On Saturday, May 21, BPAC led a group walk to discuss how Alexandria’s history was shaped by different modes of transportation. About ten people and one special canine guest gathered on a warm summerlike morning for a one-mile walk through Old Town.
During the tour, we learned about the time that President Teddy Roosevelt made a surprise visit to Alexandria by ferry and then walked back to the White House. We discussed the architectural significance of the Ford factory that used to stand where the Ford’s Landing development is now. We talked about how the slave-trading firm of Franklin and Armfield sent thousands of enslaved persons from Alexandria to Natchez, Mississippi, either by overland trek or by ship. And we learned why Alexandria’s role as a railroad hub made the city strategically important during the Civil War.
Here are a few photos from the walk, courtesy of Josephine Liu, Michael Menchel, and Mary-Jane Roth:
If you would like to do a self-guided version of our 2022 transportation history walk, a guide to the route and stops is available here.
Many thanks to the BPAC volunteers and community partners who helped publicize the walk and took photos!
Alexandria Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee 