Fodor's Expert Review Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden

Built in 1785, the Lee-Fendall House was home to members of the prominent Fendall, Lee, and Downham families, as well as generations of enslaved and free African Americans. During the Civil War, it served as a federal military hospital. The home’s last resident owner was national labor organizer John L. Lewis. Furnishings reflect how the house changed from 1785 to 1969. Highlights include a collection of Alexandria-made furniture as well as a tour and exhibit focusing on the enslaved and free people who worked in the house. There’s also a beautifully restored, award-winning garden, which can be visited without buying a ticket to the museum.