Where Primary Source History Meets Extraordinary Experience
A brother who changed Virginia.
400 stories that Arlington forgot.
One historian who refused to let them stay forgotten.
Your clients don't come to Washington to see what's in every guidebook. They come for what only insiders know. Arlington Black Heritage Experiences delivers exactly that, a living, primary-source encounter with 150+ years of Black community brilliance, resistance, and achievement that no other guide in the region can offer.
The first fire station below the Mason-Dixon line created and staffed by an all-Black staff.
The first Black community in Arlington started in 1844 by the son of a Black man formerly enslaved by George Washington.
The first public school system to defy Massive Resistance and desegregate in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1959.
My brother was one of those students.
When ABHE guides your clients through this history, we're not reciting facts from a guidebook. We're sharing a living inheritance. That depth of personal connection is something no other company in the region can offer.
Wilma Jones is an author, historian, fourth-generation Halls Hill resident and the founder of Arlington Black Heritage Experiences (ABHE). She's one of the most compelling storytellers in the DC Region.
Civic association leader. Award-winning activist. Wilma has spent more than 20 years documenting 400+ stories of Black Arlington history spanning nearly 300 years, drawing from the Arlington Center for Local History, the Library of Virginia, and her own family's archive, which stretches back four generations on the same hill. Wilma's family business is sharing this history with you.
ALL ABHE EXPERIENCES ARE CUSTOMIZED FOR CLIENT PREFERENCE.
Heritage + Storytelling
I would recommend her tours without hesitation to anyone looking for an experience that is educational, emotional, and unforgettable.
-Program Manager, Walk Arlington
Your passion is contagious, and your storytelling brings history to life in a way that few people can.
- A.C.T.O.R. Coordinator, Featured Speaker Series
Your insights are always so powerful, educational, and deeply appreciated.
- Guest, ABHE Salon Session Luncheon
Featured speaker engagement, July 26. 2026 A.C.T.O.R. - A Continuing Talk About Race
Experience Arlington’s Black Heritage
Step into stories that celebrate Arlington's vibrant Black history through immersive tours and personal narratives.
The videos below highlight the rebuilding of Fire Station 8, desegregation of Virginia public schools, John M. Langston School, and the Renaming of Robert E. Lee Highway to John M. Langston Boulevard.
Wilma contributes to the content or is seen in each video.
Who Are You Here For?
ABHE serves three distinct markets. Find your experience below.
Premium Experiences
ABHE's standard experiences are
designed to be exceptional. But not
every organization fits a single mold,
and the history of Black Arlington has something distinct to offer each one.
Scholars Tour Series
For tour operators and educators serving middle school, high school, and college groups visiting the Washington, DC area.
Premium Experiences. Profound History.
Real History. Real Places. Real Impact.
For DMCs, hotel concierges, incentive travel planners, corporate teams, senior living communities, and cultural organizations seeking private, curated engagements.
Custom Experiences
Exceptional as Standard. Extraordinary on Request.
Premium Experiences. Profound History.
Partner with ABHE
Info@ArlingtonBlackHeritageExperiences.com
© 2026. All rights reserved.
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Code of Conduct
Review the ABHE Code of Conduct applicable for guests and organizations for ALL experiences.
Operational Standards
ABHE meets the operational standards required by DMCs, luxury tour organizations, corporate incentive and procurement teams. We carry $1,000,000 in general liability coverage and maintain absolute client privacy - no guest photography, no social media, and no disclosure of client or attendee information. Certificates of insurance available upon request.
