Hometown Tour: Old Town Alexandria
By Tracey Barrett
Alexandria, VA is listed as one of Travel + Leisure’s Best Cities to in the US in 2022. Old Town Alexandria was established in 1749 and has been a destination for dignitaries since George Washington himself walked these streets. As a born-here local, I can say I’ve never fully taken advantage of the historically rich areas in Northern Virginia. So, when tasked with the Old Town Alexandria Hometown Tour, I jumped at the opportunity to visit the places my grandparents took me in the 1970’s, where I went on fancy dates and homecoming dinner in the 1990’s.
So where’s the best place to start? Why the Alexandria Visitor Center of course. Utilizing one of the many self-guided walking tours linked at www.VisitAlexandria.com, I embarked on my Self-Guided Architecture Stroll adventure.
I parked on Prince St. Utilizing my ParkMobile app. This bought me 2-hours of tour time. I started at the Athenaeum, 201 Prince St. Home to the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association, the Athenaeum is a Greek Revival building built in 1851 and rich in history. You won’t miss it, it’s pink!
Heading east down Prince Street I met Captain’s Row, Prince Street’s cobblestoned road which allows for car access but no trucks. Lined with Federal-style personal residences, many of these were present when George Washington was alive.
Doing a U-turn and heading west to 121 N Fairfax St, I visited the Georgian manor house built in 1753. The Carlyle House is where five royal governors and General Braddock met to discuss the funding of the French and Indian War.
Heading north on N Fairfax St. and taking a left onto Queen St. to check out the “Spite” House located at 523 Queen St. Per the Alexandria Living Magazine, the Spite House is 7 ft. wide….that’s right! 7-feet….and is famous for being one of the narrowest houses in the world. It is lored to be built out of spite by John Hollensbury who was tired of horse-drawn carriages flying down the alley and hitting the walls of his house.
From the Spite House I headed north to N. Washington Street to start my way towards Christ Church, the 18th-century English country-style church built between 1767 and 1773. Of note, on my way there and just one block from Christ Church, I spotted a historic plaque marking the Site of the First Synagogue of Beth El Hebrew Congregation. George Washington was first elected to the Truro Parish in 1762 and to this day visitors are welcome to sit in the Washington Family pew.
This officially ended the Alexandria Visitor Center’s Architectural stroll so I took it upon myself to head down Cameron St two blocks and check out Gadsby’s Tavern, located at 134 N. Royal St. This was the premiere hotel in the 18th century with both its tavern and hotel hosting George Washington’s Birthnight Ball in 1798 and 1788, as well as Thomas Jefferson’s Inaugural Banquet in 1801.
Famished, I strolled past City Hall, Market Square, and onto King’s Street which is famous for its shops and restaurants. I was pleased to see so many restaurants from my youth were still there and striving. Bugsy’s Pizza where we would go on dates, The Fish Market which was always a great stop for a homecoming dinner, and The Wharf. I stopped into The Wharf for a cup of She-Crab soup and an amazing take on a Wedge salad with warm ham, blue cheese crumbles, and the house dressing.
I took some time to walk through the Torpedo Factory Art Center and along the Potomac Riverfront with views of DC and Maryland’s National Harbor on my way back to my car. All told, a great afternoon! Two hours and 6,700 steps according to my iHealth app.
For more to do in Old Town Alexandria, visit the Alexandria Visitors Center today.
