Old Town Alexandria

Old Town Alexandria is a historic waterfront district in Alexandria, Virginia, situated on the west bank of the Potomac River seven miles south of downtown Washington, D.C. The neighborhood preserves one of the most intact collections of 18th- and 19th-century architecture in the United States, with hundreds of Federal and Georgian townhouses lining brick-paved streets between the Potomac waterfront and the King Street Metro corridor. King Street, the district's main commercial artery, runs from the Metro station straight to the riverfront and is lined with independent boutiques, antique shops, art galleries, wine bars, restaurants, and historic markers. The Torpedo Factory Art Center on the waterfront houses more than 82 working artist studios in a converted World War II munitions plant, and visitors can watch painters, potters, photographers, and glassblowers at work throughout the day. The Carlyle House Historic Park, the Gadsby's Tavern Museum, and the George Washington Masonic National Memorial offer formal historical programming. The Potomac Riverfront park stretches north and south of King Street with a paved walking and cycling path, views across to National Harbor in Maryland, and seasonal water taxi service to the National Mall in Washington. The Old Town Farmers Market, operating since 1753 at Market Square near City Hall, is one of the oldest continuously operating markets in the United States. A free King Street Trolley bus connects the Metro station to the waterfront every 12 minutes, making car-free access straightforward from the Washington metro area.