PORTRAYING AMERICA
1776-2026
Dr. Barbara D. Boehm is Curator Emerita of The Met Cloisters, author of “The Colmar
Treasure: A Medieval Jewish Legacy”, and co-author of a number of other books.
SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2026
Portraying America 1776 - 2026, a one-day book festival celebrating our nation’s rich history and literary achievements.
Sponsored by Virginia Humanities and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Alexandria, the event will gather authors and readers to explore the history, art, architecture and literature that are part of the American experience.
​Virginia Humanities has delivered public Humanities programs throughout the State for more than 50 years and has presented the Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville for more than 30 years. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church was founded more than 200 years ago.
Designed by architect Benjamin Latrobe, who also worked on the U.S. Capitol, the White House porticos and St. John’s Lafayette Square, St. Paul’s was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. St. Paul’s has a tradition of hosting various music, lecture, art, garden and community events.
Program information and other details of the book festival will be announced in late 2025.
Alexandria Festival of the Book
A collaboration of
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Alexandria and Virginia Humanities
EVENTS
September 27, 2025
Author Bruce Holsinger discussed his latest book, Culpability, which is described as a “family drama about moral responsibility in the age of artificial intelligence.” The novel was the July Oprah Winfrey Book Club selection.
March 14, 2026
Portraying America 1776 — 2026 will include a series of sessions in observance of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the American experience. Authors and readers will explore the ideas of the founding fathers and the nation as seen through art, architecture, film and literature.
March 20-22, 2026
The Virginia Festival of the Book will be held on the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville on March 20-22, 2026. This festival has been presented annually for more than 30 years.
For further information:
Contact
Maria Halloran, Chief Administrator, chiefadmin@stpalx.org
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