State Historic Marker Dedicated to Honor Legacy of Alexandria’s Colored Rosemont Neighborhood

By Lucelle O’Flaherty

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The City of Alexandria’s Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA), alongside community members and descendants, unveiled a new state historic marker on September 13 to commemorate the legacy of Colored Rosemont, a once-thriving African American neighborhood established in 1926. The ceremony was held at the intersection of Wythe and West Streets, near the Braddock Road Metro Station.

Colored Rosemont was home to African American families who built houses, raised children, and cultivated a sense of belonging during an era of segregation. By the mid-20th century, however, the neighborhood was dismantled through discriminatory housing policies and systemic disinvestment. The new marker recognizes both the resilience of its residents and the injustices that forced their displacement.

“We are beyond thrilled for this sign dedication, which honors the important legacy of Colored Rosemont,” said Gretchen Bulova, Director of the Office of Historic Alexandria. “At the same time, this sign is a somber reminder of how racist housing policies and practices led to the displacement of a thriving African American community.”

The unveiling brought together descendants, city officials, and members of the public. Special remarks were offered by Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Dr. Krystyn Moon of the University of Mary Washington, and representatives from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Family descendants shared powerful recollections, providing personal reflections on the enduring significance of the community.

Audrey Davis, Director of OHA’s African American History Division, credited the dedication to grassroots advocacy. “None of this would have been possible without Stanley Greene’s resolute advocacy and the work of the Colored Rosemont Descendant Advisory Group,” Davis said. “Since 2022, City staff have collaborated with the advisory group on a Scope of Work outlining a permanent archival collection, this historic marker, and other public history resources. This dedication is only the beginning.”

The program featured opening remarks from Bulova, the singing of the National Anthem and Lift Every Voice and Sing led by John Greene, remarks by Mayor Gaskins, and closing reflections from Davis.

Bounded by Pendleton, Fayette, Madison, and N. West Streets, Colored Rosemont was originally developed by real estate broker Virginia F. Thomas, who sold plots to African American families beginning in 1926. By 1939, the neighborhood was fully built out and became a proud working-class community. Though the word “colored” reflected the segregated era, the neighborhood symbolized African American perseverance and achievement in homeownership.

Today, Colored Rosemont is part of the Uptown/Parker-Gray Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. The marker stands as both a reminder of segregation’s legacy and a celebration of the resilience of Alexandria’s African American families.