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Founded in 1749 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Alexandria is nationally recognized for its architecture, attractions, award-winning restaurants and eclectic shopping. With five Metro stations and hotels to suit every taste, Alexandria is the gateway to Greater Washington D.C.
Alexandria's history reaches back more than thirteen thousand years. From the first Native Americans to settle here, to the bustling city it is today, the timeline of Alexandria's history is filled with events that helped shape the United States of America into the country it is today.
A vital seaport during colonial times, Alexandria is George Washington's hometown and part of the original Washington, DC. Thomas Jefferson entertained guests at Gadsby's Tavern.Robert E. Lee worshipped at Christ Church. Alexandria served as one of the largest slave trading ports prior to the Civil War. Occupied by Union forces from the onset of the Civil War, Alexandria was both vital in the defense of the nation's capital and essential in the war effort as a transportation and hospital center for the Union.
In the 1930's, famed Alexandria African American attorney Samuel W. Tucker was one of the architects of the Civil Rights Movement. Alexandria's Old Town district was established in 1946 as only the third historic district designated in the United States . Its remarkable concentration of historic buildings with a storied past create a rich backdrop for today's vibrant contemporary lifestyle.
