Free previewStop 4 of Old Town Alexandria Walking Tour: Duke Street to the Waterfront
The Ballroom That Moved to New York
You're on North Royal Street at the corner of Cameron, standing in front of Gadsby's Tavern. It's really two buildings side by side: a smaller tavern built around 1785, and the larger City Tavern and Hotel, finished in 1792. Look up at the second floor of that bigger building. Behind those windows is a ballroom, and where that ballroom has been for the last century is the story here.
In George Washington's day, this corner was where Alexandria came to be seen. The town was a busy Potomac port, and the taverns here were where merchants made deals, travelers slept, and politicians ate and argued. An Englishman named John Gadsby ran the place from 1796 to 1808, and his name stuck. Washington came often. Twice he attended the Birthnight Ball, the town's yearly party in honor of his birthday, held while he was alive to enjoy it.
That's the opening. The rest plays at stop 4 of Old Town Alexandria Walking Tour: Duke Street to the Waterfront (3 min in all). Unlock the tour to hear it all, or try stop 1 free first.
