Market Square at City Hall
Market Square is an open area located at 301 King Street Alexandria adjacent to the Alexandria City Hall. The area was established in the 1960s years after the building of the City Hall which was built in 1871-74. Market Square is centrally located in the neighborhood of Old Town where the streets of King, North Royal and North Fairfax intersect. During the Civil War the marketplace was reduced to an interior courtyard due to several buildings having been built on the entire block. In its earlier years, Market Square was used for more than an area where George Washington would send wagons of produce from Mount Vernon to be sold there. The area was also used as a site for the sale of African Slaves and the mustering of militias. In the 18th century the square became more developed with the building of permanent structures which provided a home for commercial sellers, taverns and warehouses. Continue reading
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
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
