Historic Sites & Attractions in Alexandria

Due to COVID-19 many historic sites and attractions are temporarily closed. To learn the latest about what's open in Alexandria, click here.

As George Washington's hometown, Alexandria has more than 140 locations with ties to the nation's first president, along with a host of intimate museums highlighting the beginnings of America. Just nine miles south of Old Town Alexandria at George Washington's Mount Vernon, traipse through the historic grounds, perusing documents and ephemera once sacred to key historic players. Several sites work to weave the rich tapestry of the city's history from the 18th-century to the present, like the Carlyle House, once home to Alexandria co-founder John Carlyle, and the Alexandria Black History Museum, which details the city's strong African-American leaders from the Civil War to civil rights and beyond. 

Alexandria also nods to its vast creative history at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, a former World War II munitions factory turned 82 artist studios and six galleries, and the National Inventors Hall of Fame and Museum at the US Patent and Trademark Office, whose interactive exhibits celebrate modern innovation. Explore Alexandria with the "Key to the City" attractions pass, which grants visitors access into 9 historic sites, plus 40% off admission to George Washington's Mount Vernon, tall ship Providence (opening in 2020), and the Potomac Riverboat Water Taxi by Hornblower. Take the opportunity to celebrate the city's history at lively seasonal events.

Click here to read Alexandria's History.