If you’re interested in American history, Alexandria, Virginia, is a great place to visit. Apart from the fact that America’s first president, George Washington, adopted Alexandria as his hometown and owned a townhouse in Old Town, this city boasts a colorful history and many interesting historical sites. Here are a few examples of interesting places to visit in the city.
Lee-Fendall House Museum
The Lee-Fendall House Museum provides a fascinating glimpse into the past. Since its construction in 1785, this old wood-frame house in Old Town Alexandria housed several generations of the Lee family, hundreds of convalescing soldiers during the Civil War, and a powerful labor leader called John L. Lewis. After Lewis’s death in 1969, the house was saved from ruin by the Virginia Trust for Historic Preservation and is today listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The house contains many of the Lee family’s heirlooms, portraits, jewelry, decorative items, documents, and books. In addition, visitors can view one of the largest collections of furniture produced by the Green Furniture company, as well as several period pieces created by local and regional craftsmen over the years. Visitors can also stroll through the beautiful award-winning garden, which features many varieties of heritage roses, a herb garden, and majestic old trees.
Carlyle House Historic Park
Another interesting historic site in Old Town Alexandria is the Carlyle House Historic Park. Carlyle House is a mansion that was erected by a wealthy Scottish merchant named John Carlyle. He purchased two of the most expensive and centrally located lots in the area in 1751 and by 1753 the construction of his Georgian stone mansion was completed. This magnificent house, which featured public spaces for entertaining, quickly became a center of social and political life in the early days of the city.
After Carlyle’s death in 1780, the one-acre property was divided among his heirs and by 1806 the house passed out of the family. When NOVA Parks bought the property in 1970, it had fallen into disrepair. During a six-year restoration project, the agency rehabilitated the structure of the building and attempted to track down or replace the original fixtures and furniture. Today, the public can view the beautifully restored mansion through guided tours.
The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
Yet another historical site worth visiting in Old Town Alexandria is the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum. The business was originally opened by Edward Stabler, a devout Quaker, in 1796. Amazingly, the apothecary remained in the family until the Great Depression when they were forced to close the doors due to economic constraints.
By 1939, the shop was reopened as a museum, with most of the artifacts that remain today dating back to this time. In addition, the store features antebellum gothic revival furnishing. After a large restoration project that took place in 2006, the public can now also view the second floor, which contains a former warehouse and a manufacturing room.
These are only a few of the many fascinating historical sites that Alexandria has to offer. If you wish to find out more about this city’s history, purchase a Key to the City Attractions Pass, which includes tours of nine historic sites.
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