Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Alexandria Academy

1732 1932

Photographed By David Lassman, June 23, 2021

1. Alexandria Academy Marker

Looking west towards marker.

Inscription. Erected 1785, Chartered by the General Assembly of Virginia 1786, with the following trustees:
George Washington
William Brown
John Fitzgerald
William Baker
Samuel Hanson
William Hartshorne
Benjamin Dulany
David Stuart
Charles Lee
Isaac S. Keith
James Hendricks
Josiah Watson
Charles Simms
Gentlemen.

Here in conjunction with the Academy, Washington established the first free school in Northern Virginia to which he contributed during life, which he endowed at this death and which became the part of the present free school system of Alexandria.

In this building Robert Edward Lee received his primary education 1818-1824

This tablet was placed on December Fourteenth in the Bicentennial years 1932 by the Washington Society of Alexandria.

Erected 1932 by Washington Society of Alexandria.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Patriots & Patriotism. A significant historical year for this entry is 1786.

Location. 38° 48.081′ N, 77° 2.829′ W. Marker is in Alexandria, Virginia. It is in Old Town. Marker can be reached from Wolfe Street east of South Washington Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker is

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in front of a small three-story brick building 150 feet east of S Washington St, up a steep sidewalk on the south side of Wolfe St. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 604 Wolfe St, 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. A different marker also named Alexandria Academy (within shouting distance of this marker); Washington School Compound (within shouting distance of this marker); Beulah Baptist Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Veterans' Memorial Walkway (about 600 feet away); "For God and Country" (approx. 0.2 miles away); Elton B. Hummer (approx. 0.2 miles away); Saint Paul's Episcopal Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Suffragists and a Courtroom Decision in Alexandria (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alexandria.

Also see . . . Alexandria Academy. Published by Mount Vernon Ladies Association. (Submitted on June 25, 2021.)

National Park Service, Thomas Stone National Historic Site, June 23, 2021

2. Alexandria Academy Marker

Looking west towards marker.

National Park Service, Thomas Stone National Historic Site, June 23, 2021

3. Alexandria Academy Marker

Looking north towards marker, which is circled in red.

Alexandria Academy postcard from early 20th century. image. Click for full size.

National Park Service, Thomas Stone National Historic Site Collection

4. Alexandria Academy postcard from early 20th century.

Reverse side reads: "George Washington gave $250.00 annually for the support of this Academy and on his death bequeathed $4,000.00, for a trust fund, for the institution."

Alexandria Academy Marker on Washington Street. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By David Lassman, June 23, 2021

5. Alexandria Academy Marker on Washington Street.

Looking north from Washington Street towards a different "Alexandria Academy" marker. About 400 feet separates the two markers.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2021. This page has been viewed 313 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 25, 2021. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.