Staff

Jenny Waters
Museum Director

Jenny Waters is the Museum Director of the Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, where she has worked since 2022. Over the past four years, she has curated exhibitions, developed new tours and interpretive programs, expanded community partnerships, and helped position Lee-Fendall as a vibrant community hub in Old Town. She created the museum’s World War II walking tour, which explores Alexandria’s wartime history and the city’s connection to the top-secret military intelligence facility, P.O. Box 1142, and continues to research and develop programming related to Alexandria’s World War II history.

Jenny is also the creator and organizer of Lee-Fendall’s annual Wine & Art Night fundraiser, which combines local artists, food and wine businesses, and community partners to support the museum’s preservation and programming efforts. She has developed collaborations with a wide range of local businesses, cultural organizations, artists, and community groups, using these partnerships to bring new audiences to the museum and create engaging experiences that connect Lee-Fendall’s history with the broader Alexandria community.

In addition to her work at Lee-Fendall, Jenny serves as Membership Chair of the Historic House Museum Consortium and as a Commissioner for the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission. Jenny holds a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University and a Graduate Certificate in Collections Management and Care from George Washington University.

Exhibitions:

  • 50 Years of the Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden 
  • Shall Not Be Denied: Alexandria Women and the Fight for the Ballot 
  • At Home with Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee 

Publications:

Sophie McCarthy
Program Manager

Joining the Lee-Fendall team at the beginning of 2026, Sophie is a public historian with previous experience in historic house museums. While attending Clemson University, where she studied history, Sophie worked as a public history intern at the historic Hanover House. There, she created an exhibition centered around the work of English naturalist, Mark Catesby. She also worked as an archival researcher for Clemson University’s Honors College, studying the residential living of previous students.

After graduating, Sophie moved to Washington DC to attend Georgetown University for her Masters in Engaged and Public Humanities. While in school, Sophie worked in Visitor Services at Tudor Place Historic House. Alongside historic interpretation and visitor engagement, Sophie specialized in the development of public and educational programs.

Sophie’s primary interests revolve around material culture, popular culture, and food studies – her love for American cultural history is largely inspired by her family’s travels to all fifty states. Her educational experience centers primarily on secondary education, and Sophie is hoping to expand educational programs for older audiences as she steps into the role of Program Manager. Similarly, she looks forward to engaging in historic interpretation, as well as implementing new public programs while maintaining pre-existing fan favorites.

Publications:

Exhibitions:

  • Dog Days of Lee-Fendall: Historic Hounds and Their Influence on Lee-Fendall’s Current Collection