A Guide to Historic Alexandria explores Alexandria, Virginia's history--one intertwined with America's larger story.

From its earliest days when the land was used by traveling Indigenous people to when the land was surveyed by a young George Washington, the Potomac River has drawn people to its shores. As the nation formed and grew, Alexandria's geographic connections to the Federal City ensured its story would reflect the nation's. Whether it was political fights, economic turns, war, or civil rights, Alexandria was in the center. Incorporating the newest research with historic and modern photographs to tell an expansive story of this distinctive city in the Commonwealth, A Guide to Historic Alexandria shares stories of the people and the places, including the neighborhoods from east to west, that make up this wonderful city.