Historical Timeline of Alexandria Virginia

The 1700's
1748
11/30/1748
Alexandria Founded
1752
1752
In 1752 John Carlyle, a Scottish merchant, completes the construction of his 18th-century Palladian Revival-style home
Carlyle House
Museum (Historic Museum c.1753) at 121 N. Fairfax · View Place
1765
1765
In 1765, financed by more than 30 thousand pounds of tobacco, construction of the Christ Episcopal Church begins
Christ Episcopal Church
Church (Episcopal Church) at 118 N. Washington · View Place
1773
1773
Christ Episcopal Church was built
Christ Episcopal Church
Church (Episcopal Church) at 118 N. Washington · View Place
1775
1775 at a glance:
Revolutionary War begins
1775
Old Presbyterian Meeting House building completed
Old Presbyterian Meeting House
Church (Presbyterian Church) at 323 S. Fairfax · View Place
1779
1779
Town of Alexandria incorporated
1788
1788
Saint Mary Catholic Church was founded
Saint Mary Catholic Church
Church (Catholic Church) at 310 S. Royal · View Place
1790
1790 at a glance:
Washington Administration
1790
In 1790 the population of Alexandria was less than 3000
1791
1791 at a glance:
Washington Administration
1791
Part of Old Town Alexandria is included in the creation of the new District of Columbia
1793
1793 at a glance:
Washington Administration
1793
Old Alexandria Ice Well was built
Old Alexandria Ice Well
Historic Ice Well visible from the street c.1793

Historic (Ice Well c.1793) at 138B N. Royal · View Place
1793 at a glance:
Washington Administration
1793
Old Alexandria Ice Well opened at 138B N. Royal
Old Alexandria Ice Well
Historic Ice Well visible from the street c.1793

Historic (Ice Well c.1793) at 138B N. Royal · View Place
1793 at a glance:
Washington Administration
1793
The Old Alexandria Ice Well is 17' 3" in diameter
Old Alexandria Ice Well
Historic Ice Well visible from the street c.1793

Historic (Ice Well c.1793) at 138B N. Royal · View Place
1794
1794 at a glance:
Washington Administration
07/24/1794
The Alexandria Library Company was founded on July 24, 1794, at John Wise's house.
Kate Waller Barrett Library
Book Store / Library (Historic Library) at 717 Queen · View Place
1795
1795 at a glance:
Washington Administration
1795
St. Mary's Cemetery was established in 1795
St. Mary's Cemetery
Cemetery (Catholic Cemetery c.1795) at 1000 S. Royal · View Place
1797
1797 at a glance:
Washington Administration
Adams Administration
1797
In 1797 100 S Union, now the home of Starbucks, was built by John Fitzgerald.
Starbucks
Cafe (Coffee Shop) at 100 S. Union · View Place
The 1800's
1803
1803 at a glance:
Jefferson Administration
1803
Washington Street United Methodist Church was founded
Washington Street United Methodist Church
Church (Methodist Church) at 109 S. Washington · View Place
1803 at a glance:
Jefferson Administration
1803
Washington Street United Methodist Church was built
Washington Street United Methodist Church
Church (Methodist Church) at 109 S. Washington · View Place
1803 at a glance:
Jefferson Administration
1803
Washington Street United Methodist Church opened at 109 S. Washington
Washington Street United Methodist Church
Church (Methodist Church) at 109 S. Washington · View Place
1803 at a glance:
Jefferson Administration
1803
In 1803 the warehouse at 101 King, now the home of The Lucky Knot, was built.
The Lucky Knot
Clothing and Shoe Store (Clothing) at 101 King · View Place
1814
1814 at a glance:
Madison Administration
1814
Alexandria surrenders to the British (War of 1812)
1815
1815 at a glance:
Madison Administration
1815
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum was built
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
Museum (Apothecary Museum) at 105 S Fairfax · View Place
1826
1826 at a glance:
Adams Administration
1826
Saint Mary Catholic Church was built
Saint Mary Catholic Church
Church (Catholic Church) at 310 S. Royal · View Place
1826 at a glance:
Adams Administration
1826
Saint Mary Catholic Church opened at 310 S. Royal
Saint Mary Catholic Church
Church (Catholic Church) at 310 S. Royal · View Place
1832
1832 at a glance:
Jackson Administration
1832
Robert's Memorial United was built
Robert's Memorial United
Church (Methodist Church) at 606 S. Washington · View Place
1834
1834 at a glance:
Jackson Administration
1834
Lyceum Museum was founded
Lyceum Museum
Museum (Historic Museum c.1839) at 201 S. Washington · View Place
1835
1835 at a glance:
Jackson Administration
1835
Old Presbyterian Meeting House mostly destroyed by fire
Old Presbyterian Meeting House
Church (Presbyterian Church) at 323 S. Fairfax · View Place
1836
1836 at a glance:
Jackson Administration
1836
Old Presbyterian Meeting House rebuilt following fire of 1835
Old Presbyterian Meeting House
Church (Presbyterian Church) at 323 S. Fairfax · View Place
1839
1839 at a glance:
Buren Administration
1839
Lyceum Museum was built
Lyceum Museum
Museum (Historic Museum c.1839) at 201 S. Washington · View Place
1843
1843 at a glance:
Tyler Administration
1843
Old Presbyterian Meeting House bell tower built
Old Presbyterian Meeting House
Church (Presbyterian Church) at 323 S. Fairfax · View Place
1843 at a glance:
Tyler Administration
1843
Windmill Hill Park is named for a windmill built here, on Miller's Cliff, in 1843 by inventor John Remington
Windmill Hill Park
Basketball court, benches, a playground, and a view of the river.

Park (River View Park) at 501 S. Union · View Place
1846
1846 at a glance:
Polk Administration
1846
Alexandria retroceded from the District of Columbia by congress. (After being ceded in 1791 to the US Government)
1850
1850 at a glance:
Taylor Administration
Fillmore Administration
1850
In 1850 the population of Alexandria was less than 9000
1852
1852 at a glance:
Fillmore Administration
1852
City of Alexandria rechartered
1856
1856 at a glance:
Pierce Administration
1856
Wilkes Street Tunnel was built
Wilkes Street Tunnel
Historic train tunnel converted to a walking path c.1856

Historic (Historic Railway Tunnel c.1856) at 398 Wilkes · View Place
1856 at a glance:
Pierce Administration
1856
Built in 1855, the Jones Point lighthouse is the last riverside lighthouse in Virginia.
Jones Point Park
Basketball courts, parking, walking trails, seating, and historic lighthouse

Park (Waterfront Park) at 1 Jones Point · View Place
1861
1861 at a glance:
Buchanan Administration
Lincoln Administration
The Civil War Begins
1861
Beulah Baptist Church was founded
Beulah Baptist Church
Church (Baptist Church) at 320 S. Washington · View Place
1861 at a glance:
Buchanan Administration
Lincoln Administration
The Civil War Begins
1861
Beulah Baptist Church was built
Beulah Baptist Church
Church (Baptist Church) at 320 S. Washington · View Place
1861 at a glance:
Buchanan Administration
Lincoln Administration
The Civil War Begins
1861
Beulah Baptist Church opened at 320 S. Washington
Beulah Baptist Church
Church (Baptist Church) at 320 S. Washington · View Place
1861 at a glance:
Buchanan Administration
Lincoln Administration
The Civil War Begins
04/12/1861
Civil War begins
1861 at a glance:
Buchanan Administration
Lincoln Administration
The Civil War Begins
05/24/1861
First fatality of the civil war. Colonel Ellsworth shot and killed while removing a confederate flag from atop the Marshall House Inn
1862
1862 at a glance:
Lincoln Administration
The Civil War continues
1862
The Alexandria National Cemetery was established in 1862. By 1864, it was nearly filled to capacity, which eventually led to the construction of Arlington National Cemetery.
Alexandria National Cemetery
Cemetery (Group of Cemeteries) at 1450 Wilkes · View Place
1865
1865 at a glance:
Lincoln Administration
Johnson Administration
The Civil War Ends
1865
Shiloh Baptist Church (Landmark) was built
Shiloh Baptist Church (Landmark)
Historic (Local landmark and historic marker) at 1401 Duke · View Place
1865 at a glance:
Lincoln Administration
Johnson Administration
The Civil War Ends
1865
Third Baptist Church was built
Third Baptist Church
Church (Baptist Church) at 917 Princess · View Place
1865 at a glance:
Lincoln Administration
Johnson Administration
The Civil War Ends
05/26/1865
Civil War ends
The 1900's
1915
1915 at a glance:
Wilson Administration
1915
St Joseph Catholic Church was founded
St Joseph Catholic Church
Church (Catholic Church) at 711 N. Columbus · View Place
1932
1932 at a glance:
Hoover Administration
1932
In 1932 the construction of the Ford Motor Company wholesale distribution facility is completed here, at Ford's Landing
Ford's Landing Park
Section of the waterfront trail with panoramic bridge and river views

Park (Waterfront Park) at 99 Franklin · View Place
1937
1937 at a glance:
Roosevelt Administration
08/20/1937
Kate Waller Barrett Library was founded
Kate Waller Barrett Library
Book Store / Library (Historic Library) at 717 Queen · View Place
1937 at a glance:
Roosevelt Administration
08/20/1937
Kate Waller Barrett Library was built
Kate Waller Barrett Library
Book Store / Library (Historic Library) at 717 Queen · View Place
1937 at a glance:
Roosevelt Administration
08/20/1937
Kate Waller Barrett Library opened at 717 Queen
Kate Waller Barrett Library
Book Store / Library (Historic Library) at 717 Queen · View Place
1939
1939 at a glance:
Roosevelt Administration
World War II Starts
08/21/1939
One of America's first sit-ins took place at Alexandria Library on August 21, 1939.
Kate Waller Barrett Library
Book Store / Library (Historic Library) at 717 Queen · View Place
The 1950's
1955
1955 at a glance:
Cost of a gallon of gas is 23 cents
Black and white TV costs $99.95
Eisenhower Administration
1955
King's Jewelry opened back in 1955
King's Jewelry
Gift Shop (Jewelry) at 609 King · View Place
The 1960's
1960
1960 at a glance:
Eisenhower Administration
1960
In 1960 the population of Alexandria was less than 92,000
1961
1961 at a glance:
Eisenhower Administration
Kennedy Administration
1961
Woodrow Wilson Bridge opens
1961 at a glance:
Eisenhower Administration
Kennedy Administration
12/28/1961
The original Woodrow Wilson Bridge opens in 1961 and is named for the 28th president
Jones Point Park
Basketball courts, parking, walking trails, seating, and historic lighthouse

Park (Waterfront Park) at 1 Jones Point · View Place
The 1970's
1974
1974 at a glance:
Nixon Administration
Ford Administration
1974
Torpedo Factory Art Center was founded
Torpedo Factory Art Center
Gallery (Artist Studios) at 105 N. Union · View Place
1976
1976 at a glance:
Ford Administration
1976
Restoration of the Carlyle House is completed
Carlyle House
Museum (Historic Museum c.1753) at 121 N. Fairfax · View Place
The 1980's
1983
1983 at a glance:
Reagan Administration
1983
King Street, Braddock Road, and Eisenhower Avenue Metro Stations open.
The 1990's
1999
1999
In 1999 construction on the infrastructure for the replacement Woodrow Wilson bridge begins.
Jones Point Park
Basketball courts, parking, walking trails, seating, and historic lighthouse

Park (Waterfront Park) at 1 Jones Point · View Place
The 2000's
2004
2004 at a glance:
Bush Administration
Facebook Founded
06/01/2004
112 King, O'Connells, was purchased by Irish-born entrepreneurs, John Brennan & Billy O’Sullivan, and furnished with antiques collected in Waterford Ireland
O’Connell’s
Bar (Irish Pub) at 112 King · View Place
2006
2006 at a glance:
Twitter was launched
Bush Administration
03/01/2006
Daniel O’Connell’s opened in 2006
O’Connell’s
Bar (Irish Pub) at 112 King · View Place
2009
2009 at a glance:
Bush Administration
2009
In 2009 the new Woodrow Wilson bridge opens with 12 lane capacity and a vertical clearance of 70 feet. It cost 2.36 billion dollars, coming in 86 million under budget.
Jones Point Park
Basketball courts, parking, walking trails, seating, and historic lighthouse

Park (Waterfront Park) at 1 Jones Point · View Place
The 2010's
2012
2012
Capital Bikeshare opens in Alexandria
The 2020's
2021
2021
BARCA opened at 2 Pioneer Mill
BARCA
Restaurant (Spanish) at 2 Pioneer Mill · View Place
2023
07/14/2023
Alexandria Bier Garden was founded
Alexandria Bier Garden
Bar (Beer Garden) at 710 King · View Place
09/02/2023
The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar opened at 716 King
The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar
Cafe (Milkshake Shop) at 716 King · View Place
11/14/2023
BASH Boxing opened at 2409 Mandeville
BASH Boxing
First timer or fitness vet, we know that everyone was once a beginner; and at BASH we’re all in this together.

Fitness (Boxing Gym) at 2409 Mandeville · View Place
2024
02/22/2024
Call Your Mother opened at 1300 King
Call Your Mother
With bright colors, fun interior design, and curated music, the atmosphere invites all walks of life to feel playful and enjoy themselves over a warm cup of coffee, great bagels, and electric vibes.

Cafe (Deli) at 1300 King · View Place
03/08/2024
Capo Italian Deli opened at 109 N. Washington
Capo Italian Deli
Cafe (Deli) at 109 N. Washington · View Place
03/10/2024
Alice Cocktail Bar was founded
Alice Cocktail Bar
Bar at 724 King · View Place
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