The Colonial charm of 18th and 19th century America comes to life in the restored homes and shops throughout the City. Stroll the preserved cobblestone streets and enjoy the historic waterfront that is only minutes away from Washington's majestic monuments. Tour the historic sites throughout Alexandria and be sure to visit George Washington's historic Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens just a short distance from Old Town. Alexandria also has many events throughout the year to highlight its historic and cultural heritage. No matter what time of year you visit, Alexandria is sure to provide both entertainment and history.

Historic Sites

Alexandria African American Heritage Park
Holland Avenue between Duke Street and Eisenhower Avenue, 703-838-4356. "Truths that Rise from the Roots Remembered" is the name of the bronze tree sculpture that honors the contributions of African Americans to the growth of Alexandria. The park also includes a small African American cemetery from the 19th-century. Admission: Free.

Alexandria Archaeology Museum
(Torpedo Factory Art Center) 105 N. Union Street, Room 327, 703-838-4399. Step right into the museum's laboratory where archaeologists reconstruct Alexandria's history, fragment by fragment. Open Tuesday-Friday 10-3; Saturday 10-5; Sunday 1-5; closed Mondays.

Alexandria National Cemetery
Wilkes and Payne Streets. One of the 12 sites established and dedicated by President Abra ham Lincoln in early 1862 to serve as military burial grounds. The cemetery contains some 3,500 graves of Civil War soldiers, including men who served in the United States Colored Troops and four soldiers who lost their lives chasing President Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth. Admission: Free.

Alexandria Seaport Foundation's Seaport Center
Alexandria Waterfront, south of Founders Park. 703-549-7078. This floating museum houses a boat building program, a marine sciences lab, and offers a boat livery of small sailing and rowing craft that visitors can rent. Open Daily 9-4. Admission: Free.

The Athenaeum
201 Prince St., 703/548-0035. A Greek-revival building built in 1861, it was home to the Bank of the Old Dominion where Robert E. Lee banked prior to the Civil War. Now is an art gallery. Open Wed-Fri 11-3; Sat 113; Sun 1-4. Admission: Free.

Black History Resource Center
638 North Alfred Street, 703-838-4356. Originally the segregated library for Alexandria's African American residents, the Center documents the local and national history, culture and contributions of Black America. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10-4. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Admission: Free

Carlyle House Historic Park
121 N. Fairfax Street. 703-549-2997, A Georgian Palladian manor house built in 1752 by Scottish merchant and city founder, John Carlyle. It was here that five royal governors and Gen. Braddock met to discuss funding of the French and Indian War. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10-5; Sunday 12-5; closed Mondays. Tours on the hour and half-hour, last tour 4:30; Nov.-March (last tour 4:00).

Christ Church
118 N. Washington Street, 703-549-1450, This beautiful English country-style church was built between 1767 and 1773 and attended by George Washington and Robert E. Lee. Washington's pew is preserved inside and the charming courtyard contains Confederate gravesites. Open Monday-Friday 9-4; Sunday 2-4:30. Admission: Contributions accepted.

Confederate Statue "Appomattox"
Intersection of Prince and S. Washington streets. Head bowed and facing the battlefields to the South, this statue of a Confederate soldier marks the spot where approximately 700 Alexandrians of the 17th Virginia Volunteer Infantry left to fight for the Confederacy on May 24, 1861, the date Federal troops occupied the city.

Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site
4301 W. Braddock Road, 703-838-4848, The museum, patterned after a Union headquarters building, houses a fine Civil War collection and exhibits. The Fort's Northwest Bastion has been completely restored. Museum open Tuesday-Saturday 9-5; Sunday 12-5. Closed Mondays. Park open daily from 9-sunset. Admission: Free

Friendship Firehouse
107 S. Alfred Street, 703-838-3891, Established in 1774, the Friendship Fire Company was the first volunteer fire company to fight fires in Alexandria. The current firehouse was built in 1855 and now houses historic firefighting equipment and exhibitions. Open Friday-Saturday 10-4; Sunday 1-4. Admission: Free

Gadsby's Tavern Museum
134 N. Royal Street, 703-838-4242, Gadsby's consists of two tavern buildings, the 1770 Georgian tavern and the 1792 City Tavern and Hotel. Visitors can tour the historic rooms. Through archaeological excavation, paint analysis and research of surviving documents, the Tavern has been restored to its 18th-century appearance. Notable guests included George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Call for seasonal hours.

George Washington Masonic National Memorial
King Street at Callahan Drive. 703-683-2007, Patterned after a lighthouse in Alexandria, Egypt, the Memorial stands as a living reminder of Washington's life and leadership. The Memorial displays a magnificent 17 ft. bronze statue of George Washington and an outstanding collection of Washington memorabilia. The observation deck offers a spectacular view of Alexandria. Open daily 9-5 (last tour 4:00). Admission: Free

Gunston Hall Plantation
10709 Gunston Road, Mason Neck, Virginia. 703-550-9220, The 1755 Georgian-style mansion was the home of George Mason, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights and a framer of the Constitution. Gunston Hall features an outstanding collection of 18th-century furnishings and is surrounded by formal gardens, a nature trail, and reconstructed outbuilding. Open Daily 9:30-5. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

Lee-Fendall House
615 Oronoco Street; 703-548-1789, Built in 1785 by Philip Fendall, a Lee descendent, the house was occupied by several generations of the famed "Lees of Virginia." The large clapboard structure contains many Lee family furnishings, family records and inventories. The house is enhanced by a large garden. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10-4; Sunday 1-4 (Tours on the hour/last tour 3:00); closed Mondays.

The Lyceum, Alexandria's History Museum
201 S. Washington Street, 703-838-4994, This Greek revival building was constructed in 1839 as a cultural center. The Lyceum serves as the City's history museum featuring prints, documents, photographs, ceramics, silver, furniture and Civil War memorabilia. Open Monday-Saturday 10-5; Sunday 1-5. Admission: Free

George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens
Southern end of George Washington Parkway (9 miles from Alexandria) 703-780-2000, The home of Alexandria's favorite son and the nation's first president, George Washington. Visitors can experience the expansive estate, which includes the Mansion, outbuildings, a Pioneer Farmer site, and gardens. Open every day, year-round.

Old Presbyterian Meeting House
321 S. Fairfax Street, 703-549-6670, Built in 1774, the old meetinghouse was the site of memorial services for George Washington. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution can be visited in the churchyard. Open Monday-Friday 9-3. Admission: Free

Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House
Located at Woodlawn Plantation, 9000 Richmond Highway. 703-780-3264, Built in 1940 of cypress, brick and glass, the "Usonian" house exhibits many of the significant contributions that Wright made to contemporary architecture. Open daily 10-5 (last tour 4:30). Closed January and February.

Ramsay House Visitors Center
221 King Street, 703-838-4200, Originally built circa 1724 by William Ramsay, a Scottish merchant and city founder, the house is believed to have been built down river and barged to its present site after Alexandria was established in 1749. The house now serves as a visitor center for the City of Alexandria. Stop by to pick up detailed brochures on area attractions, maps, tour information, etc. Open daily 9-5. Admission: Free

River Farm
(American Horticultural Society), 7931 E. Boulevard, 768-5700, The 18th-century, brick main house and farm were once owned and farmed by George Washington. The Farm represents 25 acres of lawns, gardens, meadows, and woods on the banks of the Potomac River. Open Monday-Friday 8:30-5. Admission: Free

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop Museum
105-107 S. Fairfax Street, 703-836-3713,Opened in 1792 by a young Quaker pharmacist Edward Stabler, the family business operated for 141 years. When the Depression forced the shop's closing in 1933, the doors were simply locked, preserving history. Most of the original herbs, potions & paper labels remain in their drawers & over 8,000 early medical care items are still in place. Patrons included George and Martha Washington, George Mason, Daniel Webster and Robert E. Lee. Open Monday-Saturday 10-4; Sunday 1-5.

Torpedo Factory Art Center
105 N. Union Street, 703-838-4565, Constructed in 1918 for the manufacturing of torpedoes, the factory now serves as working studios for over 160 professional artists. Visitors can purchase wares onsite or simply watch the creative process in action. Open daily 10-5. Admission: Free

Woodlawn Plantation
9000 Richmond Highway, 3 miles from Mt. Vernon via Rt. 235. 703-708-4000, George Washington gave the estate to his adopted daughter Eleanor Parke Custis and his nephew Lawrence Lewis as a wedding gift. The couple then commissioned Dr. William Thornton, architect of the U.S. Capitol, to design the Georgian mansion. Open daily 10-5 (last tour 4:30) Closed January and February.

Nightlife

Alexandria falls under the aegis of Washington, D.C., when it comes to the performing arts. The monthly free magazine Old Town Crier is the one of the best sources of news about the local bar and music scene; pick up a copy at the Ramsay House Visitor Center and in hotel lobbies.

King Street restaurants are the center of Alexandria's ongoing club and bar scene. Especially noteworthy are Two-Nineteen, 219 King St. (tel. 703/549-1141), which features live jazz Tuesday to Saturday nights in the Basin Street Lounge; the Fish Market, 105 King St. (tel. 703/836-5676), with either a pianist or a guitarist from Thursday to Saturday nights; and Murphy's, 713 King St. (tel. 703/548-1717), which has live Irish bands to accompany corned beef and cabbage on weekends.

An older crowd likes to sing along on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings with the resident pianist in the lounge of the Morrison House, 116 S. Alfred St. (tel. 703/838-8000), between King and Prince streets. You could hear wannabe professional singers belt out some fine jazz and even an aria or two.

The Birchmere, 3901 Mount Vernon Ave., south of Glebe Road (tel. 703/549-5919; www.birchmere.com), is the Washington area's prime showcase for nationally known bluegrass, country, and folk stars. Call or check the website for the schedule and reservations, which are absolutely necessary when a top performer is on stage.

Alexandria Restaurants

One of the Washington area's most popular dining destinations, Old Town has many more restaurants than it does historic attractions. You'll find cuisines from around the world offered in every price range along King Street and on Union Street south of King Street. The restaurants below will give you a good sampling of the many tastes offered here, but don't be afraid to stroll along and pick one of your own. They all post their menus out front, and you'll know by the number of customers which restaurants get nods from the town's affluent citizenry.

Bilbo Baggins, International
Named for the title character in The Hobbit, this charming two-story restaurant offers fresh homemade fare. The downstairs has rustic wide-plank floors, wood-paneled walls, oak tables, and a brick oven centerpiece. Upstairs is another dining room with stained glass windows and seating on old church pews. It adjoins a skylit wine bar with windows overlooking Queen Street treetops. Candlelit at night, it becomes even cozier. The menu changes daily to reflect seasonal specialties. At dinner, you'll enjoy entrees such as a wasabi-tinged salmon filet with a ragout of fresh asparagus and wild mushrooms, and chicken breast spiced up by an andouille sausage and jalapeño jack cheese stuffing.

Café Salsa, Latin American
Although it has a limited menu, this chic little bistro offers a wide sampling of Latin America. The chef hails from Puerto Rico, so start with his alcapurrias -- green bananas stuffed with ground beef sautéed with cilantro and served with a spicy jalapeño salsa. Afterwards you can chose from the likes of Argentine-style marinated and grilled beef, chicken, and chorizo topped with chimichurri salsa and served over yellow rice. From Cuba comes ropa vieja, the traditional flank steak sautéed with tri-color peppers, tomatoes, and onions and served with yellow rice. Top off with a Nicaraguan version of tres leches, a sponge cake enriched by three milks: whole, condensed, and evaporated.

Chart House, American
One of the few Washington-area restaurants actually on the Potomac River, this member of the national Chart House chain gives diners a view of the river, with al fresco patio dining in good weather. The ample, straightforward American fare includes seafood and thick, tender steaks and prime rib, supplemented by daily specials. All entrees come with freshly baked breads and unlimited trips to the salad bar, which often features caviar. Serving appetizers all afternoon, the bar and its outdoor tables are the best place to cool down after your walking tour.

Fish Market, Seafood
Although the popular Fish Market has grown to include the building next door, its original corner location is a warehouse that's over 200 years old. Heavy beams, terra-cotta tile floors, exposed-brick and stucco walls adorned with nautical antiques, copper pots over a fireplace, copper-topped bars, and saloon doors all lend an old-time ambience.

Gadsby’s Tavern, American
Behind the portals where Washington reviewed his troops for the last time, period furnishings, wood plank floors, fireplace, and gaslight-style lamps recreate an atmosphere for authentic colonial chow, while costumed waitstaff make for a fun time along the lines of Colonial Williamsburg's taverns. You'll dine from the same kind of pewter and china our ancestors used, and Sally Lunn bread is baked daily. Lunch might consist of a Scottish smoked salmon and Surrey bacon club sandwich or a Virginia ham and English cheddar cheese quiche. Dinner entrees usually include one of George Washington's favorites, half a duckling stuffed with fruit and served with Madeira gravy.

King Street Blues, American Southern
This lively, often noisy roadhouse is one of Alexandria's most charming restaurants -- and one of its best values. It's easy to find, for it occupies all three floors of a small brick building with windows painted on its exterior brick wall, and has a blue entrance canopy adorned with a pig trumpeting the words "Good Food." Red neon outlines the real windowpanes.

Landini Brothers, Italian
Old Town's finest Italian fare -- or the classic, delicate cuisine of Tuscany, to be more precise -- is featured at this rustic, almost grottolike restaurant with stone walls, a flagstone floor, and rough-hewn beams overhead. It's especially charming at night by candlelight. There's additional seating in a lovely upstairs dining room. Everything is homemade -- the pasta, the desserts, and the crusty Italian bread.

Le Refuge, French
A wicker model of the Eiffel Tower sits in the bowfronted window of Jean-François Chaufour's charming little restaurant, a local mainstay since 1983. Reflecting the cooking style, the intimate setting is typically French country -- stucco walls adorned with wine labels and provincial ceramics, bentwood chairs, black-leather banquettes, and tables covered with beige-and-brown napery. The special three-course pre- and after-theater dinner is a great buy.

Majestic Café, New Virginian
The bright neon sign recalls the 1950s when a small town cafe occupied this King Street storefront, but the building got a thorough makeover before Susan McCreight Lindeborg, former chef at the Morrison-Clark Inn in Washington, D.C., reopened it in 2001. She blends the old with the new in a cuisine that can best be described as New Virginian. In autumn she combines Chesapeake Bay oysters and Virginia ham in au gratin; rockfish with hominy, pickled corn, and mustard greens; and sautéed chicken breast with pecan and bacon-seasoned cornbread dressing. Locals love to do Sunday brunch here.

Relais & Chateau Morrison House, International
Old Town's top accommodation is also is the setting for its finest dining, especially the inn's showpiece, the Elysium Dining Room. Instead of a waiter handing you a menu, the chef comes to your table and explains what organic meats, wild-game fish, free-range fowl, and other, mostly natural, ingredients he has on hand. Anything goes in this fixed-price "Flight of Food." You can make your choices and tell the chef how to prepare it, or leave to his or her discretion.

Two-Nineteen, American
Two-Nineteen is comprised of three formal Victorian-style dining rooms, a covered sidewalk patio, and the Bayou Room, a Rathskeller-like basement. Inside the main dining rooms, crystal chandeliers, rose-velvet upholstery, and a floral-patterned carpet re-create Victorian New Orleans for Creole cuisine

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