Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden — Attraction in Alexandria

The evening started out with me experiencing some microaggressions from the person checking folks in. I arrived 20 minutes early, and was not checked in, and told to come back closer to the start of the tour. I asked to use the restroom, and was declined. I asked what time to come back for the 730pm tour, and was told "725." I returned at that time, to a crowd of people, who had clearly not been turned away. I stood and observed as two people for the 8pm tour - having arrived 35minutes early, which wasTWICE as early as I had been - were immediately checked in, invited to hang out until their tour began, and ultimately invited to join the earlier tour, and were the first to be ushered inside. I was so put off by the encounter, I considered eating the cost of the ticket and going home. The staff inside were more welcoming, and ultimately it was an interesting tour. This wasn't my first visit, and my past visit was pleasant. I'll split the difference, but still think twice when considering a...

The tour is insensitive to the enslaved persons who lived in the house. Actual verbiage paraphrased from the tour “she unfortunately had to trade 7 slaves for loans to be able keep the house” and said other things to build sympathy for her hard “single widowed mother” life. Why should we feel sorry for her? For context the women in question is one of the many racist Lees who owned the house during a time period.

I understand preserving history but there are respectful ways to do it. I didn’t know they hosted weddings until afterwards, that’s very sick...

Attended the Victorian Holiday event yesterday (12/11) and was disappointed. I love the beauty and history of this grand house, but the event was just not very festive and not much actual decoration, which I mentioned, and was told it was the "time period." Well, I'm pretty sure highlight markers weren't part of the children's play time of that time period either, as was being used for the craft station. Just a lack of holiday joy - hopefully was just the time of day. That being said, I don't regret the entry fee as I am happy to support...