Old Town Alexandria Neighborhood
Alexandria City
Old Town is a charm-laden, nationally designated historic district on the Potomac River waterfront, named one of the country’s best downtowns.
Old Town’s architecture dates back to the 1700’s. Ajacent to rows of charming Federal and Victorian houses seated on cobblestone and brick streets, you’ll find a redesigned modern waterfront and popular King Street’s art galleries, unique shops and eateries.
About Old Town Alexandria
Popular King Street offers galleries, boutique retail, restaurants, hotels and a Saturday Market Square farmer’s market. Quaint side streets are lined with specialty shops and dining options. A reinvented Waterfront Park offers boating, river tours, scenic walks, and the Torpedo Factory galleries and arts spaces. New luxury residences line the revitalized riverfront.
Old town homes range from picturesque Federals to impressive Victorians and modern riverfront condos and townhomes.
Old Town History
Old Town Alexandria is the oldest section of the city founded by Scottish merchants in 1749 and named for John Alexander, a Scottish planter whose land holdings stretched roughly from Hunting Creek to the Arlington-McLean border. Alexander purchased the land for 6,000 pounds of tobacco and farmed the land. Alexandria become a major trade hub and was incorporated in 1789. It became known as the “Port City” of the Potomac and was one of the largest ports in the country by 1790. Old Town is the third oldest historic district in the United States.
The Ramsay House, home of Scottish merchant and city founder William Ramsay, was the oldest dwelling in the city. The reconstructed version now functions as the Alexandria Visitor’s Center.
On quaint Prince Street, in the cobblestoned 100 block, is Captain’s Row , named for Captain John Harper, who built many of the homes on the north side of the block in the late 1700s for sea captains who worked on the Potomac River. The block was destroyed in a fire in 1827, then rebuilt with some changes to individual homes. They remain, however, a picturesque reminder of the town’s seafaring history.
The 200 block of Prince Street is known as Gentry Row. Elegant townhomes built for wealthy merchants of the day, many of whom were Quakers, bear plaques from the Historic Alexandria Foundation. Two such homes are 212 and 214 Prince Street, double dwelling wooden homes constructed around 1785 or 1786 by merchant William Hartshorne when he relocated from Philadelphia. Hartshorne became a longtime friend of George Washington and the two men also transacted business together for flour and tools.
George Washington built his own townhouse in Old Town, for use when he was away from Mount Vernon conducting business or attending social events. The 508 Cameron Street home we see today is actually a 1960 reconstruction commissioned by Virginia Governor and Mrs. Richard Barrett Lowe, since Washington’s original 1769 dwelling was razed in 1855 due to severe neglect by subsequent owners.
Rising above Shuter’s Hill at the north end of Old Town is the George Washington Masonic National Memorial (aka the ‘Masonic Temple’), constructed in Washington’s honor. It offers an unobstructed view of Old Town, from the King Street Metro to the Potomac.
Old Town Schools
Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy (Certified Core Knowledge) Public Grades K-5
Jefferson-Houston Public Grades PK-8
George Washington Middle School Public Grades 6-8
Alexandria City High School Public Grades 9-12
Old Town spans several ACPS attendance areas. Alexandria implemented new elementary and middle-school boundaries for the 2026-27 school year, so exact assignment varies by address. Always confirm a property through the official ACPS Attendance Zone Locator.
Disclaimer
We are not attorneys, legal experts, investment counselors, or CPAs. The content on this channel is presented for informational purposes only and derived from reliable sources, but should not be considered legal, financial, investment, transaction or real estate practice advice. Susan Isaacs and Compass, their principals and/or representatives, do not guarantee or warrant its accuracy, completeness, or applicability to any specific real estate transaction. Homebuyers should read applicable D.C. law and code as part of their due diligence, and seek help from licensed, qualified professionals for interpretation and application to their specific transaction.