Civil War

Make Alexandria your Civil War Base Camp and have
an Uncommon Commemorative Experience

As the nation commemorates the Civil War's 150^th anniversary, visitors can get a truly unique commemorative experience in Alexandria. Colorful personal stories come to life at sites nestled in an historic urban setting that also hosts contemporary fun with shopping, dining and nightlife. Just minutes from Washington, DC, and with accessibility to battlefields at Manassas and Shenandoah and other sites in Northern Virginia, Alexandria is a destination itself or it can be a charming home base for additional Civil War outings.

Alexandria, Virginia, had a unique role in the Civil War as its longest occupied territory, trapped for four years in the terrible conflict, a once prosperous Southern town instantaneously transformed into an armed camp behind Northern lines. Today, with a wealth of historic sites - the homes of Civil War General Robert E. Lee's family; Fort Ward, now the best preserved remnant of the only defenses that stood between the capitol city and the South, and Freedom House, once headquarters for slave traders - Alexandria allows visitors to experience the conflict for themselves. Telling the stories of Alexandria's citizens as well as the soldiers and officers, nurses, slaves and freedmen who passed through, Alexandria commemorates the 150^th anniversary  of its unique role as the Witness to War and Reunion.

May 24, 1861. As Virginia's secession from the Union was ratified, Alexandria was held in the steady gaze of Federal troops right across the river in Washington, D.C. Within hours, a thousand soldiers arrived by steamboat while 6,000 more marched from the north to take over the city and transform it into a critical base of operations for the Union's battle with the South. Alexandria was a tantalizing prize, one that was strategically positioned as a busy seaport with a train system quickly seized for distribution of troops and supplies. Buildings were confiscated and converted into hospitals, barracks, and prisons. Occupied for four long years, the city's genteel, prosperous community was turned completely upside down.

Just as Alexandria played a unique role in the Civil War, visitors can expect an uncommon commemorative experience in the city. An urban setting that whispers with history among 18^th- and 19^th-century architecture and streets that were walked by George Washington was a century later occupied by Civil War soldiers who revered him. The city remains historically preserved, making it easy for visitors to imagine how alarming it would be if present-day Old Town Alexandria streets were suddenly taken over by the military, overrun with drunks and prostitutes, and quaint historic churches and homes, as makeshift hospitals, had injured and dying men spilling out of them onto the cobblestone and brick sidewalks.

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Historic Sites

Today visitors can stand and marvel at sites relating to famous figures, like Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's boyhood home. Or the Carlyle House, a property boasting stories of poet Walt Whitman, Confederate spy Frank Stringfellow, and Sarah Emma Edmonds, who disguised herself as a Union soldier. Or the site of the Marshall House inn, where North and South lost the lives of the first martyrs for their opposing causes. The bloodshed occurred when the celebrated and charismatic Union Col. Elmer Ellsworth snatched the Confederate flag from the roof of the building. As he came down the stairs, rebel innkeeper James W. Jackson shot and killed Ellsworth just before being fatally shot himself. This fulfilled Jackson's promise that the flag would be removed "over my dead body."

More shocking and compelling stories come to life at Freedom House and the Black History Museum, where visitors can learn about the lives of slaves that were traded through Alexandria and glimpse the experience the freedmen. The impressive collection of artifacts at the Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site create a profile of Civil War army life. Treasures on view include a section of the Confederate flag that Union Col. Ellsworth removed from the roof of the Marshall House, a rare Hale rocket launcher, a medical field pannier produced by Squibb Company, and a uniform jacket and accessories worn by a soldier in the 9^th New York "Hawkins" Zouaves.

Historic Site Listings with Civil War History - PDF

 Historic Site Listings with Civil War History

Photos in High Resolution - Preview PDF of thumbnails and email CMouledoux@VisitAlexVA.com to   request high resolution.

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Special Events

Special events, lectures, museum exhibits and tours can be found throughout Alexandria to capture the imagination and commemorate a pivotal time in American history.

Latest Civil War Event Listings

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An Old Town Setting with a Hip Twist

Alexandria is a much loved destination for its surprising combination of historic ambiance and contemporary flair. Among streets lined with early-American architecture and historic sites, visitors discover chic boutiques, critically acclaimed restaurants and a vibrant arts scene. The Free King Street Trolley allows visitors to hop on and off to enjoy shopping, dining and history.

Located just minutes from Washington, D.C., Mount Vernon Estate, and National Harbor, Alexandria is accessible by four Metrorail stops and the Potomac River Water Taxi. Reagan National Airport is minutes away by taxi or Metrorail.

Photos in High Resolution < Click Photo Gallery image in the top right corner of this page>

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Tours and Key to the City

Now available - the special Civil War edition of the popular Key to the City allows visitors to relive Alexandria's Civil War past while experiencing all that Alexandria offers today for one low price. The pass includes admission to nine historic sites, with information on their roles in the conflict, plus more than 80 special offers from shops, restaurants and attractions. For the price of $9, the Civil War edition of the Key to the City also includes information on 13 additional sites from the perspective of the pivotal conflict in American history, a Civil War cell-phone tour, and a brochure that includes a self-guided walking tour of Civil War sites in Old Town.

Civil War walking tours can be booked now through these companies:

Alexandria Colonial Tours: (703)519.1749 AlexColonialTours.com

Alexandria Footsteps to the Past: (703)683.3451 FootStepstothePast.com

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Alexandria's Accessibility to Civil War Sites in the Region

Combining a trip to Alexandria and other Civil War sites in the region is easy. Alexandria's own Union Station train station, right in Old Town, is serviced by both Amtrak and the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and just yards away from the King Street Metro station, part of DC's Metro rail system. Alexandria is also an easy drive to popular sites like Manassas National Battlefield Park and Shenandoah battlefields, as well as other Civil War sites in Northern Virginia.

Make Alexandria your Civil War Base Camp

Map a regional visit at the Virginia Civil War website

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Civil War-Era Photos and Commemoration Logos

Download high resolution photos of Alexandria's historic figures and Civil War sites at the photo gallery. "Witness to War and Reunion" logos can also be downloaded.

Photos in High Resolution - Choose Civil War from the dropdown menu at the Photo Gallery and register your request or  email CMouledoux@VisitAlexVA.com.

Logos of Alexandria's "Witness to War and Reunion" Theme - Right click on the logos below to save.