You can easily translate the web content to your language with the Google Chrome.
Do szybkiego tlumaczenia na Twoj jezyk, polecam uzywanie przegladarki Google Chrome.

Saturday, July 2, 2016

American History - Visit Alexandria, VA with kids






 




A short Metro ride from Washington DC, Alexandria, Virginia is the perfect escape from the fast-paced capital. First settled in 1695, the city retains its colonial spirit, with cobblestone streets and historic buildings in the Old Town, Gadsby's Tavern, a restaurant serving food since 1770, and centers of learning like the Black History Museum. For a more contemporary side of Alexandria, wander the streets of the stylish Del Ray neighborhood, where local artists operate boutiques and studios.

What to see in Alexandria’s Old Town

Carlyle House
121 North Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA
Tel. 703 549-2997
Former home to a successful local merchant, the house served as the headquarters of British Maj. Gen. Braddock before his ill-fated 1755 campaign in western Pennsylvania. The house also served as the site where several colonial governors met to discuss financing of the French and Indian War, and later, the state of affairs with the Brittish Crown, leading to subsequent meetings at Annapolis, MD, and Philadelphia, PA, where the Declaration of Independence was drafted. Supposedly the only house in town that's not haunted because Carlyle had a cat entombed in a wall.

Gadsby's Tavern
134 N. Royal Street, Alexandria, VA
Tel. 703) 548-1288
There is a museum and a restaurant next door. The museum is open for guided tours only. Admission $5.
George Washington used to hang out often at Gadsby's whenever he was in town.

Torpedo Factory Art Center 
105 North Union St, Alexandria VA
Tel. 703 838-4565
10AM-5PM daily; additionally 6PM-9PM every second Tu. 
Free Entrance.
A former World War I munitions depot that once housed the Nazi war archives after World War II , the Torpedo Factory has been turned into an artist studio/learning center for local artists. With over 80 artist studios and 6 galleries, strolling through the 3 level Torpedo Factory is an inspiring way to spend the afternoon. The artists are often working in the studios and are usually pleased to have the opportunity to interact with their studio patrons. Their work is sold from their studio and from the galleries, so this is also a wonderful option if you are looking to buy a unique souvenir. 

Old Town Alexandria Harbor by Potomac River
N Union St, VA

Christ Church Alexandria
118 North Washington St., Alexandria, VA
Tel. 703 549-1450
The first church in the city; George Washington, George Mason, and Robert E. Lee were members of this historic church. Although, some three to four hundred headstones disappeared during the Union occupation of the city, the churchyard has headstones dating from 1771. On 1 January 1942, President and Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt, along with Winston Churchill, attended a service at Christ Church for a National Day of Prayer in the wake of Pearl Harbor.

Cameron Street 
The section just east of Washington St near Christ Church. At 508 Cameron is the location of George Washington's town home and office. Washington's original town house burned down in the 1850s and was reconstructed from plans in the 1960s. Also on this block are the homes of Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee, a famous cavalry officer of the American Revolution and father of Robert E. Lee, and Lord Fairfax. Please respect the fact that all the homes are private residences.

George Washington Masonic Memorial 
101 Callahan Dr, Tel. 703 683-2007 
1 Apr–30 Sep: 9AM-4PM daily; 1 Oct–31 March 10AM-4PM
Admission $8.
Guided tours: 10AM, 11:30AM, 1:30PM, 3PM. 
Designed and built by Freemasons in the 1930's, this monument to George Washington was made to resemble the lighthouse at Alexandria, Egypt, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Tours are available daily except on major holidays. The tour takes visitors through a unique series of rooms each designed to illustrate some element of Freemasonry and presents visitors with artifacts from the group's past. At the end, visitors are taken to the top level and treated to an outstanding view of Washington D.C. and Old Town Alexandria. 

Lee-Fendall House
614 Oronoco Street, Alexadria, VA
Tel. 703 548-1789
Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 1PM-4PM 
A few blocks north of King Street. Three houses east of the Lee-Fendall House on Oronoco Street is a state historical marker in front of the boyhood home of American Civil War General Robert E. Lee. The home itself is now a private residence.

Old Presbyterian Meeting House
321 S. Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA just south of Duke Street
Tel. 703 549-6670
A memorial service for George Washington was moved from Christ Church to the Meeting House because of bad weather. In the courtyard to the west is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from American Revolution.

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary
105 S. Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA
Tel. 703 838-3852
A local museum which recreates the apothecary/pharmacy that stood at this location from the late eighteenth century through the early twentieth.

The Spite House
523 Queen St., Alexandria, VA 
2 blocks north of King Street Dating from around 1830, this private dwelling is only 7 feet wide and about 33 feet deep. It was built in an alley to prevent people using the alley without permission. Because of its diminutive size, this house has been featured on HGTV, and other similar shows and publications. Please respect the fact that the home itself is a private residence. There are several other spite houses in Old Town, but they're more difficult to spot than this bright blue house.

The Ice Well
Located on the southwest corner of Cameron and Lee Street. Renovations at this spot uncovered a previously unknown underground ice well. Until the invention of refrigeration, large blocks of ice were brought down the river and kept here for storage. Small blocks of ice were cut and presumably sold to citizens. There is no sign or other marker at the site - just a small staircase and guardrail that from the street, does not appear to go anywhere.

Captains Row and Gentry Row
Located on the 100 and 200 blocks of Prince Street (respectively) 1 block south of King Street. Captains Row contains many of the oldest residences in the city, mostly consisting of Federal style houses built by wealthy merchants and sea captains. Complete with cobblestones and charming architectural details, this is probably one of the most picturesque colonial village blocks anywhere. The 200 block of Prince Street is Gentry Row where you will see house after house marked with Historic Alexandria Foundation plaques. Houses along this block were owned by such prominent figures as William Fairfax, one of Alexandria's founding trustees, and Dr. James Craik, surgeon-general during the American Revolution as well as George Washington's personal physician.

Alexandria Black History Museum
902 Wythe St., Alexandria, VA
Tel. 703 746-4356
The mission of the Black History Museum is to enrich the lives of Alexandria's residents and visitors, to foster tolerance and understanding among all cultures and to stimulate appreciation of the diversity of the African American experience.

No comments:

Post a Comment