The Lyceum: An Integral Piece of Local History
June 8, 2016 | greystar
A Civil War hospital. The first U.S. Bicentennial Visitor's Center. A private home. The Lyceum has played all of these roles over the course of its long life. Its story began in 1838 Alexandria when a group of locals decided that the city was lacking in opportunities for education and culture. They vowed to create a space where lectures, scientific experiments, and solo reading were all regular activities—and all accessible to everyone. In 1839, this group (called the Alexandria Lyceum) joined forces with the Alexandria Library to build a space to serve this purpose, and they named it after their own group.
Obviously, the building has worn many hats since it was first constructed, but its purpose came full circle when The Lyceum settled into life as a history museum. Today at The Lyceum, guests can check out rotating exhibits and a permanent collection dedicated to the region's history.