Before the kids began college, we squeezed in one more historic trip at long last to Old Town Alexandria.
Upon my first visit many years ago, I yearned to explore the Georgian townhouses with quaint gardens and thirteen-starred flags.
CAMERON STREET AND LORD FAIRFAX
Since we parked near Cameron Street, our introduction to the city’s history began.
Named for Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, this street reflects its 17th century location in the Northern Neck Proprietary, bestowed by King Charles II to his loyal supporters.
GADSBY’S TAVERN
For a special treat we enjoyed a delicious brunch at historic Gadsby’s Tavern, where George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, James Monroe, Lafayette, and others have dined.
This take on eggs benedict included fresh crab from the nearby Chesapeake!
I’m not a fan of American fries at all, but these were the most delicious potatoes I’ve ever had. They were wonderfully crispy!
Our afternoon jaunt all about town finally brought us back to Gadsby’s Tavern where we stumbled upon the 18th century ice house!
ALEXANDRIA HISTORY
After brunch we walked all over the historic area, stumbling upon lots of exciting venues to investigate more thoroughly another time.
While this land was originally part of the 1649 Northern Neck Proprietary, in 1669 it became part of a smaller 6000 acre land grant gifted to Robert Howsing in 1669 for bringing one hundred twenty people to settle Virginia.
Soon after, Howsing sold the land to John Alexander in return for 6,000 pounds of tobacco, which during this age of mercantilism, bound Colonial America economicaly to Britain.
Having read much about 18th century Alexandria, on this day we walked in the footsteps of George Washington and many others.
COBBLESTONE STREET TO THE WATERFRONT
And then we stumbled upon a cobblestone street leading us to the waterfront of the Potomac River.
POTOMAC RIVER
TOWNHOUSE COURTYARDS
CHRIST CHURCH
CARLYLE HOUSE AND THE BRITISH
Eventually we stumbled upon Carlyle House, which even the visitor center hadn’t told us about!
After the young George Washington surveyed in 1748 what came to be known as Alexandria, a Scottish merchant, named John Carlyle, purchased two lots for his home and business in 1749.
From 1751 to 1752 he built a Georgian house of stone, which is unique to the town.
A few years later in 1755, the French and Indian War arrived at his doorstep when General Braddock arrived with 2500 British troops.
Using the Carlyle House for his headquarters, Braddock convened the Congress of Alexandria.
At this meeting he met in the dining room with the colonial governors from Maryland, Virginia (Governor Dinwiddie), New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
Suggesting taxing the colonists to finance the French and Indian War, he also suggested an expedition to Fort Duquesne (today’s Pittsburgh).
Although Major George Washington, who lived nearby at Mount Vernon, disagreed, he volunteered to be aide-de-camp for Braddock.
As a result, two-thirds of the British troops died, along with Braddock.
And thus summer fun came to an early end.
