alexandria va trolley tour

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April 19, 2024, 4:39 pm

April 19, 2024, 4:06 pm

April 17, 2024, 5:46 am

Hop Aboard the Free King Street Trolley

Discover a convenient, environmentally friendly and fun way to travel around Old Town Alexandria. The King Street Trolley transports riders between the King Street Metrorail Station and City Hall/Market Square. The trolley runs daily, every 15 minutes with many stops for hopping on and off to explore the shops, restaurants and attractions found along Alexandria’s historic main street.

DASH operates the free King Street Trolley with environmentally friendly, hybrid vehicles.

Hours of Operation

The FREE trolley operates year-round, every 15 minutes:

Sunday – Saturday: 11:00 A.M. – 11:00 P.M.

Seven days a week, 365 days a year!

Helpful Information

Smoking, eating and drinking are prohibited on the trolley. Passengers with strollers must close strollers before entering. The trolley stops at designated stops or at a safe location by request. Passengers must pull the cord to signal a stop.

Accessibility

The King Street Trolley is equipped with wheelchair ramps and bike racks as well as automated stop announcements.

King Street Trolley

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KING STREET TROLLEY (Alexandria) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Free King Street Trolley

• Trolley service will run from the King Street Metro station to Alexandria City Hall’s Market Square.
• The trolley will run every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days per week, including holidays. This simplified schedule will make the trolley more accessible to residents, workers and visitors.
• A new trolley stop will be established at the southeast corner of Market Square on North Fairfax Street to serve passengers accessing the Potomac River waterfront. Due to the closure of the 100 block of King Street, the stops at Union Street and Lee Street will no longer be served.

Debby Critchley

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FREE CONCERT: Alexandria Symphony Performing Patriotic and Popular Favorites at Oronoco Park

Free king street trolley service resumes july 5th, related articles.

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Old Town Alexandria

Overlooking the Potomac River with views of our nation’s capital, Old Town Alexandria radiates charm while safeguarding its rich historic roots. Founded in 1749, Alexandria was a major seaport prior to the Revolutionary War, was occupied by Union troops during the Civil War, and was a torpedo production site during World War II. In 1946 Alexandria was the third city in the country to establish a historic district to preserve its architectural heritage. This easy walking tour of Old Town Alexandria includes private townhomes and secluded gardens located along the tree lined streets of the historic district. In addition, the tour ticket includes admission to two Garden Club of Virginia restoration projects within a short driving distance of the tour area – George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Green Spring Gardens.

• Date Saturday April 20, 2024 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Host The Garden Club of Alexandria and The Hunting Creek Garden Club
• Price $55 pp in advance or $55 pp day-of at VAGardenWeek.org

Questions? [email protected]

Thank you to our Sponsors

McEnearney Associates, Inc. REALTORS, Mason Montague Bavin, Lauren Bishop and Vici Boguess George Washington's Mount Vernon Pohanka/Scott A. and Phyllis P. Crabtree Family Foundation, Inc.

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Media inquiries, general information and logistics: Karen Ellsworth, Historic Garden Week State Director and Editor of the Guidebook [email protected] or 804-644-7776 , Ext. 21

Historic Garden Week Guidebook advertising, general information and logistics: Terri Lowman, Historic Garden Week Marketing and Program Coordinator. [email protected] or 804-644-7776 , Ext. 22

© 2024 Historic Garden Week in Virginia & Garden Club of Virginia. All Rights Reserved

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Historic Tours

See the town, bus tours welcome, short notice groups welcome.

A Guided Walking Tour of Alexandria'a Historic District Group and Individual tours arranged as well as Step-on bus guides. History and architecutre walking tours of Old Town offered Monday - Saturday 10:30, Sunday at 2pm from the garden of the Alexandria Vistiors Center at Ramsay House, April-November, weather permitting.

Also offers tours of Historic Old Town featuring:

1.  Market Square 2. Gadsby's Tavern* 3. Carlyle House* 4. Ramsey House 5. Torpedo Factory 6. Captain's Row 7. Gentry Row 8. Old Presbyterian Meeting House 9. Stable-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop* 10.  Lee-Fendall House* 11. Christ Church

* Museums open to the public

Alexandria History

Founded in 1749 as a port for area planters, Alexandria, Virginia was laid out by a young surveyor name George Washington.  The market square, where our the tour begins, is still in use as a public market every Saturday morning.

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Copyright 2011 - 2017 Old Town Tours - Alexandria VA

City of Alexandria, VA

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Self-Guided Tours of Historic Alexandria

Self-Guided Tours

Explore on foot to learn about African American sites, Civil War hospitals, George Washington’s Alexandria. Specialized brochures feature Jewish and Presbyterian sites in Alexandria. Neighborhoods are featured in brochures of Old Town North and Upper Old Town, and a Women’s History tour is featured on an audio tour. For journeys by bike or scooter, get an Alexandria Bikeways map, or print cue sheets for tours of the War of 1812 or the Civil War Defenses of Washington. Historic Wayfinding and Alexandria Heritage Trail signs will enhance your visit.

Walking Tours

Walking Tours include brochures, apps and podcasts to guide your exploration of Alexandria’s historic streets. Look for specialized tours on African American history, the occupation of Alexandria during the Civil War, women’s history, George Washington and more.

Walking Tours of Old Town History

Historic old town alexandria (mp3 audio).

Download an  MP3 audio walking tour  of the historic city. Many interesting and enjoyable sites that are easy to access on foot. Get the most out of your stroll! This tour is 1 hour, including 30 minutes of leisurely-paced walking. Begin at Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street. 

This tour was created in 2006.

Historic Alexandria Scavenger Hunt (brochure)

The  Historic Alexandria Scavenger Hunt  is a 1-2 hour, 20-block walk that meanders through Old Town with stops at some of the city’s oldest and most historic addresses. Three stops are private residences; clues to these sites are found on exterior plaques, so please do not disturb the residents. 

Copies of the scavenger hunt can also be found at the Alexandria Visitor Center, 221 King Street.

Old Town North Historical Self-Guided Tour (brochure)

This  tour brochure  of the Old Town North neighborhood covers the area from Slater's Lane to Oronoco Street, and from Washington Street to the Potomac River. 

This tour was created in 2015 and is provided courtesy of the Department of Planning & Zoning.

Upper Old Town Self-Guided Walking Tour (brochure)

This  tour brochure  of Upper Old Town covers an area around the King Street Metro, around King and Duke streets. 

The\is tour was an Eagle Scout project created for the Office of Historic Alexandria.  

George Washington's Alexandria (brochure)

Walking with Washington  is a self-guided walking tour of 21 Old Town Alexandria sites associated with George Washington. 

This brochure was produced by Robert Madison for the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, It is extracted from his larger work,  Walking with Washington:   Walking Tours of Alexandria, Virginia, Featuring Over 100 Sites Associated with George Washington ,  for sale at the    The Alexandria Shop .

Jewish Alexandria (brochure)

A  Walking Tour of Jewish Alexandria  explores the main traces of Alexandria’s Jewish past that can be found in Old Town. German Jewish immigrants first settled in Alexandria in the 1850s. 

This tour was produced by the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington, with a grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.   

Presbyterian Walking Tour of Early Alexandria (brochure)

A Presbyterian Walking Tour of Early Alexandria  was produced in 2017 by Donald C. Dahmann for the Old Presbyterian Meeting House.

Walking Tours of African American Historic Sites

African american heritage trails (storymaps).

Alexandria’s African American history is told through online StoryMaps and can be experienced in-home on your computer or on your smartphone as you walk the trail along the Potomac River. Also see footnoted version of the tour texts, with linked references.

The Trails currently have two routes along the Waterfront.

African American Heritage Trail

A Remarkable and Courageous Journey: A Guide to Alexandria’s African American History (brochure)

Alexandria’s African American history exemplifies the spectrum of black experience in the United States. Visitors today may experience the lives and stories of African Americans whose contributions to Alexandria and American history still resonate. From slavery to freedom, from freedom to equality, and from equality to integration, this guide showcases the tremendous courage and accomplishments of Alexandria’s African Americans from the 18th to the 20th centuries. 

This tour brochure  was created by the Alexandria Visitors Center.

The Fort Heritage Trail (brochure and interpretive signs)

The Fort was an African American community established on the site of Fort Ward from after the Civil War and continuing into the Civil Rights Era of the 1960s. Read the tour brochure , visit Fort Ward Park & Historic Site (4301 W. Braddock Road) to walk the route and read interpretive signs, or see the signs online .

Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Photographic Tour (video)

This video features a photographic tour of the Contrabands & Freedmen Cemetery Memorial, in Alexandria, Virginia, looking at the deeper meaning of the features of the memorial, built in 2014. The cemetery was originally established in 1864 on the southern end of what is now Old Town Alexandria. Learn more about the cemetery and memorial .

Walking Tours of Civil War Sites

Civil war hospitals (brochure, city web page).

For each of the 28 Union hospitals , read a short history, view historic photos and Quartermaster Maps, and learn about the site today. Tour the Hospital Sites with this  Walking Tour Brochure .

Walking Tour of Del Ray

Art deco buildings (brochure).

This walking tour brochure is provided by the Del Ray Citizens Association, and takes place on and around Mount Vernon Avenue. The tour features 16 structures built between the 1920s and 1950s. They include commercial buildings, warehouses, a public utility building, garden apartments, and a school.

Survey of the Art Deco and Streamline Moderne Buildings (City web page)

The City's Department of Planning and Zoning researched all 15 Art Deco & Streamline Moderne buildings in Del Ray. These buildings contribute to the architectural character of the neighborhood and are part of the commercial identity of the community.

Walking Tours of War of 1812 Sites

War of 1812 (brochure).

Learn more about Alexandria's five-day occupation by the British during the War of 1812 on the walking tour, or on the War of 1812 Bike Trail.  Print the brochure  to guide you as you explore 10 blocks of 1812-related sites in Old Town. 

This brochure was a Special Eagle Scout project. 

Star-Spangled Banner Geo Trail (NPS web page)

Find the Alexandria Geocache! Intended to complement and promote the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, the  Geotrail  commemorates the dramatic chain of events, people and places that led to the birth of our National Anthem during the War of 1812. 

This first-of-its-kind, multi-state initiative was supported by Friends of Chesapeake Gateways, the Maryland Geocaching Society, and the National Park Service.

War of 1812 Burials in the Presbyterian Cemetery (brochure)

This  Brochure  is of the War of 1812 burials in the Presbyterian Cemetery & Columbarium, 600 Hamilton Lane, Alexandria, adjacent to the Alexandria National Cemetery in the Wilkes Street Cemetery complex .

Published by the Old Presbyterian Meeting House.

Walking Tours of Women's History

Alexandria women's history walking tour (brochure).

Print this Women’s History Tour or follow it on your mobile device. We suggest allowing at least two hours for the complete three-mile walk, but you can follow smaller portions of the tour. 

This tour is provided courtesy of Alexandria Celebrates Women (2021)

Women’s History Walk (MP3 audio)

Download the audio tour of your choice, for walks ranging from six blocks to four miles.  

• 6 block MP3 Audio Tour : This tour takes 30 minutes. Begin at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union Street.
• 1 mile MP3 Audio Tour : Begin at Lyles Crouch School, 530 S. St. Asaph Street.
• 1.5 mile  MP3 Audio Tour : Begin at Lyles Crouch School.
• 4 mile MP3 Audio Tour : Begin at Lyles Crouch School.

This tour is provided courtesy of the Alexandria Commission for Women.

Bicycling in Alexandria

The City of Alexandria is a wonderful place to cycle. With more than 49 miles of on-street bike lanes, shared lanes, and trails, using a bike to quickly, safely, and enjoyably get around has never been easier. Learn about Bicycling in Alexandria, including Capital BikeShare, bike lane and trail projects, bicycle safety and more.

The 110 locations on the Alexandria Heritage Trail are marked on  Alexandria Bikeways: Trails & on-road bike routes in and around Alexandria, Virginia,  a map produced by the Office of Transit Services & Programs, Department of Transportation & Environmental Services. Obtain a free printed copy at the Old Town Transit Shop, local bike shops, City Hall (Citizens’ Assistance, first floor), the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, or any City of Alexandria Recreation Center.

Not from Alexandria? Use BikeShare, dockless scooters, or rent a bike from local bike stores.

Civil War Defenses of Washington Bike Trail

On the forested hills surrounding the Nation’s capital are remnants of a complex system of Civil War fortifications. Built by Union forces, these strategic earthworks transformed the young capital into one of the world’s most fortified cities. The Civil War Defenses of Washington Bike Trail is one way in which Alexandria, surrounding jurisdictions and the National Park Service marked the Civil War Sesquicentennial.

Explore Alexandria's Civil War sites on a 14.5 bike trail. A map, cue sheet and information on Civil War sites are provided for self-guided bike rides.  

The Civil War Defenses of Washington Bike Trail

The Civil War Defenses of Washington (CWDW) Bike Trail is one way in which Alexandria, surrounding jurisdictions and the National Park Service marked the Civil War Sesquicentennial. The CWDW Trail is a segment of the  Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail , a developing network of trails and routes between the mouth of the Potomac River and the Allegheny Highlands.   

The trail is also a loop on the  Alexandria Heritage Trail , which has been designated as a part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. Through five geographic regions, the varied segments of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail are a means to explore the origins and continuing evolution of the Nation. To date, 830 miles of existing and planned trails have been recognized as segments of the Trail network.   

Trail Map and Cue Sheet

The Map and Cue Sheet provide detailed directions for following the Alexandria Civil War Defenses of Washington Bike trail on your own. Note that most of the trail is on-road, so please take care and watch for traffic.

Major stops on the Trail include Fort Ward, Fort Worth, Fort Ellsworth, Alexandria National Cemetery, Alexandria Contrabands and Freemen Cemetery, and Battery Rodgers

• Map (34 x 22” PDF)  
• Cue Sheet (Alexandria 14.5 mile loop)  
• Interpretive Stops  

A Note on Trail Safety

The Trails featured in this guide are for experience bikers only. Where possible, the trails use bikeway paths: a street or shared-use path either designed specifically for bicycle travel or with key design elements that support safe bicycle travel. However, many locations share streets with automobiles on high traffic roads and cross high traffic intersections or crossings. Forts by their design and location sit at the top of high topography and many bikers may find the hills associated with the trails a challenge.  

The Defenses of Washington

When Virginia’s secession from the Union became effective on May 24, 1861, the capital city of Washington, D.C. was placed in imminent danger. Located directly across the Potomac River from Virginia, the Federal capital was vulnerable to a possible attack by the Confederate army.

On the morning of May 24, 1861, Federal troops moved into Northern Virginia to secure the capital and began building earthen forts to serve as supply bases south of the Potomac River. Construction of additional forts was dramatically accelerated on both sides of the Potomac River after the Confederate victories at the Battle of First Bull Run (July 1861) and the Battle of Second Bull Run (August 1862). By the time the war ended in April 1865, Washington, D.C., guarded by 164 earthwork forts and batteries known as the Defenses of Washington, had become one of the most heavily fortified cities in the Western Hemisphere. The only time Confederate forces attempted to penetrate this line of defenses was in July 1864, when Maj. Gen. Jubal A. Early attacked Fort Stevens, the northern-most fort in the system.

In Alexandria, the Defenses of Washington included Fort Ellsworth, Fort Williams, Fort Worth, and Fort Ward, now restored as a museum and historic site.  

The Civil War Defenses of Washington Bike Trail Virginia Partnership

In August 2007, the Friends of Fort Ward submitted a grant application to the National Park Service, National Capital Region, Rivers, Trails, and Conversation Assistance Program for technical assistance to develop a biking/hiking Trail connecting the Civil War Defenses of Washington and selected Civil War sites on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. The partnership consisted of the City of Alexandria, Arlington County, VA, Fairfax County, VA and the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Members of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association also consulted during the project. The grant was awarded in the fall of 2008 and work began in the spring of 2009 working with National Park Service facilitators. During the Civil War there were 33 named fortifications, twenty-five batteries (locations for cannons between forts), and seven block houses South of the Potomac River. Many of these sites no longer exist but have been designated by historic markers. The partnership decided to host the routes on a web-based format to reduce costs and feature the trail segment in their jurisdiction to link historic sites and interpretation. The user will find a cue sheet with directions and interpretive information for trail stops that can be downloaded or printed. The grand opening of the trail was on National Trails Day, June 4, 2011.

War of 1812 Bike Trail

Visit places where the events of the five-day British occupation of Alexandria occurred in late August 1814, on this 6.6-mile tour. Tour information includes Cue Sheet and printable or interactive maps. This route can be enjoyed on foot or bicycle. Most roadways are low volume, low speed and suitable for cycling except where noted in the cue sheet to go on paths or the sidewalk.

Three Star-Spangled Banner interpretive signs are located in Alexandria. " Raise the White Flag " is installed in Waterfront Park. " Plundered " located in the Torpedo Factory arcade, near the Timeline. " Fighting Back " is at the base of Shuter's Hill, across from the Callahan Drive crosswalk. 

This bike tour was developed by the Alexandria Archaeology Museum in cooperation with the National Park Service and is part of the National Park Service’s Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail.  

Alexandria and the War of 1812

On August 24 and 25, the British burned nearly every public building in Washington. From downstream on the Potomac River, the people of Alexandria could see the flames. Within days, a British fleet appeared from the south to take — or destroy — the port of Alexandria.

Militia from Alexandria and the surrounding countryside had been called into action earlier that month, taking nearly all the arms and artillery with them. With no way to defend the town, its leaders made the painful choice to capitulate. The British occupied Alexandria for five days, from August 29 through September 2. They spared the town in exchange for the peaceful surrender of all naval supplies, ships, and merchandise of every description. They sailed away with a hefty load, including 16,000 barrels of flour, 1,000 hogsheads of tobacco, 150 bales of cotton, and some $5,000 worth of wine, sugar, and other items.

Learn more about   Alexandria and the War of 1812 .  

Tour information, including a turn-by-turn Cue Sheet and printable or interactive maps, is available through   Ride with GPS .

Highlights are described below.

• Begin at the foot of Cameron Street on the Potomac River.  Look upstream to Washington and the Capitol building and look across the river to the site of the Mount Welby plantation. From Mount Welby, the DeButts family witnessed the attack on Washington. Mary Welby DeButts wrote, “Our house was shook repeatedly by the firing upon forts & bridges [at Bladensburg], & illuminated by the fires in our Capital.”
• On Fairfax Street , you’ll pass the Carlyle House and Gardens. A Carlyle grandson served in the War of 1812 and fought at the Battle of Bladensburg. A British officer on one of the ships that occupied Alexandria was related to the Carlyle family by marriage. You’ll also past the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, where business suffered during the war. At the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, in February 1814, Frances Scott Key spoke "for religious spirit instead of party spirit.”
• From South Lee Street , view the harbor where British ships once anchored. Continue into Jones Point Park and look downstream to where the British fleet first appeared on its approach to Alexandria. Then walk the riverfront and enjoy an overlook from the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge.
• Stop by the old Presbyterian Cemetery off Wilkes Street , where Robert Allison, Jr. is buried. Allison, age 27, helped pursue the British as they left Alexandria and died in a conflict along the Potomac on September 5, 1814. He was described as an “affectionate son, a generous friend, and a useful member of society."
• On the cobblestone section of Prince Street , now known as Captain's Row, prosperous sea captains and ship masters built many Federal-style (1780-1830) homes.
• At the lower end of King Street , an American naval officer assaulted a British midshipman who was overseeing the removal of tobacco from a warehouse. The officer had ridden into town looking for a fight and almost provoked the British into destroying the town.  

Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail

Discover the War of 1812 on the   Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail  —  a path tracing troop movements through historic places, inspiring landscapes, charming waterfront towns, and waterways of the Chesapeake Bay region. Along the way, you’ll follow the story of the United States National Anthem and the citizens, soldiers, and leaders who faced British military might on home territory just thirty years after the American Revolution.  

Alexandria Heritage Trail

The Alexandria Heritage Trail , covering 23-miles, has been designated as a part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. Through five geographic regions, the varied segments of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail are a means to explore the origins and continuing evolution of the Nation. To date, 830 miles of existing and planned trails have been recognized as segments of the Trail network.

The Alexandria Heritage Trail continues to grow, with new signs added each year.

See each of the signs online, or see their location so you can visit them on your walks. Also see the Heritage Trail Maps and Guidebook.

Wayfinding Signs

Wayfinding Signs  can be found on and around King Street, from the Masonic Temple on Shuter's Hill to the waterfront. They are best explored on foot, or you can see the panels online.

• Historic Alexandria

Plan Your Visit

Table of Contents

Making the Most of Your Tour Experience

Discover essential tips for planning your visit to our award-winning Alexandria cemetery tours. As you prepare to book your experience, we want to ensure you have all the key details needed to make the most of your time with us. Below, you’ll find information on what to expect during these top-ranked historical walking tours, which are unanimously praised as a premier local experience.

Our knowledgeable guides, David Heiby, and Catherine Weinraub, are dedicated to bringing Alexandria’s history to life. You can meet them below and learn more about their incredible walking tours. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions as you plan your visit – we’re here to help you have an unforgettable experience exploring the city’s fascinating cemeteries and landmarks.

Planning Your Visit

Tour lengths and distance:.

• Tours typically last 1.5-2 hours
• It covers approximately 1-1.5 miles of walking distance.

Tour Terrain:

• Mostly flat pathways with some gentle hills
• Comfortable shoes are recommended

Tour Pricing:

• Tickets are $20 per adult. (Please note that some credit card processing systems may add additional fees to the ticket price).
• Discounted youth (under 18) and group rates (15+ people) are available
• There are NO restrooms within Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex. Please plan accordingly and use facilities beforehand.
• Nearby restrooms are located 0.5 miles away at Whole Foods or 1 mile away at Balducci’s Grocery.
• Tours go on rain or shine
• Dress appropriately for the forecasted weather with layers, a rain jacket, etc.

What to Bring:

• Payment method
• Water bottle
• Mobile phone
• Arrive 10-15 minutes early to allow time for a restroom break, purchase tickets if needed, and get settled before the tour starts.

Tour Guidance:

• Experienced guides lead tours, sharing in-depth history and stories. See their bios below.
• Groups capped at 30 participants.

Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex Tours:

Tour meeting location:.

1475-1501 Wilkes St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex tours start and end at the intersection of Wilkes Street and Hamilton Avenue (see map below).

Driving Directions:

Enter the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex at 1300 Wilkes Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Park near the intersection of Wilkes Street and Hamilton Avenue. Tours begin at the designated meeting spot.

Ample parking is available within the complex near the meeting point.

Walking Directions:

Option 1: From Old Town to tunnel at Lee St Park. Follow Wilkes St 1 mile west.

Option 2: From Eisenhower Valley along Holland Ln and Jamieson Ave. Cross Hooff’s Run bridge to the pedestrian gate that takes you inside the Alexandria National Cemetery at 1450 Wilkes St.

By Trolley:

Take the free King Street Trolley to the King St & West St stop.

From this stop:

• Walk one block west to Payne St.
• Turn right onto Payne St. and walk four blocks south.

This will bring you to the entrance of the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex. Continue to Hamilton Avenue and Wilkes Street.

Ivy Hill Tours

Tour meeting location.

2823 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22302 (see map below).

Upon entering the cemetery, take a left and choose a parking spot along either of the two roads. After parking, go to the Firemen’s Monument opposite the house.

Public Transportation:

Using the Metro, disembark at the King Street station. The cemetery is a mile north up King Street from the Metro Station and the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.

Meet Your Guides

David heiby – wilkes street cemetery complex.

David Heiby, a Board Member of the Alexandria Historical Society and Lee-Fendall House Museum serves as Superintendent of the Presbyterian Cemetery in the Wilkes Street Complex. With a long-standing, multigenerational connection to the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, Alexandria’s historic Presbyterian congregation dating back to 1772, David draws on his extensive knowledge of regional history to provide insightful tours showcasing Alexandria’s heritage. His expertise includes the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex, Antietam Battlefield, South Mountain Battlefields, Harpers Ferry, and the route of Lincoln’s assassination conspirators. David also provides insightful tours at the storied Old Presbyterian Meeting House, sharing secrets and stories from the region’s rich history.

Catherine Weinraub – Ivy Hill Cemetery

Catherine Weinraub, a Northern Virginia native and devoted historian, brings Alexandria’s past to life through her captivating storytelling. With experience at the Office of Historic Alexandria, Mount Vernon, and Arlington House, she shares her expertise as the Historian for the Ivy Hill Cemetery Historical Preservation Society and Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association. Catherine’s engaging tours through Ivy Hill Cemetery showcase her knowledge of the city’s history, including the impact of devastating 19th-century fires.

For questions, group bookings, discounts, or cancellations:

• Email: [email protected]
• Text: (703) 869-0872
• Or use the Contact Us Form below.

Alexandria Colonial Tours

Walk Through History - Old Town Alexandria

Explore Alexandria's haunted past with Alexandria Colonial Tours - the ONLY local ghost tour company- operating since 1985! Our ghost and graveyard tour is led in lantern light by a costumed guide and takes you on a journey through history. Come join us and discover the secrets of Alexandria's past!

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Voted one of Travel + Leisure’s Best Cities in the U.S 2023 and one of  The South’s Best Cities 2024  by  Southern Living , Alexandria hums with a cosmopolitan feel and a walkable lifestyle—a welcoming weekend escape next to our nation’s capital. With access to three airports , Metrorail , Amtrak , bikeshare and more, getting to Alexandria and navigating throughout the D.C. region is easy. Let us help you take the hassle out of planning with suggested itineraries , things to do , places to eat , where to stay and more.

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