Can a museum visit make you a better citizen? Alexandria thinks its data has an answer
A new national survey finds OHA museums boost civic pride and community connection — though experts note the study relies on self-reported responses
The Office of Historic Alexandria has released results from a national survey suggesting its museums have a measurable effect on visitors’ sense of civic identity, community belonging and quality of life. City officials say the findings will inform how the museums operate and promote themselves going forward.
The survey was conducted as part of the American Alliance of Museums’ Museum Social Impact in Practice initiative, a federally funded program designed to assess how museums affect the communities they serve. OHA was selected in October 2024 through a competitive application process to participate.
From April through August 2025, participants visited three of OHA’s eight museums and historic sites and completed assessments measuring self-reported attitudinal changes resulting from their experience. OHA did not identify which three museums were included in the study, nor did it release the number of participants, detailed methodology, or margin of error in its public announcement. The Office of Analytics, Innovation, and Data assisted with analysis, which was completed in the fall of 2025.
OHA’s museum portfolio spans Alexandria’s diverse history. Its sites include the Alexandria Black History Museum, Freedom House Museum and the Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial, which together document the African American experience in the region. Other institutions focus on different chapters of the city’s past, among them Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site, one of the best-preserved Union fortifications built to protect Washington during the Civil War; Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, which dates to the 1780s and counted George Washington and Thomas Jefferson among its patrons; and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, one of the oldest pharmacies in the nation, operating from 1793 to 1933. The Alexandria Archaeology Museum and Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum round out the city’s museum offerings.
According to the survey results, participants reported leaving OHA museums with a stronger sense of civic engagement, greater appreciation for city resources, and a deeper understanding of Alexandria’s complex history — including its role in the slave trade and the Civil War era. The survey also indicated that the museums may contribute to local economic vitality by reinforcing Alexandria’s identity as a historic destination.
Because the study measured self-reported changes among willing museum visitors, its findings may not reflect the experience of the broader Alexandria community or those who do not visit the museums. An independent review of the full methodology and data has not been announced.
Officials said the findings will guide strategic planning, sharpen promotion of historic sites, and drive programmatic improvements. Historic Alexandria also offers archives, archaeology programs, tours, and public exhibits beyond its eight museums.
The project was funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under award number MG-252969-OMS-23. The IMLS is the primary federal agency supporting the nation’s museums and libraries.
The American Alliance of Museums, which has represented the museum field since 1906, led the initiative. The organization represents roughly 35,000 museums and museum professionals nationwide.
More information about the Office of Historic Alexandria is available at alexandriava.gov/Historic.