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    Carlyle House

    3.9 (29 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Carlyle House Photos

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    Nicole E.

    Pretty house, gated. Nice gardens. What we were able to see in the garden. There's an old cannon in the front yard. The gardens are closed today for a private event. It's a simple but nice looking house even still today. It has a large property, considering the area. There is an omission to go inside of the house.

    Carlyle gazebo
    Christian L.

    Woohoooo a veritable oasis!!! Sadly, the Carlyle 'gardens' are being used as a storage for CAT bulldozers, metal drums, coils and cranes. All the surrounding houses, are gutted: they store metal posts, cones, dust, waist-high lumps of debris, garbage and tools as if it was a shed! Unsightly. The saving Grace, are the gardens - but you can't access them, due to the bulldozers, machinery.. it is a real let-down that a construction zone has now developed, right during a post-shut summer! Rebel review: 4 gardens

    Kathy F.

    I love history. I love stories. This place has it all. My tour guide was Steve K. He had so much to say I may have actually reached my information peak. I had questions he had all the answers. I did get a one on one tour. I went on a very slow day. I would recommend this tour while you are in town. When you go tell Penny I said, Hi. I'm absolutely sure she still lives there.

    Carlyle House in old town Alexandria, VA.
    Gary A.

    After you are done visiting Washington DC, make sure to visit Carlyle House museum in old town Alexandria, Virginia! John Carlyle was once a mentor and later a friend of George Washington. Carlyle was one of Alexandria's founding fathers whose house was the site of a meeting of a British general and five colonial governors, the latter of which were instructed to tax their people to pay for the cost of the French and Indian War. The house is decorated as it was when it was occupied in the 1750's and our tour guide was very knowledgeable and engaging! Don't miss a visit to Carlyle House. It'll be worth an hour of your time.

    Stairwell interior
    Stephanie G.

    If you get yourself a "key to the city" pass, this is a worthwhile house to visit. Or it's $5 otherwise and you get a little video, a nice thorough tour of the house, and some really nice old furniture and architecture. It's not crucial to know who John Carlyle was, but it is a great example of a home from the mid-18th century. My only complaint was the tour guide went on a little long, most of these local houses have tours on the half hour, so I need tours to be under a half hour so I can get to the next place without a lot of wasted time. Still, I like a guide who has a lot to say. It's on a quiet street where you can likely find parking in front or since there is a lot to see around, park elsewhere and take a nice stroll around the neighborhood.

    Kim R.

    My fiancé and I took the "Death Comes to Carlyle House" your tonight and it was fantastic! For anyone looking for something different and a bit eerie, I highly recommend it. It's like stepping back in time and visiting the home of a recently deceased person and witnessing what the family did during mourning. The home has a fascinating history- a haunted one! The staff is super friendly and very knowledgeable. They've also taken all Covid precautions. I believe they're only doing these tours for the month of October, but I'll definitely go back for other events and yours!

    Gayle G.

    This historic home is named after its owner, John Carlyle. Mr. Carlyle was a merchant during colonial times. As we learned on our tour here, the house was taken over during the British invasion and a general by the name of General Edward Braddock made this place a headquarters for strategy planning of the French and Indian War. The Carlyle House is the only mansion done in this particular style (Georgian Palladian) in Alexandria. The furnishings in the space are authentic from the period, some were actually used in the home. If you take a guided tour (well worth the cost of four bucks) you will hear about how merchants, slaves and servants lived during the late 1700's and early 1800s. Outside, there is an 18th century style garden.

    Warfare J.

    This was pretty good and everyone played their part very well and knew what alot about the era. They were very friendly and and fun to visit.

    On outdoor plaque.
    sandy b.

    First I saw a 15 minute movie then came the detailed tour. The length was almost 75 minutes. I like learning who the local streets are named after. John Carlyle married Miss Fairfax ( she was from a wealthy family) and the home stands on Fairfax Street. No children survived, therefore no heirs.

    Elaine C.

    Very historic, but skip the tour. It took way too long, time you can use exploring the rest of the city.

    The Carlyle House, Alexandria VA, Blue door

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    10 years ago

    Alison and Penelope are fantastic, and the garden and house are beautiful! Truly an asset to the community.

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    Review Highlights - Carlyle House

    It's not crucial to know who John Carlyle was, but it is a great example of a home from the mid-18th century.

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    Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge - Gods work :))

    Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge

    4.5(25 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    I've walked this trail many times, but this past week reminded me just how special it is. I have…read morebeen staycationing in Old Town to get a feel for the commute to and from D.C. during the workweek before I purchase a second home, and rediscovering this walk from the VA side was an unexpected gift. I've always loved Old Town, and I love the Harbor too but I didn't realize how many beautiful trails are tucked right here in Old Town. They're peaceful, scenic, and genuinely good for the soul. Last Monday's weather was perfect, and walking this trail at night made me appreciate the views even more. It's a safe, calming route that lets you slow down and take in life, health, opportunity, and family. Sometimes the simple things are the ones that reset you. Peace really is priceless. If you're from the DMV, I highly recommend coming out to experience this walk. It's quiet, grounding, and worth every step. After my long walk I had a clear mind....clarity. Tidbit: God always speaks to us. He definitely speaks to me. God reveals it to you again and again, long before you ever go searching. God literally shows you truth. Don't lean onto your own understanding. Let God lead, so something better more aligned has room to come in. God saw it too, leave it in his hands. #grateful Do this walk! It's amazing!

    Its a bridge, so there's only do much you can say,but being from Rhode Island its refreshing to see…read morea bridge with a smooth drive over and no potholes.

    Photos
    Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge
    Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge
    Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge

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    Athenaeum - Main Entrance Wedding

    Athenaeum

    3.9(15 reviews)
    0.1 miOld Town Alexandria

    A historic building with an ostentatious name which has somehow eluded my attention until now. It…read morehouses a free (!) art gallery, which is just a big room with a little add-on at street level. The basement is open and is also visibly historic, but doesn't have much in the way of art. It does have cool air and a restroom. The scope of the art gallery clearly isn't large (bearing in mind that a free art gallery the size of a mansion is ho-hum by DC standards), but I enjoyed what they had and it was a perfect use of the time I had to spend on it. Surprisingly enough, they seem to allow people to bring their dogs inside.

    All of the Athenaeum staff was excellent to work with. During the initial planning stages, Veronica…read moreand Richard were my main points of contact, both of whom were very helpful answering questions. They were happy to entertain our questions both via email and during the various trips to check out the space. The contract process was fairly straight forward and fortunately renting out the space includes both the art gallery and the outside garden (it rained on our wedding day and the ceremony was initially going to take place in the garden). A few days before the wedding, we were informed that Amanda would be the staffer on hand on the actual wedding day. I sent Amanda my proposed timeline and we reviewed it over the phone. She was willing to assist with flow of show and confirming chair and floral deliveries/set up. She advised us of some renovations that were taking place in the alley behind the garden, which is where the ceremony was originally going to take place. While the staff had not previously informed us of the planned renovation, it all worked out in the end. Amanda emailed me photos of the renovations, offered alternate solutions to ensure the scaffolding wouldn't be as visible, emailed the contractor to ensure they would be done with the renovations for the day prior to our scheduled photo time and ceremony start time, and offered to be at the venue early to ensure that everything was clean. When I realized it was likely going to rain on the wedding day, I emailed Amanda asking for a quick discussion on a rain plan. She contacted me right away to confirm a time and we spoke the morning of the wedding to come up with a rain plan. She handled the new set up with both the chair rental company and the florist. The set up came out beautifully. Also, one of the photographers left a water behind and Amanda emailed me about the item so I was able to retrieve it the next day. I would definitely rent this space again!

    Photos
    Athenaeum - Party at the Athenaeum Photo: Bonnie Sen

    Party at the Athenaeum Photo: Bonnie Sen

    Athenaeum - Party at the Athenaeum

    Party at the Athenaeum

    Athenaeum - Wedding at the Athenaeum

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    Wedding at the Athenaeum

    Lee Fendall House - They rent the museum for events.

    Lee Fendall House

    3.8(14 reviews)
    0.4 miOld Town Alexandria

    Lovely and interesting house of Lee Fendall - boutique gem right in Alexandria. They offer tours on…read morethe hour. Ours was excellent and walked us through the history of the Lee family in Virginia and subsequent owners. Rooms are appointed with time appropriate pieces. Much of the furniture is gifted from the Lee family. A fascinating way to learn a bit about a family of Henry Lighthorse Lee, one of the signers of the declaration of independence. That family was instrumental in changing the course of history in the United States. George Washington apparently dined here often and they set up a long table in what is now the entryway. Woodrow Wilson also ate here during his presidency. Tours are quite chatty and interesting with lots of opportunities for questions. Cost of entry is seven dollars. Highly recommended for those who want to see something off the beaten track but truly interesting.

    What a cool colonial home! We took the tour which covered all the major parts of the house…read more Absolutely beautiful and furnished with pierces from across the time the house was occupied. Many of them have a history of their very own. What really made this tour great though was the docent/ guide we had for our tour. She was incredibly knowledgeable on every aspect of the home from the furnishings to the architecture to the family histories of the owners and building restoration. Very rarely have I had such a knowledgeable guide. She was really impressive. All that to say, if you have a couple hours and you're looking for something to do this is a great little side trip. Well worth the time.

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    Lee Fendall House - Festive for the holidays

    Festive for the holidays

    Lee Fendall House
    Lee Fendall House - Private parking

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    Private parking

    Freedom House Museum

    Freedom House Museum

    3.8(11 reviews)
    0.7 miOld Town Alexandria

    PLEASE, if you are ever in the surrounding DMV area, visit this museum. Walking through the…read morecountry's most active slave and sex trafficked houses for Black Americans was MOVING! To say the least. It only took about an hour and a half in time, including speaking to the staff of additional information and it should 100% be visited.

    Visiting the Freedom House Museum is important if you call the D.C. area home or live anywhere in…read morethe U.S. Once the country's most active trading post that trafficked thousands of Black Americans, the museum tells the story of America's most evil element while honoring the people who fell victim to it. Open Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday and Monday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the museum cost $5 for non-Alexandria residents and non-veterans. A staff member will give you a brief overview of the museum and let you experience the three floors of exhibits. The main exhibit talks about the history of the building, but in a way that focuses on the people trafficked and their impact on the community. The second floor showcases impactful Black Alexandrians throughout the decades. The top floor has an art exhibit and a reflection room for those who want to process the museum's history. It's a powerful museum and one worth taking seriously. Park for free on the street outside and get ready to learn and have your heart broken for the evil humans put on fellow humans.

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    Freedom House Museum
    Freedom House Museum
    Freedom House Museum

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    The Light Horse

    The Light Horse

    3.8(444 reviews)
    0.3 miOld Town Alexandria
    $$

    We randomly stopped by here and had a great time!…read more 1. Bar: full bar, decent drinks, very small portion for mixed drinks. if you are thirsty, stick with beer or wine. 2. Long bar and a few tall tables. Not too busy, rather quiet for a bar 3. Clean, comfortable bar, well lit and not-sticky, which is very important! All in all, a nice place.

    How did I not find this place sooner?! From brunch to dinner, the Light Horse does everything in a…read moreperfectly cozy neighborhood way. In one week, I came here three times because it's really just THAT good. On my first visit, a friend and I sat at the bar and enjoyed specialty cocktails and dinner. On my second trip for weekend brunch, two couples enjoyed cocktails, baked brie with pecans and cranberries, and delicious breakfast favorites. And on the most recent visit, my girlfriends and I checked out the upstairs, which is huge and warm, perfect for enjoying truffle-fry appetizers and dinner. Did I mention that the service here is great? Between Cassie, who's literally working both upstairs and downstairs, to Justin who's single-handedly juggling the brunch crowd as host, bartender, and server, everyone is working their tushies off. Can't say enough good things about this place. Oh, and military discount Mondays?? Say no more. Apparently, they also host karaoke nights, so I'll definitely be a regular going into 2026.

    Photos
    The Light Horse - The light horse bar

    The light horse bar

    The Light Horse - Bacon wrapped dates

    Bacon wrapped dates

    The Light Horse

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    Carlyle House - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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