Old Town

It was a summer day in 1749 when men with names like Washington, Fairfax, Carlyle and Mason purchased a few lots of land on a small bay at the confluence of the Potomac River and Herring Creek. When those men and others built their Georgian and Federal style homes as bases for trade in tobacco or slaves, little did they know that many of those grand houses would still be standing more than two centuries later as part of the great city of Alexandria.

Alexandria's rich, textured history is reflected in Old Town, which preserves the vintage red brick homes, cobblestone streets and historic taverns that saw the birth and growth of a great nation. The heritage is kept alive here in Old Town, not just as a museum exhibit for future generations, but as part of a thriving city.

The sense of heritage, which boasts homes where George Washington actually did sleep, and which is woven into the fabric of American History, is almost palpable when walking the streets here. That sense of history helps to create a strong sense of community among the people and their many classic homes, which are virtually priceless.