Old Town Alexandria: Then and Now

One of the most historic and popular places to visit in the Washington area, Old Town Alexandria has maintained much of its federalist charm through architecture, museums and landmarks. Its location on the Potomac, between Capitol Hill and Mt. Vernon, serves as a popular stopping point for tourists and for cyclists on the Mt. Vernon Trail. It was and continues to be a bustling city center for businesses, restaurants and residents.

The City of Alexandria, Va is a popular suburb of Washington, with many young couples buying property for its affordability and its proximity to Washington. The highlight of Alexandria is its historic center of shops, restaurants and boutiques, also known as Old Town Alexandria. Founded in 1749, Old Town is a great place to explore on foot or by bike. Lots of historic sites still remain here, preserved on purpose, mingling the old with the new.

Some of the famous sites still standing include Gadsby's Tavern, a colonial restaurant and tavern still operating today as a restaurant and museum; General Robert E. Lee's childhood home; the Torpedo Factory Art Center which formerly made and stored torpedos, but today is an art studio and gallery. There's also the Stabler-Leadbetter Apothecary Shop, which displays early medical equipment; the Old Presbyterian Meeting House where a marker honors the Unknown Soldier of the Revolutionary War; a statue of The Confederate Soldier, marking the spot where 800 people marched to join the Confederate Army against the Union army; the Lee-Fendell house where several generations of Lees lived; and a replica of George Washington's townhouse in Old Town as well. The historic Market Square, once one of the largest slave markets in the United States, still operates as a marketplace (though without slaves). There's also the Lyceum, a historical museum, and the George Washington National Masonic Memorial right by the King Street metro stop.

Old Town also has a large selection of top-rated restaurants in every cuisine, making it a bustling neighborhood on a weekend night. Restaurants, cafes, bars and other nightlife are quite prominent, along with shopping, boutiques and art galleries. The cobblestone streets and views of the Potomac make for a pretty scene comparable to that of Georgetown. Just north of Old Town is the famous neighborhood of Parker-Gray, where escaped slaves and freemen would hide out during and after the Civil War. There you can visit the Alexandria Black History museum, which details the darker side of Alexandria's history.

Old Town Alexandria Mt. Vernon trail Washington DC neighborhood