Alexandria, Virginia, USA
Alexandria is a historic city on the Potomac River, founded in 1749 as a major colonial port and center for trade and shipbuilding. 1145
Old Town Alexandria: 105-107 S Fairfax St, Alexandria, VA 22314
Date Picture Taken: August 2025
Alexandria is a historic city on the Potomac River, just south of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1749, it grew as a major colonial port and later became an important center for trade and shipbuilding. Today, it is best known for Old Town Alexandria, a beautifully preserved district filled with 18th- and 19th-century architecture, brick sidewalks, boutique shops, and waterfront views.
Old Town Alexandria is the city’s historic core, known for its cobblestone streets, 18th- and 19th-century buildings, waterfront views, and lively mix of shops, cafes, and museums.
Its Old Town preserves original 18th- and 19th-century streets, homes, churches, and public buildings, many connected to figures like George Washington. The city played key roles in colonial trade, the Revolutionary era, early U.S. politics, and Civil War history, leaving a dense concentration of well-preserved sites that reflect more than 250 years of American life.
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum preserves two historic 18th-century buildings—a tavern and a hotel—where early American leaders, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams, gathered for meetings, dinners, and celebrations. The museum shows how travelers were hosted in that era, with restored dining rooms, bedrooms, and period furnishings that reflect daily life in colonial and early federal Alexandria.
Dining Room for Visitor
On the other side is a private dining room
People Gathering Room
A note on Urban Slavery
Sleeping Rooms for guest
A note on Transition of Alexandria
Ballroom Hall for guests
Farmer’s Market on the city center
Stabler Apothecary – Museum and Gift Shop
The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum is an 18th- and 19th-century pharmacy preserved exactly as it was when it closed in 1933, with original medicine bottles, herbs, equipment, and handwritten prescriptions. It shows how people in early Alexandria received medical care and remedies, and many of its records include famous customers like George and Martha Washington.
Walking toward the ocean front
Torpedo Factory Art Center
The Torpedo Factory Art Center is a former World War I munitions plant that has been transformed into a large waterfront arts space filled with open studios, galleries, and working artists. Visitors can watch artists create paintings, ceramics, jewelry, and other works, making it one of the most vibrant cultural spots in Old Town Alexandria.
I walked to the city center after visiting the waterfront.
While walking to the city center, I went to see a street called Captain’s Row.
Captain’s Row is a short cobblestone block in Old Town Alexandria lined with 18th-century brick homes, known as one of the oldest and most picturesque streets in the city.
After visiting Captain’s Row, I walked back to my car.
