ATTRACTIONS
Historic Homes & Buildings
Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House
9000 Richmond Highway • Alexandria, VA 22309
703-780-4000
Designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright for an average-income family, this house was completed in 1942 and was moved to its present location on the grounds of Woodlawn Plantation from the original site in Falls Church in 1964. This "Usonian" house is a compact, modern house built for efficiency and it is owned and operated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. more... mapFriendship Fire Company
107 South Alfred Street • Alexandria, VA 22314
703-838-3891
Alexandria's first volunteer fire fighting organization, this fire company was established in 1774 and the current firehouse was built in 1855. The firehouse features exhibits which interpret the history of fire fighting in Alexandria and explain the evolving ceremonial and social functions of its members. One of the country's best collection of early fire fighting equipment and related objects is located here. mapHollin Hall (circa 1792)
1909 Windmill Lane • Alexandria, VA 22307
703-360-3148
A gracious Georgian style manor house which is surrounded by 175 year old boxwood gardens and was once part of a 2,000 acre plantation owned by George Mason. The house was also once the home of George Mason's third son, Thomson Mason, who lived there until his death in 1820. mapMount Vernon Estate and Gardens
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway • Alexandria, VA 22121
703-780-2000
First owned by George Washington's great grandfather in 1674, this historic estate was composed of five farms by the time Washington became president. His home, built between 1735 and 1787, is considered to have the most magnificent view of any along the Potomac. Today, the estate stretches over 500 acres and includes the mansion, Washington's Tomb, a Slave Memorial, two museums, 12 outbuildings, magnificent gardens, and a Pioneer Farm site. Exciting tours, programs, and events are offered. more...River Farm
7931 East Boulevard • Alexandria, VA 22308
703-768-5700, 800-777-7931
Situated on 25 acres overlooking the Potomac River, this historic 25 acre estate was once owned by George Washington and is now the headquarters of the American Horticultural Society. The farm's gardens include rose and perennial borders, idea gardens, children's gardens, and special plantings by local horticultural societies. more... mapWoodlawn Plantation (circa 1800-1805)
9000 Richmond Highway • Alexandria, VA 22309
703-780-4000
Designed by William Thornton, architect of the first United States Capitol, this Georgian style mansion was the home of Eleanor Custis and Lawrence Lewis, Martha Washington's granddaughter and George Washington's nephew. Many Washington and Lewis family heirlooms and furnishings are on display in this home which is known as "America's First Family Home." more... map
Historic Sites & Monuments
Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site
4301 West Braddock Road • Alexandria, VA 22304
703-838-4848
The best preserved of the system of Union forts and batteries built to protect Washington, DC, during the American Civil War, this historic site offers exhibits on Civil War topics, education and interpretive programs, tours, lecture and video series, bus tours, and living history activities throughout the year. mapGeorge Washington's Grist Mill
5513 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway • Alexandria, VA 22309
703-780-3383
George Washington operated this grist mill on Dogue Run, where wheat and corn were ground into flour and meal. After years of use and different owners, the mill eventually fell into ruin and was rebuilt in the 1930s with materials and machinery from a similar mill of the period. more... mapGum Springs Historical Society and Museum
8100 Fordson Road • Alexandria, VA 22306
703-799-1198
Founded by West Ford, a former slave of George Washington's family, who acquired the property in 1833, this area was helped by Quakers and became a place for runaways and recently freed slaves to live. Exhibits at the museum celebrate the long continuity of this historic black community which, today, has more than 2,500 residents, with as many as 500 being descendants of the original families. more... map
Museums & Galleries
Alexandria Archaeology Museum
105 North Union Street, #327 • Alexandria, VA 22314
703-838-4399
This museum displays the results of recent digs and interprets the results of ongoing research through exhibitions, video, publications, seminars, and tours. more... mapAlexandria Black History Museum
638 North Alfred Street • Alexandria, VA 22314
703-838-4356
This museum documents the contributions of African-Americans to Alexandria's history and culture from 1749 to the present. The building that today houses the museum was constructed in 1940 as the Robinson Library, the African American community's first public library, and the museum features the Watson Reading Room, a non-circulating research repository focusing on issues of African-American history and culture. mapAthenaeum, The
201 Prince Street • Alexandria, VA 22314
703-548-0035
This landmark museum, built as a banking house in 1851, is one of Alexandria's significant examples of Greek Revival architecture. Today, it houses the gallery of the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association and also features contemporary arts and crafts exhibits, as well as a beautiful sculpture garden. The Athenaeum also serves as a center for dance performances. mapCollingwood Library and Museum on Americanism
8301 East Boulevard Drive • Alexandria, VA 22308
703-765-1652
Originally part of George Washington's River Farm, this property is now a unique library on Americana complete with an extensive collection of books on American heritage and a genealogy section on loan from the Mayflower Society of Washington. The library offer picturesque views of the Potomac River and also houses a Sioux chief's headdress, a tribute to Uncle Sam, and replicas of the Constitution and the Magna Carta. more... mapGadsby's Tavern Museum
138 North Royal Street • Alexandria, VA 22314
703-838-4242
Step back in time and see where famous historical figures and everyday people dined and slept while at this historic 18th century property which consists of two buildings, a circa 1785 tavern and a circa 1792 hotel. The buildings are named for Englishman John Gadsby and was the setting for dancing assemblies, theatrical and musical performances, and meetings of local organizations. more... mapLyceum, The
201 South Washington Street • Alexandria, VA 22314
703-838-4994
Known as "Alexandria's History Museum," this museum collects, preserves, and interprets the history and culture of Alexandria and the surrounding Northern Virginia area. The museum resides in a Greek Revival building which was constructed in 1839 as the city's first cultural center and contains a vast collection of prints, documents, photographs, ceramics, silver, furniture, and Civil War memorabilia. more... mapStabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
105 South Fairfax Street • Alexandria, VA 22314
703-836-3713
In 1792, Edward Stabler, a young Quaker pharmacist, started a family business which operated continuously for 141 years. When the Depression forced the shop's closing in 1933, the doors were simply locked, preserving its contents for history. Most of the original herbs, potions, and paper labels remain in their drawers and over 8,000 objects, such as pill rollers, mortars and pestles, drug mills, medical glassware, and furnishings, are still in place. mapTorpedo Factory Art Center
105 North Union Street • Alexandria, VA 22314
703-838-4565
Experience the process of art in action while at this art center where over 160 professional artists create, display, and sell sculptures, paintings, jewelry, stained glass, weaving, printmaking, ceramics, enameling, and photography in 83 studios. Six galleries feature monthly exhibits by regional artists, while another gallery contains revolving exhibitions from national and international artists. more... map
Parks, Gardens & Zoos
African American Heritage Park
Located on Duke Street at Holland Lane
703-838-4356
This park was designed to co-exist with the original landscape of the on site African-American cemetery and preserve the interesting and varied plant life. The focal point of the park is a sculpture group of bronze trees that acknowledges the contributions of African Americans to the growth of Alexandria and other smaller sculptures are featured throughout the park which commemorate historic African-American neighborhoods and the people known and unknown buried in the cemetery. mapCameron Run Regional Park
4001 Eisenhower Avenue • Alexandria, VA 22304
703-960-0767
A regional park that provides a wide range of activities and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy including an 18 hole miniature golf course, batting cages, raft rentals, a picnic pavilion, a snack bar, and a water park which includes a wave pool, a play pool, and a waterslide. more... mapGreen Spring Gardens Park
4601 Green Spring Road • Alexandria, VA 22312
703-642-5173
Operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority, this 27 acre park contains demonstration gardens, boardwalks, a horticultural center, a library, a greenhouse, meeting rooms, a 1760 Manor House, native plant trails, scenic woods, and ponds. Tours, programs, lectures and demonstrations are offered for adults and children. more... mapHuntley Meadows Park
3701 Lockheed Boulevard • Alexandria, VA 22306
703-768-2525
This 1,426 acre park in urban Northern Virginia includes wetlands, forest, meadows, streams, and a pond. Facilities include a visitor center, an auditorium, exhibits, and an interpretive trail with a boardwalk and observation platforms. map
Tours & Cruises
Alexandria Colonial Tours
201 King Street, Third Floor • Alexandria, VA 22314
703-519-1749
"Alexandria’s original ghost tour," this tour company offers an entertaining and educational experience during this tour which is filled with ghost stories, legends, and folklore hear about the city’s history and about America’s Colonial culture. All tours are led by Colonial costumed guides with authentic 18th century lanterns. more... mapDandy Restaurant Cruise Ship
Zero Prince Street • Alexandria, VA 22314
703-683-6076
Climb aboard this beautiful cruise ship and enjoy gourmet dining and dancing while viewing the majestic monuments of Washington, D.C. The ship is world renowned for excellent food and features a large marble dance floor, an ebony grand piano, and a 3,700 square foot upper and outer deck for sipping cocktails, strolling, and dancing under the stars. more... mapPotomac Riverboat Company
205 The Strand • Alexandria, VA 22314
703-684-0580
This boat company provides sightseeing tours and private charters aboard four state-of-the-art vessels. Three of the boats offer sightseeing tours where visitors can see George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, Georgetown, Old Town Alexandria, and Washington's majestic monuments. The tour season runs from April through October. more... map
Vineyards, Wineries & Breweries
Fordham Brewing Company
3701 Mount Vernon Avenue • Alexandria, VA 22305
703-549-3880
This brewing company produces European style beers using the highest quality ingredients to create turn-of-the-century quality beer. They feature Red Ale, German Wheat, Gold Lager, and Dark Lager, which won the bronze medal at the 1999 Great American Beer Festival in the German Bock category. map
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