Near Alexandria in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Mount Vernon Memorial Highway
George Washington Memorial Parkway
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, March 19, 2016
1. Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Marker
Construction of the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway was the result of years of public support for a dignified memorial road connecting the nation’s capital with the home of its first president. The 15-mile roadway opened in 1932, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s birth.
As the first commemorative scenic highway built by the U.S. government, this roadway became a model for a new era of public roads. Designed to blend into natural landscape, and built with limited access points, the concept included panoramic vistas and historical attractions.
Today the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway is part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, extending 25 miles along the Potomac River. The George Washington Memorial Parkway is a unit of the national park system and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Dedication ceremony at Mount Vernon Circle, November 15, 1932.
(Below) Before the memorial highway was built, visitors to Mount Vernon had to travel the congested inland road, lined with refuse dumps, billboards, and commercial development.
The Mount Vernon Memorial Highway follows the Potomac shoreline, meandering past historic sites and through woodlands and marsh. Designed to preserve as many trees as possible, the road was
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Man-Made Features • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #01 George Washington series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 15, 1932.
Location. 38° 44.767′ N, 77° 2.942′ W. Marker is near Alexandria, Virginia, in Fairfax County. Marker can be reached from West Boulevard Drive south of Alexandria Avenue, on the left when traveling south. Located along the Mount Vernon Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7804 W Boulevard Dr, Alexandria VA 22308, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Historic White House Gates (approx. 0.4 miles away); A Fine Improvable Marsh (approx. 1.6 miles away); Anatomy of a Tidal Marsh (approx. 1.7 miles away); Gum Springs (approx. 1.7 miles away); Bethlehem Baptist Church (approx. 1.7 miles away); Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections (approx. 1.7 miles away); Woodlawn Methodist Church (approx. 1.8 miles away); West Ford (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alexandria.
Also see . . .
1. George Washington Memorial Parkway. National Park Service (Submitted on March 20, 2016.)
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, March 19, 2016
2. Mount Vernon Trail (facing south)
2. Mount Vernon Memorial Highway. National Register of Historic Places (Submitted on March 20, 2016.)
3. Mount Vernon Memorial Parkway (pdf file). Historic American Engineering Record, Library of Congress (Submitted on March 20, 2016.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 20, 2016, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 355 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 20, 2016, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.
