|
|
|
ALEXANDRIA |
|
|
BE THERE NOW |
| Vacation Rentals in Alexandria |
|
READ IT HERE |
The sheer amount of well-preserved eighteenth- and nineteenth-century architecture lining King Street, which extends a good half-mile up from the Potomac, and its cross streets, makes
ALEXANDRIA
a must, especially for those who are staying in Washington DC but do not have time to venture further afield in Virginia. Originally an important colonial trading post and a busy port named after the pioneer John Alexander, the town was actually ceded to the newly created nation's capital in 1801 until it was returned to Virginia in 1847. When the Civil War broke out, it was occupied by Union forces and was the only place in the South to remain so for the duration of the war, which must have been a sore point for Robert E. Lee, whose boyhood home was here. In earlier days, George Washington had also maintained close ties with Alexandria, owning property here and attending gatherings at the famous
Gadsby's Tavern
, 134 N Royal St, now a museum (April-Sept Tues-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1-5pm; Oct-March Tues-Sat 11am-4pm, Sun 1-4pm; $4). Among other meticulously restored buildings open to the public are
Carlyle House
, 121 N Fairfax St, a 1752 manor house that was home to five royal governors (Tues-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm; $4) and
Lee-Fendall House
, 614 Oronoco St (Tues-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 1-4pm; $4), which belonged to the Lee family and contains many of their possessions. Down on the waterfront the
Alexandria Archaeology Museum
at 105 N Union St (Tues-Fri 10am-3pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1-5pm; free) displays various aspects of the town's history. The small, rectangular Georgian
Christ Church
at 118 N Washington St was built in 1773 and often counted Washington himself among its worshippers. Further along King Street towards the newer part of town stands the huge obelisk of the
George Washington National Masonic Memorial
, which is visible for miles around.
|
