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Office of Historic Alexandria

220 N. Washington Street · Alexandria, VA

Why you should go…

The Office of Historic Alexandria is a City of Alexandria department founded in 1982 that preserves and shares the city's history. It oversees museums and historic sites including the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, Alexandria Black History Museum, the Lyceum, Fort Ward Museum, Gadsby's Tavern Museum, and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum. Its administrative office is based at the Lloyd House in Old Town, and it sells the Key to the City museum pass for visitors alongside the Alexandria Visitor Center.

  • #history
  • #museum
  • #visitor center
  • #free
  • #walking tour

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Office of Historic Alexandria, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Alexandria

    Free

    A historic riverside city just south of Washington, D.C., known for cobblestone Old Town and the King Street waterfront.

    0.8 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Family Favorite

    National Harbor

    Free

    A waterfront development on the Potomac near DC, with the Capital Wheel, MGM National Harbor, shops, and hotels.

    3.7 mi awayMore like this

  • Tours
    Date Night

    City Cruises Washington DC

    $25–$50

    Watch the monuments glow from the Potomac on narrated sightseeing, brunch, and dinner cruises from The Wharf.

    5.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Thomas Jefferson Memorial

    Free

    The domed rotunda on the Tidal Basin, a 19-foot bronze Jefferson, his words carved in marble, and DC's best cherry-blossom backdrop.

    5.2 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    International Spy Museum

    $25–$50

    Crack codes, adopt a cover identity, and squeeze through ductwork at the world's largest espionage museum.

    5.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Museums
    Powerful

    United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

    Free

    A profound, self-guided journey through Holocaust history just off the Mall, free, with timed passes for the Permanent Exhibition.

    5.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums