Alexandria, VA – For years a book like Old Town Style has been on the Historic Alexandria Foundation’s wish list. The last book HAF published was in 1976. It was a survey of 500 of the existing early buildings in Old Town Alexandria named Street By Street by Ethelyn Cox.
In the 1700s, Alexandria developed slowly and organically. It wasn’t planned as a grand capital city at first — it was a working town made up of homes and businesses that served local residents and the port.
Then in 1791, when Congress created the District of Columbia, Alexandria was included in the new federal district. However, the federal government decided that major public buildings (like federal offices and institutions) would be constructed on the Maryland side of the Potomac — what became Washington City — not in Alexandria.
Because Alexandria was not chosen as the location for federal public buildings, large-scale government construction didn’t happen there. Instead, the town continued developing primarily as a residential community — which led to a boom in home construction.
Later, in 1846, Alexandria was “retroceded” — meaning it was returned from the District of Columbia back to Virginia. In the decade before the Civil War, that change sparked another wave of building activity.
Creating the book took on special meaning with the passing of the longtime HAF Board Chair, Dr. Morgan Delaney, in April 2024. Dr. Delaney was a passionate preservationist and visionary leader whose scholarship, steady guidance, and deep love for Old Town helped shape the Foundation for over four decades. This book honors his belief that historic preservation is not only about buildings, but about the lives, stories, and communities that inhabit them.
Publishing Old Town Style celebrates the beauty and cultural significance of Old Town’s architecture at a moment when preservation leadership is more vital than ever — and to carry forward the legacy of Dr. Delaney who cared deeply about ensuring Old Town’s heritage endures for future generations. The project was made possible through a generous gift from his longtime friend, Jacqueline Badger Mars, whose commitment to honoring Dr. Delaney’s vision helped bring this book to life.
Researching and Selecting Old Town’s Homes
Old Town Alexandria includes hundreds of historic structures, including more than 200 homes built before 1820.
Under the direction of the current HAF President Robert F. Weinhagen, Jr., the book committee began their research at the Local History/Special Collections room in the Barrett Branch Library on Queen Street. Local historical works by Ethelyn Cox’s Street by Street and Ruth Lincoln Kaye’s collection of early Old Town house histories along with other historical documents were culled through for relevant information. In addition, homeowners shared stories of their personal experiences of caring for and living in a historic structure.
The committee selected 44 homes, which spanned an architectural range from an early Colonial, circa 1752, through the Federal period to the Victorian era and finally a home that was built in 1882. The diverse interior styles run through a myriad of styles and tastes of the current owners and are reflected in the book.
The Carlyle House and the Stories Within the Walls
The book is organized chronologically, starting with the first grand house built in the new town of Alexandria, the Carlyle House.
John Carlyle, a Scottish merchant, was one of the eleven original trustees and the first overseer of the newly formed town in 1749. The Georgian mansion was completed in 1752 and quickly became the center of the town’s political and social life.
In 1775, British General Edward Braddock used the house as his residence while soliciting funds from five colonial governors to finance his foray into the French and Indian War. The house remained in the family until 1827.
The house had been quietly neglected for over a century when it was purchased in 1969 by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority and restoration began. In 1976, during this country’s bicentennial year, the house was reopened to the public as a museum. The house and gardens were restored to reflect the original style of the mid-18th century.
All these early homes have stories and legends, and some are said to even have ghosts dwelling in them still.
Just a few highlights of Old Town Style include an inside look at the three-year restoration of the landmark 18th century Bank of Alexandria Building, the exquisite collections of the Ghequière House, and the beloved Gentry Row residence of an iconic preservation leader.
Preservation Then and Now
Established in 1954 to preserve and protect the architecture and character of Old Town Alexandria, the third-oldest historic district in the United States, the Historic Alexandria Foundation (HAF) has a long tradition of supporting meaningful preservation initiatives. All net proceeds benefit HAF programs and initiatives — advancing preservation now and into the future.
In 1995, guided by Dr. Delaney, HAF purchased the Alexandria Academy building from the city and began a four-year extensive restoration. The Academy on the east side of South Washington Street between Wolfe and Wilkes Street was endowed by General George Washington, who also served as a trustee in 1785. Washington wished that the school, in addition to paying students, would educate orphaned children and to an extent supported educating girls on the third floor. HAF raised $1.2M for restoration. The building continues to be used as an educational institution even now.
Renowned architecture, interiors, and decorative arts photographer Erik Kvalsvik shared his talents illustrating this volume. The HAF book committee included Robert F. Weinhagen, Jr., Chair and writer Laura Dowling, William Patrick Burchette, Christina Brathune Butora and Mary Sparks Sterling.
Published in Belgium by Pelckmans in December 2025, Old Town Style is now available through the Historic Alexandria Foundation website. The book is also available locally at Patina and The Old Town Shop as well as the Virginia Florist in the Belle View Shopping Center.
In addition, HAF partnered with international art book distributor ACC Art Books for worldwide distribution through Simon & Schuster. The book will be available on Amazon and in bookstores nationwide in early June, extending Old Town’s preservation story to readers across the country and beyond.
HAF will also host a series of launch events in 2026, which will be announced soon. Please check the HAF website directly for updates: historicalexandriafoundation.org
When I was a child, the “Dr. Dick” secretary/bookcase was in the home of Dr. Morgan Delaney’s grandmother, Catharine Delaney, in Belle Haven. The ceiling was not as high as the current room and the finial had been removed (I had to do the same with a 1790 Federal secretary in my living room). His cousins and I used to play “hide the lemon” and nobody ever found the lemon up where the finial belonged.