Alexandria City Hall was built on a site designated for the market and city hall when Alexandria was founded in 1749. The original City Hall burned in 1871 the current structure was erected in 1874. This City Hall wraps around a central courtyard known as Market Square. When first constructed Alexandria City Hall also housed a Masonic Lodge, court facility, and police and fire stations. Today, the site only has municipal offices. Over the years the building has undergone several renovations and additions. Among the most recent and was the 1960-61 addition that filled the old courtyard. At that time, the building was reoriented toward the south with the new entrance facing King Street and Market Square, an open, landscape plaza with central fountain in the current Market Square. In1981, further renovations linked the 1871 building and the 1961 addition with new elevators, stairs and corridors.
The plaque reads
Alexandria Washington Lodge
No. 22 AF & AM
Chartered AD 1788
Destroyed by Fire May 19, AD 1871
Rebuilt AD 1874
Adolf Cluss Architect
Circa 1925. Arlington Beach. An amusement park in the general vicinity of today’s Pentagon
Arlington Beach, 1925
These photos are from 1925 at Arlington Beach. An amusement park in the vicinity of today’s Pentagon, removed in 1929 to make way for an airport expansion.
Historic Carlyle House in Old Town
Spring is at its zenith and so are the blossoms at the Carlyle House in Old Town Alexandria.
Julie and I stopped in to tour the gardens and I took a number of pictures. The Carlyle House is a historic piece of Alexandria's colonial heritage and is a must see if you're in Alexandria VA. I personally think the house is a little more impressive than George Washington's Mount Vernon. The tour starts in the basement below the house and explores nearly every room in the finely-crafted and meticulously restored structure. John Carlyle was a contemporary of the likes of George Washington, Lord Fairfax, Henry "Lighthorse" Lee and General Braddock. This house is a key part of Alexandria's colonial heritage and revolutionary past.
The tour starts with a slick-production that explains who John Carlyle was and why he is a person of interest. In this video presentation, paintings, computer-generated scenery and historians provide context and background for the Carlyle House and John Carlyle. These pictures really don't do the blossoms justice but they hopefully they'll inspire you to visit the gardens before spring is gone.
blossoms at Carlyle House
tree blossoming at Carlyle House
dogwoods at the Carlyle House
The gazebo at Carlyle House
Old Town Alexandria in bloom
Carlyle House azalea blossoms
An azalea bush appears to be on fire at Carlyle House
Carlyle House dogwoods
bluebells at Carlyle House
Carlyle House
bloom at Carlyle House
Garden Centerpiece
Behind the Carlyle House
Carlyle House flower
Carlyle House is in 22314
Behind the Carlyle House is a mixture of formal and informal ornamentals, flowers, flowering trees and bushes.
This is a remarkable little enclave found right at the heart of Alexandria. It's just two blocks from the waterfront and only block from King St. and a public parking garage.
Shirlington is a neighborhood in Arlington
In 1944 Joseph Cherner established the Shirlington Corporation and had several stores built in the area. In the 80's the area was home to more office buildings. By 2000 Shirlington began to boom with opportunity. Today Shirlington is nicknamed the "Arts and Entertainment District". There are plenty of things to do in Shirlington from shopping, entertainment, and dining. WETA-TV, WETA-FM and USPTO satellite offices are located in Shirlington.
Shirlington is served by the Shirlington Bus Station and is a transfer center for Metrobus and Arlington Transit. Commuters have no trouble moving about as extensive network of Metro bus routes shuttles them to and from Pentagon City and Crystal City Metro stations as well as other locations. The Shirlington Station is situated at 2975 South Quincy Street.
Alexandria City Hall was built on a site designated for the market and city hall when Alexandria was founded in 1749. The original City Hall burned in 1871 the current structure was erected in 1874. This City Hall wraps around a central courtyard known as Market Square. When first constructed Alexandria City Hall also housed a Masonic Lodge, court facility, and police and fire stations. Today, the site only has municipal offices. Over the years the building has undergone several renovations and additions. Among the most recent and was the 1960-61 addition that filled the old courtyard. At that time, the building was reoriented toward the south with the new entrance facing King Street and Market Square, an open, landscape plaza with central fountain in the current Market Square. In1981, further renovations linked the 1871 building and the 1961 addition with new elevators, stairs and corridors.
The plaque reads
