I work as a museum guide at Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House in Alexandria, Virginia. My job is to both conduct tours for visitors and tell a fuller story of the site’s history. Woodlawn was a former plantation with a long history of the enslavement of more than 91 people of African descent. While it is not easy to tell these difficult histories, it is important to tell the full stories of people who have been left out and erased from history. Pope-Leighey House is a Frank Lloyd Wright house made during WWII. A more recent building, it contrasts with Woodlawn due to its smaller size and cubist design. I enjoy having this position and hope to continue to inform visitors on the full history and architectural history of both sites. I also hope to see more museums in the future take the approach of these historic homes, telling a fuller story with a more inclusive
environment.
April 01, 2024