Old Town & Parker Gray

Old Town has been bustling with activity since it was founded by Scottish merchants in 1749. Today, the colonial spirit is alive in the culinary creations created by renowned chefs attracted to Alexandria for the freedom of expression. Shopping addicts enjoy the charm of the boutiques of all types housed in historic buildings. The free King Street Trolley will take you to all of the antique shops and contemporary art galleries that line the cobblestone streets of this neighborhood once home to George Washington and Robert E. Lee.

Named for the principals of two schools in this northern Alexandria neighborhood, Parker-Gray was originally a haven for escaped slaves and freedman during and after the Civil War. The neighborhood, covering 24 blocks just north of Old Town, launched the region into the Civil Rights era when five African-American men staged a sit-in at Parker Gray's segregated Queen Street Library in 1939 demanding more access to educational opportunities. Alexandria responded by building the Robert Robinson Library, now home to the Alexandria Black History Museum.

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