Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Moses Hepburn Home
206 North Pitt Street
has been listed in the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
Built circa 1850
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.
Location. 38° 48.382′ N, 77° 2.672′ W. Marker is in Alexandria, Virginia. It is in Old Town. It is on North Pitt Street north of Pitt Mews, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 210 N Pitt St, Alexandria VA 22314, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Washingtons Town House (within shouting distance of this marker); For God and Country (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); World War I Memorial (about 300 feet away); Vietnam War Memorial (about 300 feet away); Alexandria Post No. 24, American Legion (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named The Gadsby's Tavern Ice Well (about 400 feet away); Lord Fairfax House (about 400 feet away); Gadsbys Tavern (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alexandria.
Another marker is no longer nearby. The Gadsby's Tavern Ice Well (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed).
Also see . . . National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form for the Moses Hepburn Rowhouses.
This form was prepared by Elizabeth Calvit, Francine Bromberg, and Barbara B. Ballentine for the Office of Historic Alexandria, City of Alexandria in August 1994, with revisions in October 2000 and Summer 2001. A statement of significance is on page 6:
Thesignificance of the properties located at 206-212 North Pitt Street stems from their association with Moses Hepburn, a prominent African American businessman and citizen. Born a slave in 1809 and freed seven years later, Hepburn overcame tremendous racial difficulties and became a successful entrepreneur in the antebellum city through his ownership and development of various residential and commercial properties. He also served as a civic leader in the community and was one of the founding members of Davis Chapel as well as the first president of the church's missionary society. In addition, Hepburn exhibited great concern for the education of Alexandria's blacks. He strove to insure that his own children received an education and served as a teacher at the Sabbath School of Robert Memorial Church, the successor to Davis Chapel. Moses Hepburn built the houses on North Pitt Street after purchasing the properties in 1850, and he lived on the site until leaving Alexandria for West Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1853. The structures stand today as a testimony and a tribute to the business acumen and leadership of one of Alexandria's remarkable early-nineteenth-century free African American citizens.
The
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 6, 2026
3. Historic Alexandria Foundation plaque for the house
Foundation
Reg. No. 92E206
Early
Buildings
Survey
The four units were originally identical, and while three retain a similar appearance, the fourth, unit 206, was updated sometime in the late nineteenth century with the addition of Victorian decorative elements.... A side gable, standing-seam metal roof extends across all four units, and is punctuated by chimney stacks at the gable ends for [unit] 6.(Submitted on February 7, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)
In unit 206, the one-over-one windows were probably added during a late-nineteenth-century renovation.... Each unit has different decorative elements, with unit 206 being the most dramatically different. The late-nineteenth-century renovation included the addition of decorative window hoods, and a wooden door surround composed of simple pilasters topped by ornamental brackets and an entablature. A decorative screen door was also added....
Number 206 has undergone extensive interior renovation. The original two-room front portion of the ground floor of the rowhouse is now a single room with a kitchen ell to the west A boxed beam in the ceiling is the only visible remnant of the wall which originally divided the two front rooms. The parlor flooring has been replaced with random-width pine, removing traces of the original wall or door locations.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 7, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 40 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 7, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
