A collage shows: a man walking on a brick sidewalk by colorful historic row houses, a tall stone tower with a spire against a blue sky, and a small modernist home surrounded by trees and grass.

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Discover Alexandria’s Architecture

Founded in 1749, Alexandria is an architecture lover’s dream destination with structures spanning several centuries and styles, from Georgian to Victorian to Mid-Century Modern. Stepping into Old Town, the city’s nationally designated historic district, is like visiting an outdoor architecture museum.

Discover gems like Spite House, the skinniest historic house in America at just 7 feet wide, and Pope-Leighey House, located 10 miles south of Old Town and the only Frank Lloyd Wright house open to the public in the D.C. region. Wander historic streets and discover more than 200 structures built before 1820. National Historic Landmarks abound, from Gadsby’s Tavern to Christ Church. Few other communities in America boast as many examples of Georgian and Federal period architecture. Keep reading for suggestions of places to see, neighborhoods to explore and architectural details to look for.

Top 6 Must-See Sites

Carlyle House

A woman in a white dress walks on a brick path toward the camera, with a large, historic beige building behind her under a blue sky with some clouds. The building has tall chimneys and symmetrical windows.

Mount Vernon

A large historic mansion with red roofs, white walls, green shutters, and a central cupola, surrounded by a grassy lawn under a partly cloudy sky.

Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House

A mid-century modern house with wooden exterior, large windows, and flat roofs sits surrounded by green grass and tall trees under a blue sky.

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial

A tall, white, tiered building rises behind trees with bright orange and yellow autumn leaves, under a clear blue sky and above a green lawn.

Christ Church

A historic brick church with a tall white steeple stands behind a brick fence and archway, next to a large leafy tree under a clear blue sky. A traffic signal is visible in front of the entrance.

Murray-Dick-Fawcett House

A sunny garden with green trees, white benches, metal chairs, and tables. People stand and sit near a rustic wooden house. Plants and flowers surround the area, with a brick wall and buildings visible in the background.

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A modern, single-story house with warm interior lights glows at dusk. Surrounded by trees and grass, the house features broad eaves, large windows, and horizontal wooden siding, blending into the natural setting.

Stroll a Cobblestone Street at Captain’s Row

Located at the 100 block of Prince St., this iconic street is one of two cobblestone blocks in Alexandria and was named after a successful overseas trader.

A couple walks arm in arm down a tree-lined brick sidewalk in a quiet neighborhood, smiling and enjoying a pleasant day together.

Decoding Historic Details

Touring Old Town? Look up, look closely and you’ll find hidden symbols that speak to Alexandria’s architectural history.

Hitching Post

Before airplanes, trains, cars and scooters there were horses, and hitching posts were the parking spaces of yore.

Star Anchors

Dotting many historic houses, these end pieces of wrought-iron bars support the gable walls of masonry structures.

Fire Marks

These symbols likely served as advertisements for insurance companies.

Weathervanes

Dating back to the Colonial period, look up and you may see ornamental weathervanes, such as the firefighter atop Friendship Firehouse Museum.

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Visit Vibrant Queen Street

Wander the 400 block of Queen Street, a beloved stretch of charming and colorful clapboard Colonial homes.

A woman and a man ride red rental bikes on a quiet street lined with colorful historic row houses, trees, and an American flag hanging above.

See the Skinniest Historic House in America

Head to 523 Queen St. (a private residence) to see the skinniest historic house in America—just 7 feet wide—built in 1830 to keep loiterers out of the adjacent alley.

Three colorful row houses—one white, one blue, and one red—stand side by side on a brick-paved street, with a tree in front and plants by the entrances. The houses have black doors and shuttered windows.

Discover More Historic Details

Gas Lanterns

As the sun sets in Old Town, you’ll begin to notice the many flickering lights, which was commonplace before electric lighting became widespread, adorning historic homes.

Door Knockers

Eagles, lions and even pineapples are all historic signifiers of wealth.

Mounting Block

Seen throughout Old Town, these stone steps made mounting and dismounting a horse or cart easier.

Historic Plaques

The Historic Alexandria Foundation awards these to homes over 100 years old.

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Explore a Mid-Century Modern Enclave

Located just outside of Old Town, Hollin Hills is a modernist enclave comprised of more than 450 glass-enclosed minor masterpieces built from the late 1940s to the early 1970s by developer Robert Davenport and renowned architect Charles Goodman.

A modern, two-story house with large windows and glowing interior lights, surrounded by trees and a grassy yard. A brick patio with outdoor furniture and potted plants sits in the foreground.

A Historic Stay

Accommodations abound in Alexandria, from boutique hotels to big name brands. For accommodations of architectural interest, check out these options:

George Washington’s Town House

A small white house with a red roof, black shutters, and a stone foundation. An American flag hangs by the wooden front steps. A large tree and streetlamp are in front on a brick sidewalk.

Morrison House

A red brick house with black shutters, arched windows, and a white columned porch. The entry has a rounded staircase, railing, potted plants, and is framed by trees and a black iron fence in front.

The George of Old Town