Old Town Alexandria

Place

Old Town Alexandria

Alexandria City Hall

Named for| Philip Alexander II and John Alexander
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 11,872
Demonym| Old Towner / Alexandrian
Time zone| EST
Area code| 703

Neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.

Old Town Alexandria is one of the original settlements of the city of Alexandria, Virginia, and is located about 8 miles from the United States Capitol. It lies across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., of which it used to make up the far southern part.[1] It was the oldest district of D.C. until it was ceded back to Virginia in 1846. Old Town is situated in the eastern and southeastern area of Alexandria along the Potomac River and is laid out on a grid plan of substantially square blocks.

City of Alexandria as drawn by surveyor George Washington, c. 1749

## Etymology

[edit]

The area was originally called Belhaven, believed to be in honor of a Scottish patriot, John Hamilton, 2nd Lord Belhaven and Stenton. The town was formally named Alexandria in 1779, after Captain Philip Alexander II (1704–1753) and Captain John Alexander (1711–1763), who donated the land to assist in the development of the area.

## History

[edit]

Much of the land on which Alexandria now sits on was part of a land grant from Sir William Berkeley who was the governor of Virginia. The land was awarded to the English ship captain Robert Howson. Shortly after the land was sold to John Alexander for 6,000 pounds of tobacco. By 1732, Philip and John Alexander farmed much of the surrounding area. Alexandria become a major trade hub and was incorporated in 1789.[2] Alexandria was known as the "Port City" of the Potomac and was one of the largest ports in the country by 1790.[3]

George Washington was a Town Trustee, philanthropist, and resident. Robert E. Lee grew up in Old Town and, just as Washington did, attended Christ Church.

The town was originally laid out in 1749, making it the oldest section of the city, and is a historic district.[4] On July 9, 1790, Congress passed the Residence Act, which approved the creation of a national capital on the Potomac River, formed from land donated by the states of Maryland and Virginia, two pre-existing settlements were included in the territory: the port of Georgetown, Maryland, founded in 1751,[5] and the port city of Alexandria, Virginia, founded in 1749.[6] George Washington conducted most of his business in Old Town, as it was a short trip from Mount Vernon. He was a Town Trustee and owned a house in town that he would use when working late or for extended periods of time. When Washington was 14, he surveyed some of the streets in Old Town.[7] Washington donated money to his church, Christ Church, and money to found the first Catholic Church in Virginia, Saint Mary's. Both churches still exist, but Saint Mary's was moved closer to a central area of the town. The former location of Saint Mary's is now a Catholic school and graveyard.[8][9] Robert E. Lee grew up in Old Town Alexandria after his father could no longer afford for them to stay at Stratford Hall. Lee also attended Christ Church and later moved to the nearby Arlington House after marrying into George Washington's family.[10]

Market Square in Old Town is believed to be one of the oldest continuously operating marketplaces in the United States (since 1753), and, during colonial times, was the site of a slave market. Today it contains a large fountain, extensive landscaping, and a farmers' market each Saturday morning. Alexandria City Hall, including the mayor's office, is adjacent to Market Square.[11]

In the 1830s Alexandria's citizens petitioned Virginia to take back the land it had donated to form the district, through a process known as retrocession.[12] The Virginia General Assembly voted in February 1846 to accept the return of Alexandria. On July 9, 1846, Congress agreed to return all the territory that Virginia had ceded

A statue of a lone Confederate soldier that marked the spot at which Confederate States of America (CSA) units from Alexandria left to join the Confederate Army at the beginning of the American Civil War stood in the center of the intersection of Washington and Prince streets for 131 years until June 2, 2020. M. Casper Buberl cast the piece, entitled Appomattox, in 1889. The United Daughters of the Confederacy, which owns the statue, had the monument removed because vandals had recently damaged other segregation-era statues during nationwide demonstrations.[13]

Old Town is chiefly known for its historic town houses, art galleries, antique shops, and restaurants as well as its unique cobblestone streets and red brick sidewalks.[1]

Some of the historic landmarks in Old Town include:

* Carlyle House

Christ Church is a historic church whose congregation has included notable individuals, such as George Washington and Robert E. Lee.

* Christ Church
* Robert E. Lee's houses: His boyhood home and the Lee-Fendall House.The Athenaeum is a historic building that is now an art gallery and event space.
* Gadsby's Tavern,
* Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop,
* Hollensbury Spite House,
* Shiloh Baptish Church
* Saint Mary's Basilica (the first Catholic church in Virginia)
* Athenaeum
* Lyceum

* Vowell-Smith House
* The Torpedo Factory art studio complex
* A replica of George Washington's townhouse

The Washington Metro King Street station opened in 1983. it led to a spurt of new hotel and office building developments in western Old Town, and gentrification of townhouse areas west of Washington Street which were previously an African-American community.

### Athenaeum

[edit]

The Athenaeum is one of only two of Alexandria's surviving examples one Greek revival architecture. The building stands out because of its four large doric columns and pink paint. It was built in 1852 as a bank. Robert E. Lee was a patron of this bank when he was in Old Town.During the Civil War, it was a Union office. After the war it was an apothecary, factory, and church. In 1964 the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association (NVFAA) bought the building and repurposed it as the Athenaeum.[14]

### Alexandria Archaeology Museum

[edit]

The historic Gadsby's Tavern located at the corner of North Royal Street and Cameron Street

Alexandria Archaeology Museum is an institution dedicated to preserve and study Alexandria, Virginia's archaeological heritage and foster within residents and visitors a connection between the past and present, inspiring a sense of stewardship and adventure. The museum and its laboratory are located on the third floor of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, at 105 N. Union Street in historic Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.

### Historic Alexandria Foundation

[edit]

Founded in 1954, the Historic Alexandria Foundation is dedicated to reserving Old Town with preservation grants, restoration work, plaques, and recognition grants. HAF has been credited with saving hundreds of buildings in Old Town.[15]

## Commerce

[edit]

King Street is the major commercial street that runs through the center of Old Town.

Market Square in Old Town is believed to be one of the oldest continuously operating marketplaces in the United States (since 1753),[16] and, during colonial times, was the site of a slave market.[17] Today it contains a large fountain, extensive landscaping, and a farmers' market each Saturday morning. Alexandria City Hall, including the mayor's office, is adjacent to Market Square.

The King street corridor, which starts at the foot of the George Washington Masonic Memorial, and runs directly east until arriving at the west bank of the Potomac River, is where most of Old Town's commercial footprint lies. The street is lined on both sides with stores, restaurants, and bars, many of which are independent establishments.

## Transportation

[edit]

King Street-Old Town Station on the Washington Metro

* The Washington Metro King Street station connects Alexandria with other cities in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. At the station are located bay stations for all the buses that operate in the city. Parts of Old Town are walkable from the Braddock Road station.
* A free trolley bus with information of the historic places through speakers while the passengers ride on it.
* River cruise boats and street entertainers frequent the large plaza at the foot of King Street; the Mount Vernon Trail also passes through.
* Sailing and fishing is common on the Potomac.

## Media

[edit]

The main independent media company in Alexandria is The Zebra, an ‘all good news’ company that publishes a free monthly paper magazine with local news and events, a website and a YouTube TV channel called Z-TV.[18][19] The newspaper is called the Old Town Crier and was established in 1988.Their motto is "from the Bay to the Blue Ridge." The Crier began as a community paper that promoted the history and lifestyle of Old Town, but it has gradually become a regional source for general news.[20]

## Monuments

[edit]

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial overlooks Old Town

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial, which was built to honor the first president of the United States and former resident of Alexandria, George Washington, was completed in 1932. The memorial is located on the very northern edge of Old Town. Much of Alexandria and parts of Washington, D.C. are viewable from the memorial.

Appomattox is a statue cast by M. Casper Buberl in 1889.[21] It is a statue of a lone Confederate soldier that marked the spot at which Confederate States of America (CSA) units from Alexandria left to join the Confederate Army at the beginning of the American Civil War. The statue stood in the center of the intersection of Washington and Prince streets for 131 years, until June 2, 2020.[21][22] The United Daughters of the Confederacy, which owns the statue, had the monument removed because vandals had recently damaged other segregation-era statues during nationwide demonstrations.[22]

## Events

[edit]

In Old Town are celebrated the following events:

Restaurants, occupying old rowhouses, with outdoor dining on King Street.

* Saint Patrick's Day Parade[23]
* George Washington's Birthday.[24]
* The Red Cross Waterfront Festival in June.
* The city's birthday celebration with fireworks show in July, and various ethnic heritage days at Tavern Square
* The Scottish Christmas Walk
* The "First Night Alexandria" presents many family-friendly entertainments on New Year's Eve
* Historic Homes and Garden Tour
* Springtime Art Festival
* Festival of Speed
* Many early Americans as well as Civil War soldiers are buried in Christ Church's graveyard. Summer Festival
* Old Town Fall Art Festival
* Holiday Boat Parade of Lights[25]

These parades and other official events are typically led by Alexandria's town crier, who, often dressed elaborately, by a tradition dating to the 18th century, in a red coat, breeches, black boots and a tricorne hat, welcomes participants.[26]

### Scottish Christmas Walk

[edit]

A popular Christmas time attraction in Alexandria is the Scottish Christmas Walk, which was established in 1969.[27] The event, which involves a parade through the center of Old Town Alexandria, celebrates the city's Scottish heritage, and is the centerpiece of a yearly holiday festival.[28] It serves as a fundraiser for social services in Alexandria.[27]

## Gallery

[edit]

* Carlyle house

* Henry Lee House

* Wales Alley

* Cobblestone portion of Prince Street

* Basilica of Saint Mary (the oldest Catholic Church in Virginia)

* The Shipbuilder

* The Potts-Fitzhugh House, Robert E. Lee's boyhood home

* Saint Mary's School

* Spite House

* George Washington's Town House

## See also

[edit]

* Neighborhoods of Alexandria, Virginia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Old Town Alexandria". Visit Alexandria. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
2. ^ Ducklow, Hugh W. (September 2008). "Long-term studies of the marine ecosystem along the west Antarctic Peninsula". Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography. 55 (18–19): 1945–1948\. Bibcode:2008DSRII..55.1945D. doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2008.05.014. hdl:1912/2566. ISSN 0967-0645.18–19&rft.pages=1945-1948&rft.date=2008-09&rft_id=info:hdl/1912/2566&rft.issn=0967-0645&rft_id=info:doi/10.1016/j.dsr2.2008.05.014&rft_id=info:bibcode/2008DSRII..55.1945D&rft.aulast=Ducklow&rft.aufirst=Hugh+W.&rft_id=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2008.05.014&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Old+Town+Alexandria" class="Z3988">
3. ^ "Getting to Know the DMV: Old Town Alexandria | GW Today | The George Washington University". GW Today. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
4. ^ "National Historic Landmarks Program". Archived from the original on 2008-01-01.
5. ^ "Georgetown Historic District". National Park Service. Archived from the original on July 2, 2008. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
6. ^ "Alexandria's History". Alexandria Historical Society. Archived from the original on April 4, 2009. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
7. ^ McBrien, David Rainey and Sallie (2022-06-22). "7 Alexandria Fun Facts: How Well Do You Know Virginia History?". YourAtHomeTeam.com. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
8. ^ "Wayfinding: George Washington in Alexandria". City of Alexandria, VA. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
9. ^ "History and Founding". The Basilica of Saint Mary. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
10. ^ "The Life of Robert E. Lee | American Experience | PBS". www.pbs.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
11. ^ "Alexandria City Hall & Market Square". Visit Alexandria. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
12. ^ Greeley, Horace (1864). The American Conflict: A History of the Great Rebellion in the United States. Chicago: G. & C.W. Sherwood. pp. 142–144.
13. ^ Sullivan, Patricia (2020-06-03). "131-year-old Confederate statue removed from Alexandria intersection". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
14. ^ "History | Athenaeum | NVFAA | Old Town Alexandria". Athenaeum | NVFAA. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
15. ^ "Historic Alexandria Foundation - Activities". www.historicalexandriafoundation.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
16. ^ "Farmers' Markets". City of Alexandria.
17. ^ "Market Square Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
18. ^ https://thezebra.org [bare URL]
19. ^ "Z-TV".
20. ^ "Old town crier". Old town crier. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
21. ^ a b "The Confederate Statue Marker". Hmdb.org. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
22. ^ a b Sullivan, Patricia (June 2, 2020). "131-year-old Confederate statue removed from Alexandria intersection". Virginia Politics. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020. "The Confederate statue "Appomattox," which depicts a southern-facing Civil War soldier and has stood in an Alexandria intersection for 131 years, was removed Tuesday morning, a month earlier than planned. Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson (D) said the United Daughters of the Confederacy, which owns the statue, opted to remove the memorial a month ahead of schedule because of demonstrations nationwide in which segregation-era statues have been vandalized.".
23. ^ Cooper, Rachel. "2015 Alexandria Virginia Saint Patrick's Day Parade". About.com Travel. Archived from the original on April 6, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
24. ^ "George Washington Birthday Celebration – Alexandria, VA". Visitalexandriava.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
25. ^ "Annual Events In Alexandria, VA | Festivals & Celebrations". Visit Alexandria. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
26. ^ [1][dead link‍]
27. ^ a b "Scottish Christmas Walk – St. Andrew's Society of Washington, D.C." Saintandrewsociety.org. Archived from the original on June 20, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
28. ^ "Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend". Campagnacenter.org. Archived from the original on May 14, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.

* v
* t
* e

Alexandria, Virginia

Neighborhoods|

* Arlandria
* The Berg
* Carlyle
* Clover-College Park
* Del Ray
* Eisenhower East
* Hume Springs
* National Landing
* North Ridge
* Old Town
* Parker-Gray
* Parkfairfax
* Potomac
* Potomac Yard
* Rosemont
* Southwest Quadrant
* Alexandria West
* Cameron Station
* Landmark
* Lower Alexandria
* Seminary Hill
* West End

Historic Districts|

* Alexandria Historic District
* Rosemont
* Uptown–Parker–Gray

Landmarks|

* Alexandria City Hall
* John Carlyle House
* Christ Church
* Fort Ward
* Gadsby's Tavern
* Jones Point
* Jones Point Light
* Lee–Fendall House
* Little Theatre of Alexandria
* Torpedo Factory Art Center
* George Washington Masonic National Memorial

Government|

* Alexandria Fire Department
* Alexandria Police Department
* Alexandria City Jail

Education|

* Alexandria City Public Schools
* Francis C. Hammond MS
* George Washington MS
* Alexandria City HS
* Episcopal HS
* St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School
* Virginia Theological Seminary
* Alexandria Library

This list is incomplete.
See also: Template:South Alexandria (for areas of Fairfax County south of the Alexandria city limits with Alexandria postal addresses)

* v
* t
* e

Shopping malls and shopping districts in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area

Washington, D.C.|

* 7th Street
* 14th Street
* Barracks Row
* CityCenterDC
* Columbia Heights
* Downtown Washington
* Dupont Circle
* F Street
* Gallery Place
* Georgetown (M Street and Wisconsin Avenue)
* H Street Corridor
* L'Enfant Plaza
* Logan Circle
* Navy Yard
* Park & Shop (Cleveland Park)
* Rhode Island Avenue N.E.
* Union Station
* The Wharf
* U Street Corridor

Suburban Maryland|

* Beltway Plaza
* Bethesda Row
* Ellsworth Place
* Langley Park
* Laurel Shopping Center
* The Mall at Prince Georges
* Marlow Heights Shopping Center
* National Harbor
* Pike & Rose
* RIO Washingtonian Center (rio)
* St. Charles Towne Center
* The Centre at Forestville
* The Collection at Chevy Chase
* The Shops at Iverson
* The Shops at Wisconsin Place
* Towne Centre at Laurel
* Westfield Montgomery
* Westfield Wheaton

Northern Virginia|

* Ballston Quarter
* Crystal City Shops
* Dulles Town Center
* Fair Oaks Mall
* Fairfax Square
* Fashion Centre at Pentagon City
* Leesburg
* Manassas Mall
* Mosaic District
* Old Town Alexandria
* Potomac Mills
* Reston Town Center
* Seven Corners Shopping Center
* Springfield Town Center
* Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center
* The Crossing Clarendon
* Tysons (Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria)
* The Village at Shirlington
* Westpost at National Landing

Defunct centers|

* Capital Plaza Mall
* Lakeforest Mall
* Landmark Mall
* Landover Mall
* Laurel Mall
* Mazza Gallerie
* Old Post Office Pavilion
* Rockville Mall
* Skyline Mall
* The Boulevard at the Capital Centre
* The Shops at National Place
* Virginia Square Shopping Center
* White Flint Mall

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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template