Alexandria Tourist Attractions

Alexandria Tourist Attractions

On this page is listed the sights and tourist attractions of Alexandria. The Alexandria Visitor's and Convention Bureau operates a visitor's center from 9am to 5pm daily (except selective holidays) in the old Ramsay House at 221 King St., in Old Town near the river.

Old Town

Many of the houses throughout Old Town display oval shaped plaques granted by the Historic Alexandria Foundation. Starting in 1977, the determining basis became a street by street listing in Historic Alexandria written by Ethelyn Cox. The plaques indicate that the building is at least one hundred years old, as documented by a combination of records (title search, tax records, wills, etc.), and the principal facades of the building visible from the street or any public right of way maintain integrity of form, materials, and architectural features consistent with the dominant period of the building.

• George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, +1 703 683-2007, just west of the King Street metro stop, [9]. Designed and built by Freemasons in the 1930's, this monument to George Washington was made to resemble the Lighthouse at Alexandria, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Free tours are available daily except on major holidays. The tour takes visitors through a unique series of rooms each designed to illustrate some element of Freemasonry and presents visitors with artifacts from the group’s past. At the end, visitors are treated to an outstanding view of Washington D.C. and Old Town Alexandria.
  
  
• Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco Street, +1 703 548-1789, [10]. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 1PM-4PM, A few blocks north of King Street. Three houses east of the Lee-Fendall House on Oronoco Street is a state historical marker in front of the boyhood home of American Civil War General Robert E. Lee. Please respect the fact that the home itself is now a private residence.
  
  
• Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 North Union Street on the corner of King Street near the Potomac River, +1 703 838-4565, [11]. Daily 10AM-5PM, open 6PM-9PM every second Thursday. A former World War I munitions depot that once housed the Nazi war archives after World War II , the Torpedo Factory has been turned into an artist studio/learning center for local artists.
  
  
• Christ Church Alexandria, 118 North Washington St., +1 703 549-1450, [12]. Both George Washington and Robert E. Lee were members of this historic church. In 1942, President and Ms. Roosevelt, along with Winston Churchill, declared the first National Day of Prayer here.
  
  
• Cameron Street, the section just east of Washington St near Christ Church. At 508 Cameron is the location of George Washington's town home and office. Washington's original town house burned down in the 1850s and was reconstructed from plans in the 1960s. Also on this block are the homes of "Light Horse Harry" Lee, a famous cavalry officer of the American Revolution and father of Robert E. Lee, and Lord Fairfax. Please respect the fact that all the homes are private residences.
  
  
• Carlyle House, 121 North Fairfax St., +1 703 549-2997, [13]. Former home to a successful local merchant, the house served as the headquarters of British Maj. Gen. Braddock before his ill-fated 1755 campaign in western Pennsylvania. The house also served as the site where several colonial governors met to discuss financing of the French and Indian War, and later, the state of affairs with the Brittish Crown, leading to subsequent meetings at Annapolis, MD, and Philadelphia, PA, where the Declaration of Independence was drafted.
  
  
• Old Presbyterian Meeting House, 321 S. Fairfax St., just south of Duke Street, +1 703 549-6670, [14]. Location of original meeting house where memorial services were held for George Washington following his death in 1799. In the courtyard to the west is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for the American Revolution.
  
  
• Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary, 105 S. Fairfax St., +1 703 838-3852, [15]. A local museum which recreates the apothecary/pharmacy that stood at this location from the late eighteenth century through the early twentieth.
  
  
• The "Spite House", 523 Queen St. 2 blocks north of King Street Dating from around 1830, this private dwelling is only 7 feet wide and a residence unique to Old Town Alexandria. Built over a former alleyway, it is believed to be a so called "spite house"; built for the purpose of spiting those who passed through the alley without permission. Because of its diminutive size, this house has been featured on HGTV, and other similar shows and publications. Please respect the fact that the home itself is a private residence.
  
  
• The Ice Well, located on the southwest corner of Cameron and Lee Street. Renovations at this spot uncovered a previously unknown underground ice well. Until the invention of refrigeration, large blocks of ice were brought down the river and kept here for storage. Small blocks of ice were cut and presumably sold to citizens. There is no sign or other marker at the site - just a small staircase and guardrail that from the street, does not appear to go anywhere.
  
  
• Captains Row and Gentry Row, Located on the 100 and 200 blocks of Prince Street (respectively) 1 block south of King Street. Captains Row contains many of the oldest residences in the city, mostly consisting of Federal style houses built by wealthy merchants and sea captains. Complete with cobblestones and charming architectural details, this is probably one of the most picturesque colonial village blocks anywhere. The 200 block of Prince Street is Gentry Row where you will see house after house marked with Historic Alexandria Foundation plaques. Houses along this block were owned by such prominent figures as William Fairfax, one of Alexandria's founding trustees, and Dr. James Craik, surgeon-general during the American Revolution as well as George Washington's personal physician.

Out of Town

• Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street about a mile north of Old Town near the Braddock metro stop, +1 703 838-4356, [16]. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM.
  
  
• Fort Ward, 4301 West Braddock Road, +1 703 838-4848, [17]. Though never the site of a battle, Fort Ward is one of the best preserved Union forts designed to protect the capital during the American Civil War.

More info on Alexandria available in the Alexandria Tourist Information main page.

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