Alexandria Historic District facts for kids
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Alexandria Historic District
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Old Dominion Bank Building in Old Town,
now "The Athenaeum", an art gallery |
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 Location in Northern Virginia
Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Alexandria, Virginia |
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| Built | 1748 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Colonial, Late Victorian, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000928 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 13, 1966 |
| Designated NHLD | November 13, 1966 |
The Alexandria Historic District is a National Historic Landmark District in Alexandria, Virginia. Encompassing all of the city's Old Town and some adjacent areas, this area contains one of the nation's best-preserved assemblages of the late-18th and early-19th century urban architecture. The district was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1966.
History
The city of Alexandria was chartered in 1748, and its city center was laid out as a grid of streets on the west bank of the Potomac River. One of the surveyors involved in this work was future United States President George Washington. The city grew to become a major seaport serving much of northern Virginia, and its streets were lined with Federal style townhouses. The city remained a major port, dealing principally in grain and tobacco, until the American Civil War. Elements of its historic importance as a port continues in the survival of several waterfront warehouses from that period.
Other National Historic Landmarks within the district include:
Other National Register-listed properties within the district include:
- Bank of Alexandria
- Alexandria City Hall
The district boundaries are the Potomac River to the east, Queen Street to the north, Jones Point and the Capital Beltway to the south, and Alfred Street to the west. There are a few extensions beyond these bounds, notably along Washington Street as far north as 2nd Street. The commercial center of the district is around S. Washington Street and King Street. Notable buildings in that area include the Art Deco Virginia Public Service building at 117 S. Washington, the Post Office and Courthouse at 200 S. Washington, and the Burke and Herbert Bank at 625 King.
Gallery
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Burke & Herbert Bank at 621 King Street (1906)
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117 S. Washington St. (c.1930s)
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The Alexandria Academy
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Roundel used to designate a historic building in Alexandria
Images for kids
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515 North Washington Street (1848)
