and storytellers sharing about the lives and history of people enslaved at Woodlawn and similar plantations in Virginia.
Program generously funded by the Virginia Humanities, Virginia Commission for the Arts and Virginia Tourism VA250 Commission Grant program.
There is no cost to attend, but you can register using the link below.
Schedule of Events:
(Subject to Change)
Throughout the day:
Cheyney McKnight and Sheryl Sims: Highlighting the work of enslaved seamstresses and dressmakers through handsewing and quilting
Rodney Prioleau: Brickmaking Demonstration
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: Joe McGill, Conversations about the Slave Dwelling Project
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Tammy Denease, Living history presentation and Q&A
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Woodlawn staff, “Slavery and Freedom at Woodlawn” tour
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Tammy Denease, Living history presentation and Q&A
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Joe McGill, Conversations about the Slave Dwelling Project
Throughout the day, Woodlawn staff will also be leading mending and foodways demonstrations.
All Lit Up Like a Japanese Lantern: The Japanese Aesthetic in Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House
By 1941, the year Pope-Leighey House was completed, Frank Lloyd Wright had studied Japan for almost a half-century. He had become a serious collector of woodblock prints--even writing a book on the subject--and had won acclaim for his design of the Tokyo Imperial Hotel, one of the few buildings to survive the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. On this special tour, visitors will discover how the famous American architect incorporated his love of Japanese art, architecture, and philosophy into Usonian homes, and how this East Asian influence shines in Wright’s Pope-Leighey House.
About the Tour Guide: Kristi Jamrisko Gross is Lead Guide at Woodlawn & Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House and also works as a museum educator for the Office of Historic Alexandria. She holds an M.A. in Art History from the University of Maryland, where she wrote her thesis on Dutch–Japanese material culture exchange in the 1600s. Prior to graduate school, she taught English in rural Japan through the JET Program and worked as a science and nuclear policy analyst at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, DC.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for students (K-12).
Wright at Twilight
Enjoy the iconic Pope-Leighey House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, at twilight! Sit back with complimentary snacks and a glass of wine, as you watch the changing light bring out the beautiful architectural details of the house. Play games in the yard, listen to period music, and tour the house at your leisure as the sun slowly sets.
Tickets are $30, with one drink included in the price of your ticket.
Snacks will be provided, but you are also welcome to bring your own food (no outside alcohol). Tables and chairs will be set up around the Pope-Leighey House for you to use.
No food or drink will be allowed inside the house. When you arrive on site, please head directly to the Pope-Leighey House.
Most of the event will be held outside the house, please dress accordingly.
Forest Bathing
Forest Bathing, also known as Forest Therapy, is a slow, mindful immersion in Nature. During a two and a half hour period, we move through the Forest and connect with the environment using all of our senses. This practice is deeply grounding and has many health benefits. The total distance traveled is often less than a mile. Forest Bathing is not a hike, and it is not a plant identification walk.
Leading the session will be Emily Hampton, an Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs (ANFT) certified guide. She is a graduate of Stanford University and a 23 year veteran of the U.S. Navy. Emily is also a certified yoga teacher and Nidra meditation teacher.
Tickets are $30, and attendance is capped at 12.
Lafayette at Woodlawn
When the Marquis de Lafayette, French hero of the American Revolution, returned to America in 1824, thousands of citizens greeted him. In December 1824, Lafayette paid the first of several visits to Woodlawn, home of Eleanor Parke Custis and Lawrence Lewis.
Learn more about Lafayette's visits to Woodlawn, his relationships with the Custis and Lewis families, and how his progressive personal values impacted the National Tour and influenced those around him.
Tickets are $25 per adult and $12 per student (K-12)
About the Tour Guide: Elizabeth Reese is the Senior Manager of Public Programs & Interpretation at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House. In her work as a public historian, Elizabeth has over a decade of experience as an interpreter at various historic sites on the East Coast. Her first book, “Marquis de Lafayette Returns: A Tour of America’s National Capital Region”, was published by The History Press (imprint of Arcadia Publishing) in 2024. Elizabeth also serves as the chair of The American Friends of Lafayette Bicentennial Committee for Washington, D.C.
Wright at Twilight
Enjoy the iconic Pope-Leighey House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, at twilight! Sit back with complimentary snacks and a glass of wine, as you watch the changing light bring out the beautiful architectural details of the house. Play games in the yard, listen to period music, and tour the house at your leisure as the sun slowly sets.
Tickets are $30, with one drink included in the price of your ticket.
Snacks will be provided, but you are also welcome to bring your own food (no outside alcohol). Tables and chairs will be set up around the Pope-Leighey House for you to use.
No food or drink will be allowed inside the house. When you arrive on site, please head directly to the Pope-Leighey House.
Most of the event will be held outside the house, please dress accordingly.