Arlington Historical Society Museum, Arlington

The Arlington Historical Museum preserves and interprets local history through exhibits exploring the area’s people, communities, and development. Operated by the Arlington Historical Society, it occupies the former Hume School, built in 1891 and now the county’s oldest surviving school building. The school originally served white children from surrounding rural communities and was named after civic and educational advocate Frank Hume. It remained an active public school until 1958.

Designed by Washington architect B. Stanley Simmons, the two-storey brick building features Queen Anne architectural details and a prominent bell tower. It was transferred to the Arlington Historical Society in 1960, restored, and opened as a museum in May 1963. Exhibits trace local history from Indigenous communities through the modern period, including the impact of the September 11 attacks. Collections and displays include historical photographs, documents, maps, household objects, school materials, and other artifacts. A reconstructed classroom explores late-19th-century education, and visitors can ring the original school bell. Newer exhibitions have also examined immigration and the lives and labor of enslaved people.

The Arlington Historical Society organizes public lectures, short history presentations, changing exhibitions, and other educational activities. Museum visits are generally self-guided, while special tours and programs depend on the current schedule. The historic Hume School is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register. Admission is free during regular weekend opening hours, allowing visitors to explore both the preserved school building and exhibitions documenting the area’s changing communities.