On the western bank of the Potomac River, just across from Washington, D.C. Alexandria was founded in 1749 by Scottish merchants eager to capitalize on the booming tobacco trade. It was named in honor of John Alexander, who bought the land of the present-day city from an English sea captain in 1699. The town emerged as one of the most important ports in colonial America, and its history is linked to significant events and individuals (George Washington among them) of the colonial and revolutionary periods.

During the Civil War, Alexandria remained under Union control, becoming a supply and hospital center. From 1863 to 1865, it was the capital of the Restored Government of Virginia, which consisted of seven Virginia counties that flew the Federal flag throughout the war. The historic district, Old Town Alexandria, is paved with cobblestones; according to tradition, the rounded stones served as ballast aboard the early sailing ships. Restored 18th- and 19th-century churches, taverns, and red brick homes line the streets; with more than 2,000 historic structures, the area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Among the scores of Georgian colonial and early Federal buildings are a few long, narrow structures that resemble halves of gabled houses. This unusual architectural style was born of the owners' attempts to evade taxation by reporting construction unfinished.

While Old Town retains the appearance of another century, modern-day attractions give Alexandria a vibrant, cosmopolitan air. It maintains an identity quite distinct from that of its neighbor across the Potomac. The city is dense with boutiques, antiques shops, galleries, and ethnic restaurants. At the revitalized waterfront, clipper ships dock and artisans at the Torpedo Arts Factory craft and display their wares. For architecture and history buffs, the city offers a host of house museums, and Mount Vernon George Washington's Georgian estate is only 8 mi away on the banks of the Potomac.