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Old Town Alexandria Attractions
Alexandria Colonial Ghost Tours
703-548-0100
Admission Charged
Experience the excitement of an actual Ghost Tour. Explore Old Town's streets and back alleys. Tours usually run Wednesday to Sunday nights but call for schedule and reservations.
Old Town Horse and Carriage Tours
703-765-8976
Admission Charged
Why not travel around the town as George Washington did. Call a day in advance for reservations.
Potomac Riverboat Company
City dock behind the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St.
703-548-9000
Admission Charged
The "Alexandria Seaport Tour" will give you a fish's-eye view of Old Town, but the "Washington Monuments Tour" is a better choice since it goes upriver for super views of the capital city. The cruises run from Tuesday to Sunday from June through September, weekends during May and October. The schedules change seasonally, so check at the dockside booth or call for information and reservations.
Adams Center for the History of Otolaryngology
One Prince St.,
703-836-4444
Admission Charged
Dedicated to the history of treating the ear, nose & throat, this unusual museum includes a display of hearing aids, surgical instruments and rare books. Open Mon-Fri 9-5.
Alexandria African American Heritage Park
Holland Lane, between Duke St. & Eisenhower Ave.,
703/838-4356
Admission Charged. "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.
Alexandria Archaeology Museum
105 N. Union St., Third Floor,
703-838-4399
Admission Charged. Step right into the museum's laboratory where archaeologists reconstruct Alexandria's history, fragment by fragment. Open Tues-Fri 10-3; Sat 10-5; Sun 1-5.
Alexandria Black History Museum
902 Wythe St.,
703-838-4356
Admission Charged
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 Tues-Sat 10-4.
Alexandria National Cemetery
Wilkes and Payne Streets
Admission Free
One of the 12 sites established and dedicated by President Lincoln in 1862 to serve as military burial grounds. The cemetery contains some 3,500 graves of Civil War soldiers, including U.S. Colored Troops and four men who lost their lives chasing Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth.
Alexandria Seaport Foundation's Seaport Center
South of Founders Park,
703-/549-7078
Admission Charged
The floating Center houses a community boat-building program. The Foundation offers educational tours aboard the Potomac dory boat; and rowing and sailing programs. Open Mon-Fri 9-5.
Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site
4301 W. Braddock Rd.,
703-/838-4848
Admission Charged
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. Open Tues-Sat 9-5; Sun 12-5. Park: Open daily 9-Sunset.
Friendship Firehouse
107 S. Alfred St.,
703-838-3891
Admission Charged
Established in 1774, the Friendship Fire Company was the first volunteer fire company in Alexandria. The current firehouse was built in 1855 and now houses historic firefighting equipment and exhibit. Open Fri-Sat 10-4; Sun 1-4.
George Washington Masonic National Memorial
101 Callahan Dr.,
703-/683-2007
Admission for Tour
Patterned after a lighthouse in Alexandria, Egypt, the Memorial displays a magnificent 17-ft. bronze statue of George Washington and an outstanding collection of Washington artifacts. Open daily 9-5 (last tour 4).
The Lyceum: Alexandria's History Museum
201 S. Washington St.,
703-/838-4994
Admission Charged
The 1839 Greek Revival building serves as the city's history museum featuring prints, documents, photographs, ceramics, silver, furniture & Civil War artifacts. Open Mon-Sat 10-5; Sun 1-5.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House
(Located at Woodlawn) 9000 Richmond Hwy.,
703-780-4000
Admission Charged
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 Mar-Dec 10-5 (last tour 4:30). Closed Jan & Feb.
Ramsay House Visitors Center
221 King St.,
703-/838-4200
Admission Free
Named for William Ramsay, Scottish merchant and city founder. Stop by for sightseeing brochures, maps, etc. Open daily 9-5. I (Handicap assistance is available at the lower King St. entrance).
River Farm
(American Horticultural Society)
7931 E. Boulevard Dr.,
703-/768-5700
Admission Charged. Originally part of the estate of George Washington, the farm features 25 acres of lawns, gardens, meadows and woods on the Potomac River. Open Mon-Fri 8:30-5; Apr-Oct: Sat 9-1.
Carlyle House Historic Park
121 N. Fairfax St.,
703-/549-2997
Admission Charged
A Georgian Palladian manor house built in 1752 by Scottish merchant and city founder John Carlyle. Here, five royal governors and General Braddock met to discuss funding of the French and Indian War. Open Tues-Sat 10-4:30; Sun 12-4:30 (tours on the hour and half hour, last tour 4:30; Nov-Mar last tour 4).
Christ Church
118 N. Washington St.,
703-/549-1450
Admission Free, Contributions accepted. This beautiful English country-style church was built between 1767-1773 and was attended by George Washington & Robert E. Lee. Open Mon-Sat 9-5; Sun 9-4.
Gadsby's Tavern Museum
134 N. Royal St.,
703-/838-4242
Admission Charged
Consists of two buildings, the 1785 Georgian tavern and the 1792 City Hotel. The Tavern has been authentically restored to its 18th-century appearance. Notable guests included George Washington & Thomas Jefferson. Call for seasonal hours.
George Washington's Gristmill
Route 235, three miles from Mount Vernon Estate,
703-780-2000
Admission Charged. See the entire process of how wheat was produced in the 18th century at this authentic water-powered mill, and learn how Washington was one of the most innovative farmers of his time. Open daily Apr-Oct 10-5.
Gunston Hall Plantation
10709 Gunston Rd., Mason Neck, VA,
703-/550-9220
Admission Charged
The 1755 Georgian-style mansion was the home of George Mason, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights and a framer of the Constitution. Open daily 9:30-5. Closed major holidays.
Lee-Fendall House
614 Oronoco St.,
703-548-1789
Admission Charged
From 1785-1903, the house served as the home to 37 members of the Lee family. John L. Lewis, a powerful and controversial labor leader, lived in the house from 1937-1969. Guided by its 1852 inventory, the house is interpreted as a Lee home of the 1850-1870 period. Open Tues-Sat 10-4; Sun 1-4 (tours on the hour; last tour 3)
Mount Vernon: George Washington's Estate & Gardens
3200 George Washington Memorial Pkwy.,
703-780-2000
Admission Charged
The beautiful estate of the nation's first president includes the mansion, outbuildings, a Pioneer Farmer site and gardens. Open daily, call for hours of operation.
Old Presbyterian Meeting House
321 S. Fairfax St.,
703-549-6670
Admission Free
Built in 1774, the church was the site of memorial services for George Washington. A memorial to an unknown soldier of the American Revolution can be visited in the churchyard. Open Mon-Fri 9-4.
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
105-107 S. Fairfax St.,
703-836-3713
Admission Charged
Opened in 1792 by young Quaker pharmacist Edward Stabler, the family business operated for 141 years. Over 8,000 early medical care items are still in place. Patrons included George & Martha Washington and Robert E. Lee. Open Mon-Sat 10-4; Sun 1-5.
Woodlawn
9000 Richmond Hwy.,
703-/780-4000
Admission Charged
George Washington gave the estate to his adopted granddaughter and his nephew as a wedding gift. Dr. William Thornton, architect of the U.S. Capitol, was then commissioned to design the Georgian mansion. Open daily Mar-Dec 10-5 (last tour 4:30). Closed Jan & Feb.
Arlington House
703-557-0613
Admission Free
Commanding a gorgeous view of Washington, D.C., from atop the ridge above the Kennedy graves, the Greek Revival Arlington House was built by George Washington Parke Custis, grandson of Martha Washington by her first marriage, after his daughter married a young Virginian named Robert E. Lee. The Lees had lived in the mansion for 30 years when General Lee received word in April 1861 of the dissolution of the Union and Virginia's secession. Restored to its pre-Civil War appearance and furnished with original pieces (as much as possible) and replicas, it has served as a memorial to Robert E. Lee since 1955, when its official name was changed to "Custis-Lee Mansion." A small Robert E. Lee Museum adjoins. There's a self-guided tour, with volunteers on hand to give an introductory talk, hand out brochures, and answer questions. The mansion is open daily from 9:30am to 4:30pm; the museum from 8am to 4:30pm. Both are closed Christmas and New Year's Day.
Tomb of the Unknowns
Beyond the mansion, America's most distinguished honor guard slowly marches before the Tomb of the Unknowns, a tribute to all members of the armed forces who have given their lives for their country in war. The 50-ton white-marble tomb rests above the remains of unidentified combatants slain during World War I. Unknowns from World War II and the Korean War are in the crypts on the plaza in front of it. There's also a crypt for an unknown killed in the Vietnam War, but modern forensic science is so sophisticated that the serviceman originally buried there with much ceremony was later identified as a U.S. Air Force pilot. His body was moved to another grave. Plan your visit to coincide with the changing of the guard ceremony -- an impressive ritual of rifle maneuvers, heel clicking, and military salutes. It takes place daily every half-hour April through September, every hour on the hour the rest of the year.
Memorial Amphitheater
Adjoining the Tomb is the Greek Revival outdoor Memorial Amphitheater, used for holiday services, particularly on Memorial Day when the sitting president or vice president attends.
U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial
703-289-2500
On the northern periphery of Arlington National Cemetery, just off Va. 110 about 1 1/2 miles north of the Kennedy graves, stands the famous U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, better known as the Iwo Jima Memorial. The statue of Marines raising the American flag over Iwo Jima in February 1945 symbolizes the nation's esteem for the honored dead of the U.S. Marine Corps.
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