NoVa History: Let’s Unpack Alexandria’s Past

Alexandria is great, dare I say perfect. There’s scrumptious restaurants, beautiful housing, and never-ending sources of fun— but that’s not all the area has to offer. The city is hundreds of years old, and packed with history. How Alexandria came to be what it is today is a story every local should hear, and every visitor will appreciate. Afterwards, looking upon the quaint, colonial-style houses or walking along the cobblestone roads will inspire a whole new feeling.

Pre-Colonial Times

Unsurprisingly, Alexandria was the land of many indigenous groups circa prehistory. A broken spear point was found at Clovis Point, a discovery that showed people were living in the city over 13,000 years ago. 4,000 years ago, tiny quartz cobblestones were moved from the Potomac River to a bluff that’s now home to Interstate 365 and Braddock Road. At Jones Point, remains of an indigenous campsite were determined to be 1,000 years old. These are pretty neat finds, and if you want to check them out in the flesh, head to the Alexandria History Museum.

Colonial Times

John Smith's map of Virginia. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress

Alexandria is one of the earliest settlements in the U.S. The very first— European and settler— discovery of the area was back in 1608. The English had been looking for minerals and exploring the Potomac when they encountered indigenous tribes (the Tauxenents and Nacotchtanks, part of the larger Conoy chiefdom). Captain John Smith marked their location on his now famous map of Virginia. Though Smith charted the general layout, it would still be decades before settlement actually occurred there.

Nearly half a century later, in 1654, Dame Maragaret Brent received a land grant for 700 acres from the governor of Maryland. That land would later become part of Alexandria. In 1669, Virginia’s governor awarded a 6,000 acre land grant to an English ship captain, Robert Howson, in the very same location. The grants overlapped, but that was sorted out quickly. King Charles II sided with Howson because he brought 120 people to live in Virginia. Howson didn't actually care about the land though-- poor Maragaret-- and he ended up selling the land less than a month later to a man named John Alexander for 6,000 pounds (Around 1.8 million U.S dollars today).

Tobacco plantations popped up in the area for the next hundred years, but it wasn’t until 1749 that talk of officially establishing the area started to spread. Scottish immigrants John Caryle and William Ramsay led local landowners to petition the Virginia House of Burgesses to establish a town. It worked, and the town was named in honor of John Alexander. Fairfax County surveyor, and 17-year-old George Washington set 60-acres for the town, and property plots were auctioned off later that year.

A few other notable colonial era moments:

In 1755, Edward Braddock established Alexandra as the English’s headquarters for the French and Indian War. Check out Alexandria’s Carlyle House which is open to the public for a lengthier review of this era.
In 1763, more acres were dedicated to Alexandria, expanding the then-little town.
In 1773 Christ Church was built. At the time it was so far outside of the town that it was called 'the church in the woods'.
In 1779 Alexandria became a port for international ships, making it a massive exporter of flour and hemp.
In 1785, Gadsby Tavern was built. P.S: it’s still one of the best Alexandria historical sites to visit.
In 1789 George Washington left his Alexandria home when he was elected president.
In 1801 Alexandria was absorbed into the district of Colombia.

19th Century

Birds eye view of Alexandria circa 1863. Lithographer unknown.

Much happened in the early 1800s. Alexandria was a new, expanding place. Prominent figures like Robert E. Lee became part of the town’s make-up. New businesses took flight. After years of rule by the district of Colombia, in 1847 the town was readmitted to Virginia. There was a parade to celebrate.

Like much of Northern Virginia, the Civil War was what characterized most of the latter half of the century. In 1861, Virginia held a vote about seceding from the Union. 958 townspeople were in favor; 106 were against the notion. When Virginia seceded, the very next day Federal troops occupied the town. Alexandria became a crucial place for the federal army, and it became a focal point for troop support and supplies.

Alexandria had also been a huge port in the slave trade. Yet, the town was also one of the firsts to have free communities. During the Civil War, many African Americans fled from the deep south to Northern Virginia. It was a bit of a mixed bag in terms of wrongdoings.

A few other notable 19th century moments:

During the War of 1812, British occupiers held Alexandria for a hefty flour, cotton, sugar and tobacco ransom.
In 1881, Alexandria acquired telephones.
In 1887 the mail delivery system was enacted, and the streets became numbered in the same system we use today.
In 1889, Alexandria acquired electricity.

20th Century

Postcard from Alexandria circa 1930-1945. Photo courtesy of Digital Commonwealth

The early 1900s was a time of expansion for Alexandria. Many industry and company staples that were fundamental to Alexandria’s identity popped up at the turn of the century. E.g. Potomac Yards, Naval Torpedo Station, and Old Dominion glass works as a few examples. Neighborhoods grew and the population boomed.

World War II specifically brought a lot of change to Alexandria– and really the larger DMV area. The Alexandria National Airport and George Washington Memorial Parkway was built during this time. Amidst WWII, Alexandria was center to some of the first civil disobedience movements, like the 1939 sit-down strike at Barrett Library.

A few other notable 20th century moments:

In 1961, The Doors lead singer, Jim Morrison, graduated from George Washington High School.
In 1964, Old Town was named the third historic district in the U.S. after New Orleans and Charleston.
In 1975, the United States formed the first archaeological commission with Alexandria’s Archeology Museum.

21st Century

Today you can see Alexandria’s history on nearly every street. Some of that history has been replaced for a more modern look in an almost bittersweet way. Northern Virginia is always moving forward. However, most of the local government buildings, townhouses and warehouses along Old Town are still around 100 to 200 years old. Nowadays, Alexandria has reopened and preserved plenty of historical taverns, shops and museums, perfect for a deeper, more layered history lesson.

Posted by Lauren Weiner on February 4th, 2026

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