Visiting Alexandria

Old Town Alexandria is one of the most historic and attractive parts of Northern Virginia. Located just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., the city feels very different from the much newer suburbs surrounding the capital. Old Town is filled with brick sidewalks, colonial-era buildings, locally owned shops, restaurants, museums, and a waterfront that has been an important part of Alexandria since the 1700s. It’s close enough to Washington for an easy day trip, but there is more than enough here to justify spending a full day exploring on foot.

Some of the older streets in Old Town still retain their cobblestones, giving parts of the neighborhood an appearance that hasn’t changed nearly as much as the rest of Northern Virginia. They’re fun to walk along and certainly add character to the historic district, although I can imagine they’re less charming if you have to drive over them every day. Streets like these are part of what makes simply wandering around Old Town worthwhile.

Much of Old Town is made up of historic row houses and townhomes. Some look fairly modest from the outside, but appearances can be deceiving. Property values in this part of Alexandria are extremely high because of the neighborhood’s history, walkability, and location only a few miles from Washington. Many of these homes have been carefully restored, and entire blocks still preserve the scale and appearance of an older American city.

Not everyone seemed thrilled about living in such an expensive neighborhood though. This dog looked like he had either been sentenced to watch the street all afternoon or was desperately hoping someone would open the door.

Old Town has some nightlife, but with Arlington and Washington so close, it isn’t necessarily where everyone in Northern Virginia goes for a Saturday night. What it does especially well are restaurants, historic attractions, specialty shops, and a relaxed waterfront atmosphere. King Street is the main commercial corridor, with everything from boutiques and galleries to pubs and restaurants. The surrounding side streets are quieter and often more interesting if you’re simply looking to explore the historic neighborhood.

A short drive south of Alexandria is Mount Vernon, the plantation home of George Washington. Washington lived here long before becoming the first president of the United States and returned after his presidency to spend the final years of his life on the estate. The main mansion overlooks the Potomac River and remains one of the most important historic homes in the country. Above are the mansion itself and Washington’s tomb, both located on the grounds.

Washington is remembered mainly as a military leader, statesman, and president, but agriculture was a major part of his life. Mount Vernon operated as a large plantation, and Washington experimented with crops, soil management, livestock, and other farming techniques throughout his life. Today the property preserves gardens, agricultural areas, outbuildings, and other parts of the estate, making a visit much more than simply touring the mansion. The views across the Potomac are also among the nicest on the property.

One landmark that dominates Alexandria’s skyline is the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. Sitting on a hill above the city, the tower can be seen from many parts of Old Town and was built as both a monument to George Washington and a museum devoted to Freemasonry. Washington was a Freemason himself, which is why the memorial combines exhibits about his life with the history and traditions of the fraternity.

The memorial has several floors of exhibits covering Masonic history, symbols, organizations, and traditions. Freemasonry developed from fraternal societies in Europe and eventually spread throughout much of the world. Over the centuries, many political leaders, military officers, businessmen, and other prominent figures became members. The exhibits here include ceremonial clothing, portraits, documents, and objects connected with different Masonic organizations.

One thing I found interesting was how much symbolism appears throughout the exhibits. Freemasonry isn’t itself a religion, although traditional Masonic organizations generally require members to believe in a higher power. Its ceremonies and imagery borrow from architecture, biblical stories, medieval traditions, and other historical sources. Some of the displays reference King Solomon’s Temple and other themes that appear repeatedly in Masonic symbolism.

The fez above is connected with the Shriners, a separate Masonic organization whose imagery was inspired by romanticized Middle Eastern themes popular when the group was founded in the 19th century. Walking through the memorial gave me a much better understanding of how many different organizations and traditions exist within Freemasonry. Even if you have no particular interest in the fraternity, the building itself, the exhibits, and the views from the tower make it one of Alexandria’s more unusual attractions.

Old Town Alexandria is easy for visitors to overlook because Washington, D.C. is right next door, but that’s exactly why it’s worth making time for. Within a relatively small area you can walk through colonial streets, explore the waterfront, visit museums and historic buildings, and then continue south to Mount Vernon. Having grown up around Northern Virginia, places like Alexandria can sometimes feel ordinary to me, but when I look at everything packed into this small city, it’s easy to understand why visitors find it so interesting.