Alexandria was established in 1749 with its streets laid out in a uniform grid plan. It quickly became the principal seaport of Northern Virginia, witnessing the construction of numerous mansions, town houses, churches, and commercial buildings. Surviving in the Alexandria Historic District’s nearly one hundred blocks is the largest concentration of 18th- and 19th-century urban architecture in the state, constituting one of the finest historic cityscapes in the nation. Especially important are the district’s many Federal town houses, including the grand row of 18th-century dwellings in the 200 block of Prince Street. A typical example of the rich variety and cohesive character of the street facades is the 300 block of Cameron Street. The preservation of the Alexandria Historic District has been achieved through a variety of efforts, both public and private, begun in the mid-20th century.

In 1984 the Alexandria Historic District nomination was amended to recognize early-20th-century development in the city. Included are an ample stock of small-scale early-20th-century town houses designed in a variety of styles during an era of aggressive eclecticism. Also included is the commercial area of the district centered around the corner of S. Washington Street and King Street. Of particular note are the Art Deco Virginia Public Service building at 117 S. Washington Street, the Neo-Colonial Post Office and Court House at 200 S. Washington Street, and the Burke and Herbert Bank at 625 King Street. The district also encompasses several factory buildings along Alexandria’s formerly active waterfront. The most notable of these structures is the former Ford Plant, designed by Albert Kahn.
[VLR Approved: 10/16/1984; NRHP Approved: 12/12/1984]

The nomination was further amended in 2017 with a brief overview of the Alexandria Historic District’s integrity, and information on the Murray-Dick-Fawcett House within the district.
[NRHP Approved: 9/18/2017]

It is important to note that the boundaries of the Alexandria National Historic Landmark established in 1966 do not match those of the VLR/NRHP historic district, and the area defined by the NHL boundaries are wholly contained within the VLR/NRHP boundaries.