Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Alexandria Lyceum
City of Alexandria Est. 1749
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 30, 2018
During the American Civil War, federal forces seized The Lyceum for use as a hospital. Wounded soldiers underwent treatment and recovery in the former reading rooms and lecture hall, resting in folding hospital beds that lined the rooms in neat rows.
After the war, the building was remodeled into a private residence, and then in the 1940s, as an office building. Deteriorating and threatened with demolition, a local community effort convinced the City of Alexandria to preserve it in 1969. The Lyceum was renovated and re-opened in 1974 as the George Washington Bicentennial Center of Northern Virginia—the first visitors center for the national Bicentennial of the American Revolution. In 1985, it re-opened to the public as The Lyceum, Alexandria's History Museum.
Erected by City of Alexandria.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Science & Medicine • War, US Civil • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #06 John Quincy Adams, and the Virginia, The City of Alexandria series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1834.
Location. 38° 48.301′ N, 77° 2.83′ W. Marker is in Alexandria, Virginia. It is in Old Town. Marker is at the intersection of King Street (Virginia Route 7) and North Washington Street (Virginia Route 400), on the right when traveling east on King Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 706A King Street, Alexandria VA 22314, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. George Washington Memorial Parkway (a few steps from this marker); Timberman Brothers (within shouting distance of this marker); Lee-Fendall House (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr. Bernard Stier, O.D. (1930-2005) (within shouting distance of this marker); Methodist Protestant Church Site (within shouting distance of this marker); The Methodist Episcopal Congregation of Alexandria
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 30, 2018
Also see . . . The Lyceum: Alexandria's History Museum. (Submitted on April 2, 2018.)
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 30, 2018
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 30, 2018
Credits. This page was last revised on January 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 31, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 248 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 31, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.