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This year’s Historic Alexandria Homes Tour was held on Sunday, September 24th. It was a great success, and we thank all those who joined us as well as our generous sponsors.

Hadeed Oriental Rug Cleaning — Tour Sponsor Babs Beckwith, Mc Enearny Associates — Home Sponsor The Golubin Group — Home Sponsor

Old Town Alexandria

Overlooking the Potomac River with views of our nation’s capital, Old Town Alexandria radiates charm while safeguarding its rich historic roots. Founded in 1749, Alexandria was a major seaport prior to the Revolutionary War, was occupied by Union troops during the Civil War, and was a torpedo production site during World War II. In 1946 Alexandria was the third city in the country to establish a historic district to preserve its architectural heritage. This easy walking tour of Old Town Alexandria includes private townhomes and secluded gardens located along the tree lined streets of the historic district. In addition, the tour ticket includes admission to two Garden Club of Virginia restoration projects within a short driving distance of the tour area – George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Green Spring Gardens.

Date Saturday April 20, 2024 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Host The Garden Club of Alexandria and The Hunting Creek Garden Club
Price $55 pp in advance or $55 pp day-of at VAGardenWeek.org

Questions? [email protected]

Thank you to our Sponsors

McEnearney Associates, Inc. REALTORS, Mason Montague Bavin, Lauren Bishop and Vici Boguess George Washington's Mount Vernon Pohanka/Scott A. and Phyllis P. Crabtree Family Foundation, Inc.

Announcements

Historic Garden Week Tickets - Available now!
FLOWER Magazine Historic Garden Week Statewide Pass Promotion
Frequently Asked Questions about Historic Garden Week
Garden Club of Virginia Economic Impact Brochure
Suggested Plant Material List and Flower Arranging Tips

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Suggested Itineraries

Media inquiries, general information and logistics: Karen Ellsworth, Historic Garden Week State Director and Editor of the Guidebook [email protected] or 804-644-7776 , Ext. 21

Historic Garden Week Guidebook advertising, general information and logistics: Terri Lowman, Historic Garden Week Marketing and Program Coordinator. [email protected] or 804-644-7776 , Ext. 22

1983 reviews

Whaley House Museum 4.4

Crossover to San Diego’s history by taking a self-guided tour through the prominent Whaley House Museum. Visit the exhibit rooms and enjoy this historical experience through the interior and surrounding grounds of the house.

Self-paced tour through the interior and surrounding grounds of the House.
Immerse yourself into the history that makes the property a unique legacy site.
Discover the heritage that leads many to believe that the Whaley House is America's Most Haunted!
Get an unparalleled peek into early California history.

Crossover to the dark side of San Diego history in California’s Oldest Town and let us enchant you with spirited tales of the past.

As seen on the Travel Channel, SyFy Channel and Discovery Channel.
Be part of the historic legacy, mystery and legends of the Whaley Family, and hear of their myths and misconceptions.
Approximately 30 to 40-minute guided tour through the historic Whaley House and the surrounding grounds.
Regale in the tales of the spirits from the past and perhaps even experience the paranormal.

Recognized as America’s Most Haunted House ® and shrouded in mystery, ghost-hunters flock to the iconic Whaley House, grounds of the original Old Town gallows site. Join us on our after-hours, chilling paranormal investigation. You’ll have exclusive access to the very rooms where the Whaleys lived and died, not accessible to the general public tours.

Participate in an actual Paranormal Investigation with our experienced guide.
Get hands-on with the latest ghost hunting equipment.
Learn the darker side of the Whaley House and the spirits that refused to move on.
Intimate, small group experience.
Duration: Approximately 2 hours.
As seen on Ghost Adventures, Ghost Files, and Buzzfeed.

184 reviews

Ghosts & Gravestones Tour San Diego 4.2

Dying to Take a Ride on the Dark Side? Travel back in time with us and learn of the spirits of the notorious wild characters like Gunslingers, Gamblers and Ladies of the Night who lived and died in San Diego. It is possible that their spirits live on in the dark recesses of our historic buildings and neighborhoods.

SAVE $3.00* with Promo Code 3OFFGHOST24 (limited time offer)
Hop aboard the Trolley of the Doomed.
Join our spirited & entertaining tour built on stories, history, mystery and legends.
Travel back and hear about the spirits of characters who lived & died in San Diego.
Hear stories of how Pioneer Park changes to the darker side when the sun goes down.
Journey through Old Town, walking through El Campo Santo Cemetery.
Includes outside of the Whaley House and grounds. Tour does not enter the house.

Day Tour: Crossover to San Diego’s history by taking a self-guided tour through the prominent Whaley House Museum. Visit the exhibit rooms and enjoy this historical experience through the interior and surrounding grounds of the house.

Guided Evening Tour*: Crossover to the dark side of San Diego history in California’s Oldest Town and let us enchant you with spirited tales of the past.

Daytime Self-Guided Tour:
Evening Guided Tour:
Approximately 30-40 minute guided tour through the historic Whaley House and the surrounding grounds.
Tour tickets do not have to be used on the same day.

Old Town Trolley Tours is the best way to see the city. The tour is also designed so that you can hop on and off and explore on your own at any time. Our fleet of orange and green trolleys travel frequently throughout San Diego and over the iconic San Diego-Coronado Bridge to Coronado on a continuous 25-mile loop visiting various neighborhoods with 12 destination stops.

Whaley House Daytime Self-Guided Tour: Crossover to San Diego’s history by taking a self-guided tour through the prominent Whaley House Museum. Visit the exhibit rooms and enjoy this historical experience through the interior and surrounding grounds of the house.

Old Town Trolley Tours:
1 day of free unlimited re-boarding.
Hop on & off at 11 Old Town Trolley stops.
FREE discount coupons ($30 value).
FREE Self-Guided Walking Tours
FREE map brochure with day planner.
Whaley House Daytime Self-Guided Tour:
Attraction tickets do not have to be used on the same day.

Ghosts & Gravestones: Join us for a spirited and entertaining tour built on stories of history, mystery and legends of San Diego’s past and darker side!

Ghosts & Gravestones:

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Historic Home and Garden Tour returns

By Kim Davis | kturpindavis@aol.com

Alexandria is home to several exceptional garden clubs whose members include everyone from certified professional gardeners and amateur gardeners exploring their green thumbs to floral designers who create stunning displays for weddings. There are also students and dabblers of horticulture whose gardens convey sublime curb appeal, conservationists who fight to protect the environment and historic preservationists who work to restore important Virginia landmarks.

On April 23, two local clubs, the Hunting Creek Garden Club and The Garden Club of Alexandria, will present the 89th annual Old Town Alexandria Historic Garden Week home and garden tour, a beloved springtime tradition that dates to 1929.

GCA was the sole presenter of the fledgling Garden Club of Virginia Historic Garden Week statewide tour for 23 years.

“According to historical documents, our club provided hostesses for Gunston Hall in 1929. Alexandria did not have homes represented on the tour until 1930. At that time, the tour was dispersed in homes throughout Alexandria rather [than] only in Old Town,” GCA Club President and third-generation member Cathy Tyler said.

In 1952, Hunting Creek Garden Club joined GCA to present the Old Town tour, a partnership that endures to this day. The clubs rotate primary responsibility for the tour annually.

“Although our club participated in the GCV tour before Hunting Creek became involved, we enjoy a camaraderie of interests,” Tyler said. “Besides sharing responsibilities in presenting the tour, we are all great friends and enjoy working together.”

The Old Town tour is part of the GCV’s eight-day statewide event from April 23 to 30 encompassing 128 private homes and gardens. Proceeds fund the restoration and preservation of nearly 50 of Virginia’s historic public gardens and landscapes and a research fellowship program in landscape architecture.

This year’s event showcases five historic private homes and gardens adorned with exquisite floral arrangements designed and executed by garden club members as well as six historic public properties located in Alexandria and Fairfax County.

Preparation for each year’s tour begins two years in advance, as tour chairs secure a collection of homes centered within a specific geographic area in Old Town to facilitate a walkable tour. Once the homes and gardens are lined up, the tour chairs then assume overall management, appointing subcommittee chairs for specific aspects of event planning. Meanwhile, planning for the following year’s tour is already underway by whatever sister club is not planning the tour that year.

“We are grateful for the many gracious homeowners who open their homes, offering a glimpse behind the doors of Old Town’s historic properties and beautiful spring gardens,” tour co-Chair Jackie Locke said.

“In addition to providing inspiration for décor and gardening design, the tour raises funds critical to the restoration and preservation of Virginia’s historic treasures,” Co-Chair Emily Jones said.

Homeowners often spend months preparing their homes and gardens, undertaking updates and planting their gardens with bulbs timed to bloom around the day of the tour. For homeowners involved in the annual tour, the event provides them with an opportunity to not only show off their home but the history of Old Town as a neighborhood.

“Built in the 1790s, my residence originally backed up to an oyster processing plant, which was not uncommon at that time,” Kristen Frykman, owner of 515 S. Fairfax St., one of the homes on this year’s tour, said. “Residences, manufacturing, carpentry shops, dry goods shops and professional offices all shared this early Old Town neighborhood.”

Frykman completed a renovation in 2019 and frequently finds oyster shells in her garden.

Visitors also delight in floral arrangements created by club members within each home. Each floral arrangement is designed to complement the décor and style of the home and involves months of preparation. Arrangers create artistic renderings to guide selections of containers, floral materials and fresh spring greenery cut from members’ gardens.

This year, the GCV challenged arranging teams to use sustainable materials for their designs in place of petroleum-derived materials containing toxic, non-biodegradable chemicals such as formaldehyde. Teams are pivoting to reusable materials such as chicken wire, flower frogs and waterproof floral tape to stabilize flowers in containers. A new sustainable material on the market is also being tested, but head arranger Laura Francis has so far found it a difficult material with which to work.

“Historic Garden Week flower arranging day is my favorite garden club day of the year,” Francis, who has more than 20 years of experience arranging floral bouquets for events, said. “Generations of garden club members pass along age-old flower arranging traditions to younger generations each year. It is a privilege to be part of a culture that celebrates floral design as an art.”

Club designers give all the home arrangements to owners to enjoy. Many homeowners use the occasion to host parties for friends and neighbors following the tour, extending the festivities in an informal way.

For many homeowners, the tour gives them a chance to learn more about the history of their historic home, which can sometimes yield a surprise or two.

Mark and Catherine Hill’s home at 512 Prince St., formerly the residence of Patsy Ticer, the first woman to serve as Alexandria’s mayor, is another of the houses on this year’s tour. The Hills discovered an unusual series of archways in their basement upon purchasing the property. Following a bit of research, Mark Hill, a history buff and Carlyle House board member, discovered the arches were likely the foundation of a small bridge.

“Much to our astonishment, our property is located on an old stream bed that once held a small bridge providing safe access to Prince Street from the original 1783 structure; later, the arches were used to support the front portion of the house built in the early [to] mid 1800s,” Hill said.

The other private residences along this year’s tour route have equally compelling stories to tell.

The nucleus of the restored carriage house at 508 S. Fairfax St. was built as a horse stable between 1801 and 1807 and remodeled in 1874. It was once owned by a direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson. The current garden features many ornamental elements including a female goddess sculpture from Bali.

At 206 Duke St., Alexandria’s famous connection with George Washington comes to life. The house was originally a frame structure built in 1794 by George Coryell, whose father was George Washington’s guide during the Revolutionary War. The family was said to have rowed Washington across the Delaware River in December 1776 for the surprise attack against the British. The current brick townhouse dates to 1836.

The present owners renovated the property in 2013, adding environmentally friendly geothermal wells underground that heat and cool the house. A feature of the garden is a large birdhouse replica of the Grand Pagoda at Kew Gardens in Great Britain.

The home at 323 Duke St. was constructed as a long horizontal structure around 1800. The part that is currently on the property was a carpentry shop for many years. It was renovated in the 1950s by a local restorationist and again by current owners who added a second-floor bedroom, bath and dormer.

The tour also includes six notable public properties, including Carlyle House; Lee-Fendall House; River Farm; George Washington’s Mount Vernon; Green Spring Gardens and Gunston Hall.

Tickets are available for $55 at www.vagardenweek.org and at the Alexandria Visitor Center, 221 King St., on tour day.

In addition to presenting the Old Town HGW tour annually, the two clubs have long histories of civic beautification, conservation and education projects in Alexandria including gardens at The Athenaeum, Alexandria Hospital, Ramsay House, and Lee-Fendall House; conservation support for Winkler Botanical Preserve, Huntley Meadows Park, and Green Spring Garden; and annual scholarships to Nature Camp to educate youths about nature.

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Carlyle House Historic Park

Discover Carlyle House Historic Park, home to an eighteenth-century historic house museum in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. John Carlyle, a wealthy merchant and a founder of Alexandria, completed his elegant stone mansion in 1753. Today, Carlyle House is one of the nation’s finest examples of Georgian residential architecture. The Carlyle House museum wants your feedback to help us understand our community needs and help us determine what programs, exhibits and experiences we can focus on in the future. Please take a few minutes to complete this short 8 question survey. We greatly appreciate it!

Take Survey

Girl Scout Programs

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Opening Hours

Tour size is limited due to the small size of museum rooms.

Museum Shop is open during the museum’s normal operating hours.

Last tour at 3pm.

Group Tours

We schedule group tours during our normal operating hours: Monday-Saturday (Closed on Wednesdays), 10am-4pm and Sunday 12pm-4pm. Groups larger than 10 people will be scheduled with multiple guides to create smaller groups for a better guest experience. We look forward to sharing the Carlyle House with you and your group. If we may assist you with any arrangements or tailor the tour to a specific interest focus for your group, please let us know. If you have any questions, please contact us at 703-549-2997 or email us at [email protected] . Please, note your group tour reservation is not complete until confirmed by Carlyle staff and deposit is made.

2023 Group Tour Registration Form

Portrait Photography Permit

The beautiful gardens at Carlyle House Historic Park are a popular spot for strolling, taking pictures, picnicking, walking the dog, event rentals and, of course, the site's various public programs! To help maintain the park for the public to enjoy now and in the future, we require a photo permit to use the grounds for portrait photography. The permit allows us to try and minimize scheduling conflicts. We offer two permits: 1) an Annual Permit for $200 and 2) a Two-Hour Permit for $25. Please complete the Portrait Photography Reservation Inquiry Form to make your reservation. For questions, please call the museum at 703-549-2997.

Carlyle House Two Hour Photography Permit

Carlyle House Annual Photography Permit

Portrait Photography Reservation Inquiry Form

Weddings and Events

The gardens and Magnolia Terrace at Carlyle House offer an elegant and intimate setting in the heart of historic Old Town Alexandria for both business and social functions.

EVENT RENTALS INFORMATION

After John Carlyle’s 1780 death, his one-acre Alexandria property was divided amongst his heirs, who further sold off various parcels. The Bank of Alexandria built a headquarters building at the northwest corner of the Carlyle property in 1806. Carlyle House itself passed out of the family in 1827, after the death of Sarah Carlyle Herbert.

703-549-2997 [email protected]

Manager: Rebecca Super

Connect With Us

Become a Docent

Enjoy History? Looking for a fun and relaxing volunteer opportunity? Carlyle House Historic Park, a colonial house museum in Old Town Alexandria, seeks volunteer docents to give public tours of this historic building. Carlyle House, built in 1753, interprets the home and family of John Carlyle, a merchant and town founder.

Guide visitors on tours through the house.
Preserve the past by bringing John Carlyle and 18th-Century Alexandria to life.
Teach visitors about the cultural heritage of Alexandria.
Work together with museum staff to give each visitor an enjoyable experience at the Carlyle House. Learn more everyday about the Carlyle family and life in 18th-Century Virginia.

Carlyle House Docents commit to volunteering at least 2 weekday shifts per month or 1 weekend shift per month. Morning shifts are 10am-1pm and afternoon shifts are 1pm-4pm. Carlyle House Docents have access to free parking in Old Town Alexandria, 10% off in the gift shop, monthly trips to local historic sites, and an opportunity to meet new people and make new friendships.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a museum volunteer please contact the museum by calling 703-549-2997 or emailing us at [email protected]

Garden Volunteers

Green thumb and green thumb wannabes needed. Are you an experienced gardener or want to learn more? The Carlyle House garden needs you! Garden volunteers are needed to work in the garden from mid-March through mid-October. Volunteers typically work one day per week. Work days are flexible and depend on the schedule of the staff horticulturist. An every week commitment is not necessary. All supplies provided but please bring your own gloves. To volunteer please email [email protected]

Museum Teachers

Carlyle House Museum Teacher volunteers teach elementary and middle school students about life in colonial America and the Carlyle family in particular. Museum teachers educate school-age children on topics such as archaeology, the Revolutionary War, and slavery by leading interactive age-appropriate tours. If you are interested in becoming a Museum Teacher please contact the Educator by calling 703-549-2997 or emailing [email protected]

Volunteer Inquiry

The Friends of Carlyle House is a group of interested citizens dedicated to preserving and enhancing the site while promoting community involvement through a program of membership, donations and fund-raising. Although Carlyle House is owned and operated by NOVA Parks, the Friends group provides the sole revenue for collections acquisitions and conservation. Friends funds also support and expand educational programs and school outreach.

Through the support of the Friends group, the museum has been furnished according to John Carlyle’s 1780 probate inventory, which lists items such as “1 Old Tea Chest Called the Mistake” and “2 walnut Clothes presses.” While the museum displays a fabulous array of 18th–century furnishings, the collection is not yet complete. As a Friend, you can help complete the Carlyle inventory. The Friends of Carlyle House sponsor a number of fundraising projects to support the collections.

Membership benefits include:

Free admission to the museum
10% discount in the museum shop
Invitations to events and exhibits

I loved the tour, the guide is excellent, very knowledgeable and the history in interesting.

Tour guide was a retired american history teacher and it was amazing worth your time., really nice house and very friendly guide. thank you.

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Can you conquer Climb UPton?

Climb UPton—the largest ropes course in the Mid-Atlantic— is NOW OPEN DAILY! Climb UPton offers 90 different elements and three levels of difficulty.

Camp Grow Camp Overlook Camp Winkler Registration Now Open

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I Heart Old Towne Orange

A guide to Old Towne Orange and Orange, CA

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Old Towne Orange Historic Home Tour

November 9, 2019 @ 10:00 am - november 10, 2019 @ 4:00 pm.

The Old Towne Preservation Association is hosting their annual Old Towne Orange Historic Home Tour! This November 9th through 10th, do not miss this extraordinary self-guided exploration of Old Towne residential treasures featuring magnificent examples of historic architecture and exceptional landscapes. Tickets are $25 for members and $30 for non-members. To buy your tickets online, visit the Old Towne Preservation Association’s website at www.otpa.org. Or to purchase your tickets by mail, make your check payable to OTPA and mail to OTPA Home Tour, P.O. Box 828, Orange, CA 92856. Be sure to write HOME TOUR on your check. Tickets will not be mailed out. Your name will be placed on their Will Call list. On tour days, please stop by the Will Call table located at the Orange Public Library at 407 E. Chapman to receive your booklet, which is your admission to the tour.

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Historic homes tour returning to Old Town on September 24

After being shut down the last few years due to COVID-19, the Historic Alexandria Homes Tour is returning to Old Town next month.

Tickets for the 80th annual tour cost $40, which will be held on Saturday, September 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Proceeds from the event will go to the INOVA Alexandria Hospital.

“We are thrilled to be offering the 80 th Annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour this year,” said Michele Cumberland, president of The Twig , which is sponsoring the event. “The annual tour is typically our largest annual fundraising event and enables us to raise vital funds for our community hospital.”

The tour will include seven homes in Old Town, including a “home featured in Southern Living magazine, a home with a 75-year-old fig tree and a home with a guest room surrounded in an ‘Alexandria-centric’, hand-painted mural,” according to The Twig.

The event will be held rain or shine, although kids under 12 are not allowed in tour homes. No video or photography is allowed, and tickets are not refundable.

Tickets can be bought online for $40 at www.thetwig.org and on the day of the event for $45 at Boxwood at 128 S. Royal Street, the Old Presbyterian Meeting House at 323 S. Fairfax Street or The Twig Thrift Shop at 106 N. Columbus Street.

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What’s Up in Alexandria This Weekend: Party For The Arts, PNC Parkway Classic, and more

Here’s a roundup of all the events, live music, and entertainment happening around Alexandria this weekend; enjoy! Are you organizing an event? Submit events to ALXnow. Friday, April 26 Things…

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Work from home? The benefits of booking a cleaning with Well-Paid Maids

For many remote workers, a messy home is distracting.

You’re getting pulled into meetings, and your unread emails keep ticking up. But you can’t focus because pet hair tumbleweeds keep floating across the floor, your desk has a fine layer of dust and you keep your video off in meetings so no one sees the chaos behind you.

It’s no secret a dirty home is distracting and even adds stress to your life. And who has the energy to clean after work? That’s why it’s smart to enlist the help of professionals, like Well-Paid Maids.

Montessori Toddler and Primary Spots Available

Monarch Montessori School is now enrolling infants, toddlers and three year-olds for its full-time Montessori program. We offer a seamless enrollment process which involves submitting an application for review, paying the enrollment fee and submitting the remaining enrollment materials before your proposed start date.

At Monarch Montessori School, we aim to provide an authentic Montessori learning experience. At our Alexandria location, we currently have 8 openings in our Primary classroom (ages 3-6), and 6 openings in our Toddler classroom. Additionally, there are 3 infant openings at this time.

Our first floor space is an open concept. Infants and toddlers share the same large classroom. Children ages 3-6 are in two classrooms on our second floor. Each classroom has one lead and assistant guide. We offer a year-round program, with intermittent breaks for Spring Break and Winter Break.

Scholarship Fund of Alexandria Annual Gala & Auction

Do good while having a good time at the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria’s 38th Annual Gala and Auction at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center. The fun begins with a 2-hour open bar reception while mingling with 499 other Alexandrians who

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Historic Tours

See the town, bus tours welcome, short notice groups welcome.

A Guided Walking Tour of Alexandria'a Historic District Group and Individual tours arranged as well as Step-on bus guides. History and architecutre walking tours of Old Town offered Monday - Saturday 10:30, Sunday at 2pm from the garden of the Alexandria Vistiors Center at Ramsay House, April-November, weather permitting.

Also offers tours of Historic Old Town featuring:

1. Market Square 2. Gadsby's Tavern* 3. Carlyle House* 4. Ramsey House 5. Torpedo Factory 6. Captain's Row 7. Gentry Row 8. Old Presbyterian Meeting House 9. Stable-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop* 10. Lee-Fendall House* 11. Christ Church

* Museums open to the public

Alexandria History

Founded in 1749 as a port for area planters, Alexandria, Virginia was laid out by a young surveyor name George Washington. The market square, where our the tour begins, is still in use as a public market every Saturday morning.

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Historic Old Town Alexandria Home and Garden Tour

Tour kicks off garden club of virginia statewide tour.

By Kim Davis

Thursday, April 18, 2024

A 91-year-old treasured Spring tradition returns this Saturday, April 20, when the Garden Club of Virginia hosts its Historic Old Town Home and Garden Tour. This year’s tour is a must see, showcasing five of the city’s most spectacular homes and gardens and one public property, Lee-Fendall House.

The walking tour features a behind-the-scenes glimpse into centuries-old homes including four properties clustered in North Old Town on Queen, North Fairfax and Oronoco Streets as well as two a few blocks away on South Fairfax Street.

The North Old Town section features a home first owned by an Irish whiskey distiller in 1815 on 213 North Fairfax Street. Current owners purchased the property in 2016, and embarked on a significant renovation and addition, resulting in 6,000 square feet of meticulously restored living space. A stunning new kitchen addition includes classic walnut cabinetry with a sophisticated backsplash of striking Persian green and white marble. Discrete built in cooler drawers provide easy access to beverage and snack options in numerous rooms. And a sitting room between the kitchen and living room features beautifully lacquered custom cabinetry in teal blue with gold handles. The kitchen addition overlooks a walled patio featuring a black half-moon fountain and tasteful but simple garden plantings.

The home is fully automated with the most up-to-date technology. Featuring a total of 24 heating and air conditioning zones, most of the home’s flooring is heated. Touch panels provide state of the art technology access, including settings for privacy, security, television and streaming apps, whole house audio, whole house video intercom, heating, and cooling.

Another home located around the corner at 611 Queen Street was purchased in 1803 and sold twice before it was acquired in 1807 for $250. In 1815, the property sold for $4,000 to the president of the Common Council of Alexandria who along with then Alexandria Mayor John Roberts met the Marquis de Lafayette during a visit to Alexandria in 1824. Current owners Dominique and Dorn Wenninger purchased the home in 2021 and undertook significant renovations. This charming home has an eclectic vibe and a significant collection of artwork and furnishings from the Wenningers’ travels in Asia, South America, and Africa. The beautiful garden has been replanted and the patio expanded to create “a whimsical secret garden with cozy spaces and quirky corners of interest, complete with Mexican stone carvings and an antique bench from Mexico,” Dominique said.

A block away sits 513 Queen Street, dating back 234 years. Records from 1789 describe a one-room, one-story log and frame structure. The property is a garden-only tour featuring a mature Kwanzan cherry and a majestic Natchez crepe myrtle which creates an intimate patio retreat in the heart of the city.

Owners describe an interesting anecdote about the home. “Apparently, as the story goes, in 1946 the homeowner permitted chickens inside the house in defiance of a new law banning farm animals within yards. As would be expected, this resulted in deplorable conditions at the time within the house,” he said.

The current owners fell in love with the gardens, so they “bought the garden and took the house,” he said. The couple unearthed an old milk bottle in the garden, likely a gift from the former neighboring dairy bottling company.

A featured property on the tour in North Old Town is Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden. This year marks the 50th anniversary of its opening as a museum and garden, providing insight into American history through the experiences of those who lived and worked on the property for two centuries. A newly designed garden incorporates the bones of a pleasure garden created in the 1850s, a Bicentennial Project of the Garden Clubs of Northern Virginia.

The properties situated on South Fairfax Street are both lovely and add historic interest. 410 South Fairfax Street was purchased in 1795 and the home was built in 1870 or earlier. Current owners Lauren and Christopher Bishop bought the property in 2016, also undertaking a renovation in 2019 that included a mudroom, kitchen, and family room in keeping with the character of the home. The living room features its original 12-foot ceilings and plaster moldings. In 2021, the couple excavated the basement and converted it into a finished space. The home features elegant furnishings, beautiful abstract art and a charming garden filled with spring flowers.

Across the street is 417 Fairfax, purchased in 1796 by a cooper, a crafter of wooden containers. The back portion of the parcel possessed two dwellings that were homes to free black tenants as early as 1823. Current owners purchased the property in 2022 from the estate of Richard Simmons, former president of The Washington Post. Throughout the years, owners added a kitchen, baths, flooring, lighting, slate, stone, and brick patios as well as a stone wall. An early 19th-century carriage house is now a pool house. During renovations, beautiful interior brick work and exposed beams were revealed. In the garden, a beautiful, large magnolia and a crepe myrtle anchor the patios, where extensive new landscaping provides space for entertaining.

Tickets also include admission to six nearby public properties, including: Mount Vernon, River Farm, Carlyle House, Gunston Hall and Green Spring Gardens. Advance tickets are $55 online at www.vagardenweek.org and may be purchased tour day at the Alexandria Visitor’s Center located at 221 King Street.

The Garden Club of Virginia’s beloved statewide tour is the only one of its kind in the nation. It includes an eight-day statewide tour from April 20 to 27 including 170 private properties throughout Virginia, including stately manors, renovated farmhouses, private homes, and waterfront villas. Proceeds fund restoration and preservation of nearly 50 Virginia historic public gardens. The annual event also funds a historic landscape research fellowship program that is building a comprehensive library documenting the Commonwealth’s important gardens and landscapes. The tour draws approximately 25,000 tourists annually and dates to 1929.

The Old Town Alexandria tour is hosted by the GCV’s two local garden clubs, Hunting Creek Garden Club and Garden Club of Alexandria. For more information, visit www.vagardenweek.org , online, @historicgardenweekoldtownalexandria on Facebook

and @historicgardenweekoldtown on Instagram.

The event also features a special pop-up Marketplace Boutique located in the Atheneum at 201 Prince Street. The boutique features a curated collection of beautiful clothing, gifts, and jewelry. Offerings include soft cashmere scarves, linen dresses, and Scottish woven sweaters by Heidi Wynne; elegant personalized stationery, invitations and gifts from Georgetown Paperie; exquisitely handmade, timeless designs by Deo duPont Jewelry; hand painted art featuring flowers and animals by the talented and gifted artist Virginia Donelson; a beautiful selection of children’s clothing, toys and personalized gifts from Old Town’s Monday’s Child boutique; Indo-Chic women’s classic silk blouses, jackets, and skirts; Sarah Bray Bermuda Hats made of sea grass and palm leaf, adorned with beautiful vintage floral and grosgrain ribbon; A Shirt Story offering pre-loved 100% cotton men’s oxford shirts reworked for women; and, an extensive inventory of stunning peony bulbs from Peony’s Envy. The Marketplace is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Refreshments will be available for tourgoers throughout the day at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 228 South Pitt Street from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the historic church will be open for touring.

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Holiday Home Tour
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Old Town Home Tour

Author: hmeyers

Date/Time Date(s) - April 8, 2023 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Special Events

Click here for more information!

Celebrate spring by visiting 8 beautiful homes in the Old Town Historic District!

Not to be missed, the tour includes the home used in the 1988 film “The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking.”

Tickets are on sale and may be purchased at the Museum or over the phone. Advance tickets are $25 or $30 the day of.

If you purchased your ticket online, please note that your ticket will not be mailed. You can pick up your ticket at the Will Call table at 800 Someruleus Street on the day of the tour.

Whether you are here on vacation, a school field trip or family reunion, Old Alabama Town offers a day of educational fun for all ages that will leave you with a new understanding of 19th century American life. Check out our three tour experiences.

Living Block

Begin your tour of the Living Block through Lucas Tavern. In this block are both urban and rural structures, simple buildings where people gathered together to satisfy various needs, longings, and aspirations, all part of the fabric of 19th century everyday life.

Ordeman-Shaw House

The Ordeman-Shaw House is an Italianate townhouse which stands on its original site at 230 North Hull in Downtown Montgomery. The house was acquired by the Landmarks Foundation in 1968, in partnership with the City of Montgomery. It took three years to finish the first restoration which restored the home before being opened for public tours in 1971. The house is currently furnished much as it would have been during the Mitchell Family’s tenure in the late 1850s. The enslaved quarters and kitchens were competed at the same time as the OMS House, circa 1853. These structures provide one of the few remaining examples of urban slavery in Montgomery. This two-story brick dependency includes an upper story balcony, entry doors to each room, and an exterior stairway. The site’s outbuildings were reconstructed on the previous foundations using archeological evidence uncovered during the work yard’s restoration. The structures at the OMS Complex provide a unique opportunity to present a cross-section of life in antebellum Montgomery.

Working Block

Enter through the Rose House dogtrot to begin your tour of the Working Block. In the buildings in the Working Block, you will see how people worked, labored, and produced in central Alabama in the 19th and early 20th centuries. You will see these workplaces as well as many of the tools used in urban and rural areas. Restrooms are available in the Lakin Kitchen. As you move through the Working Block you will also notice fig trees, a satsuma tree, and a garden—these, too, are all producing!

Along the Street

Buildings from the 19th century lining North Hull Street create an ambience far different from the atmosphere of commercial and residential streets of today. Several houses are on their original site, others have been moved in to the area. In the 1850s, North Hull Street was a developing up-scale residential neighborhood. This characteristic was evident until the 1930s when creeping decay and commercialism began taking their toll. Used car lots replaced cottages, and once proud houses gave way to bait shops and second-rate night spots. Landmarks began its restoration efforts in 1967 with its mission being not only to preserve Alabama’s architectural and historic heritage but also to bring a blighted area back into a productive life. These buildings now produce income and serve as museums, and together, they create a streetscape from the past.

Walking Tour

an exciting stroll through history

Do you love amazing architecture or interesting stories from history? How about strolling down brick sidewalks on tree lined streets? Walking through the Olde Towne historic district will let you enjoy both!

Choose a guided tour with Mary Veale and the Colonials or a self-guided turn by turn tour.

Suggested Parking:

Middle Street Garage 441 Middle Street (free parking on weekends). There is also 2 hour on street parking available throughout the neighborhood.

Elizabeth River Ferry:

From Norfolk, get off at North Street Landing.

The research for this tour is from History of Portsmouth, Virginia by Mildred Holladay & Dean Burgess as well as interviews with Mr. Burgess himself. If you would like to read and enjoy more stories about Olde Towne Mr. Burgess’ book may be purchased at the Portsmouth Arts & Cultural Center on High Street.

As you stroll through the largest collection of 18th and 19th century historic homes between Alexandria and Charleston, make sure to watch your step as many of the bricks are not level. When you see the word “circa” or “c.” on historic signs that is Latin for “about”.

Dean Burgess, local historian explained in his book, “The town of Portsmouth entered upon its municipal existence on February 27, 1752. It was laid out like an English country town with broad streets alternating with narrow ones in a grid pattern. It was also laid off in squares and is one of the few American cities to retain the original names of its blocks. One explanation for this layout is that the elegant houses stood on the broad streets and the homes of the artisans and lesser lights on the narrow streets.”

Since Olde Towne has over 200 period homes to enjoy with some unique and amazing architecture, this tour could become lengthy. For your convenience, directions are provided for 3 different length loops. You can choose to walk 0.6 mile, a little over a mile, or close to 2 miles with directions back to the parking garage at each point.

Our tour begins at the Middle Street Garage on the corner of Middle and London Streets

1. Red Lion Tavern

Cross London Street and turn right toward the waterfront.

Your first stop is Red Lion Tavern at 218-220 London Street

Built in the mid-eighteenth century as a tavern for soldiers and sailors, old menus and a cockfighting pit were discovered in the cellar during renovations. At the time, this was a very popular sport done openly and aboveboard aided and abetted by the church. The owner of the home, Mr. John Cornelius Portlock Edwards, hosted the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia in 1877 and even procured a main of cocks for his special pleasure. A very colorful character, he arranged his own funeral which was held on January 21, 1896 at 2 am amidst the shrieks and howls of a drunken mob of over 500 people carrying torches and lanterns. He was buried standing up beside his two favorite horses and four dogs. Following the last prayer, the grave was bricked up, and the crowd left for refreshments and a cock fight.

2. Pass House

Continuing our walk down London Street to Crawford Street, you will see the Pass House built in 1841.

With 24 rooms covering 5,300 sq. feet, this Greek Revival-style home was built by local attorney James Murdaugh. Though the Murdaughs temporarily relocated after the Civil War, the family did ultimately return. In 1895, Ellie Murdaugh married John Archer Lejeune in the grand foyer. Lejeune played a critical role in re-organizing the United States Marines in the 1920s, and North Carolina’s Camp Lejeune is named in his honor. During the Civil War, the basement of the house was used as an office for the provost-marshal. It was here that the Union occupation issued passes to cross the ferry to Norfolk. Citizens had to swear allegiance to the Union to be permitted to leave the city. This house is an excellent example of an English basement house.

3. Cassell-McRae House

Cross Crawford Street and continue on London Street to 108 , the Cassell-McRae House, which was built around 1829.

This home features a double sunburst window as well as a hand carved arched doorway. The pineapples on the gate posts are a colonial symbol of hospitality. According to legend, a ship captain would bring pineapples back from the Caribbean and spear one on the fence post outside his home to let his friends know he had returned safely from his voyage. The pineapple was an invitation to visit, share a meal, and hear tales of his voyage. Mark Twain stayed here in 1907 when he was a guest speaker at the Jamestown Exposition.

4. Benthall-Brooks Row

Walk back to Crawford and turn right to see Benthall-Brooks Row found at 415-421 Crawford Street .

These English basement homes date back to the 1840s. All three brick houses were built by a sea captain named Benthall. Captain Benthall would build one ship, send it to the Caribbean where he would sell it for rum, import the rum, and sell it to pay the crews, sailors, and shipwrights, and still have enough money left to build another ship.

On 421 Crawford Street you will see a fire mark. For 150 years American insurance companies issued them. Fire marks served many purposes, but the main reason in America is quite simply, a fire mark was an advertising sign that the property was insured. Both the insurance company and the insured benefited from displaying a fire mark. It may have been the only evidence of insurance, after the insurance policy burned with all the other contents in the house. Perhaps, a mark simply stated to others that the person had enough good sense to purchase insurance. Each insurance company had its own design and you will see several different ones throughout Olde Towne.

5. 419 Crawford Street

Notice the carriage block that is in front of the home at 419 Crawford Street. It is also known as a mounting block and was used to get in and out of a carriage.

6. 411 Crawford Street

You will notice the last house at 411 Crawford is made of wood. It was built by the first baker in Portsmouth in 1840. After a huge fire that burned nearly every house on Crawford from High Street to Glasgow, as well as all houses east to the water and the town market, an ordinance was passed that divided the town into fire districts and only stone or brick buildings could be built in this part of the city. You can only imagine the scene when all able men and boys in the city both black and white, formed 2 lines from the Elizabeth River. One line passed the empty leather buckets and the other line the full ones. These brave and dedicated men worked their hearts out knowing that there was little hope for these doomed structures.

7. Lafayette Park

Continue down Crawford and you will see the Lafayette Arch at the corner of Glasgow and Crawford Streets.

When the U.S. celebrated its 200th anniversary, the arch was dedicated to all who have lived or died for freedom. It was inspired by an arch erected in Portsmouth in 1824 to honor the Marquis de Lafayette’s visit to the city. The lion’s head came from the demolished American National Bank Building on High Street. If you walk into the park, you will see a memorial to the Shopmates who died in World War I and World War II, as well as one to the Congressional Medal Of Honor Recipients from Portsmouth.

8. 205 Glasgow Street

Continue your tour from the Lafayette Arch. You are now at the corner of Crawford and Glasgow Streets. Cross Crawford Street.

Directly in front of you is 205 Glasgow Street which is the last of the Irish row homes. The Irish immigrated to the United States around 1800 and then it was required that they relinquished their allegiance to the Queen when they came to America. The remaining house has a walk-in fireplace and a 24-inch stairway leading to its loft, in the style of cottages in Ireland.

9. 215 Glasgow Street

Continue down to 215 Glasgow where the first floor was built around 1830, but in 1870 the original city market was placed on top of the existing house. Notice that the upper and lower windows don’t line up. The homeowners can still see the market stall numbers on the second-floor beams. Standing in front of the door, look up to the second-floor window and you will notice the “Philadelphia busybody” invented by Benjamin Franklin. This set of mirrors works like a periscope to let the homeowner look out of the window and see who is coming down the street, or possibly watch for the carriage to arrive. This home features the original windows and shutters.

Next, notice the lantern to the left of the house. These street lights were originally gas lanterns bought from Manchester, England in 1967. They were placed in front of the homes with architectural merit when Olde Towne was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The cross piece was used by the wick-trimmer to lean his ladder. You will also notice a fire mark as well as a boot scraper by the door so visitors don’t track mud into the home.

10. Spanish American War Monument

Next, return the way you came and go back to Crawford Street and turn left.

Walk one block and look across Crawford Street to the median and you will see the Spanish American War monument which commemorates the Portsmouth men who served in Cuba and the Philippines during the Spanish American War 1898-1902. This monument is one of at one least fifty bronze castings of American infantrymen across the country. The Hiker was sculpted in 1905 by Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson, the first woman to be admitted to the National Sculpture Society.

The statue was erected by the citizens of Portsmouth and Norfolk County on May 23, 1942.

11. Grice-Neeley House

Cross North Street and on the corner at 202 North you will see the Grice-Neeley House which was built around 1820.

This English Basement house has many Greek revival features including the columns, pilasters, and six-over-six window panes. The ironwork on the North Street side of this house was found in the basement during restoration and is original. The white marble step to the backyard is a stone from the grave of a boy who died here in the 1870s. The willow oak on the stone symbolizes the brevity of life. This home also displays a fire mark. Frank Grice and his collaborator Captain Neely designed and built the steam frigate Powhatan which was Admiral Perry’s flagship when he opened the ports in Japan. Since it was the first steam powered ship there, the Japanese said that the Americans had brought a dragon into the harbor!

12. 216 North Street

Continue down to 216 North Street on the right. Notice the four houses in a row and the difference in the architecture for each demonstrating the great variety of architectural styles in Olde Towne.

You will see that 218 North Street is a fascinating example of High Victorian architecture. Note the stained glass fan light (fan-shaped window) on the third floor decorated with plaster wreaths, the stained glass on the second floor, as well as the interesting curved porch, and basement entry. The capitals on the columns are from the Ionic order.

14. Hill House

Look directly across the street at 221 North , you will see the Hill House built in 1825 by Colonel John Thompson.

It is a four-story English basement house. This branch of the Hill family died out in the 1940s leaving the house with all of its furnishings (even clothes in the closets) to the Portsmouth Historical Society. Most historical houses are furnished with period pieces. It is quite unusual to have one where all of the furnishings are original.

Guided Tours are $5 and are available Wednesday and Saturday 12-3 from May through December or by appointment. For tour information call 393-0241.

15. Washington Reed House

Next to the Hill House you will notice a large pale yellow brick home built in the 1790s. This fine example of Georgian-style architecture is the Washington Reed House. As you walk by, look up and note the beautiful dentil ridge at the roofline and the cornices above each window. The fan light on the north side of the attic is in the pediment gable. You will also notice the street signs are attached to the corner of the house.

16. Town Pumps

You are now at the corner of Middle and North Streets

In the center of this intersection was the location of one of the town pumps until the days of city water. These street pumps furnished a meager amount of brackish water, while wells supplied better water. Those who had no wells caught rainwater in a barrel. This brand of water was better for drinking than the well water. Women would never be seen on the street unescorted, but teenage girls and boys could fetch water for the family. Many romances and marriages were formed from rendezvous at the pump.

17. 300 North Street

On your right across Middle Street is the Leigh-Cox House at 300 North Street.

A classical Georgian style home, it was built in 1800 by Dr. William Leigh, a Revolutionary War veteran. He owned a distillery at Gosport with four stills that produced 300 gallons of whiskey a year. He later sold the house to Virginia Militia General John Hodges. Hodges later served as Portsmouth’s Postmaster, and the Hodges Ferry section of Portsmouth is named after another piece of his property.

18. 334 Middle Street

Just behind his house at 334 Middle Street was the home of the owner of the town’s largest bank at the outbreak of the Civil War. He refused to divulge to the occupying forces who had money in the bank and was imprisoned at Fortress Monroe for the duration of the war.

19. Macon House

Cross Middle Street and you will find the blue, brick Macon House built in 1830 with the attached, yellow Macon Hotel facing North Street which was built in 1851. If you walk down North beside the former hotel, you can see the Path of History placard with more information. The opposite side of North Street had not yet been developed and had an attractive view of the Elizabeth River. Imagine staying here and enjoying a beautiful beach view. The Macon House was well-known as a resort hotel and was beautifully furnished and equipped with every convenience. There was a bathing house near the beach for the pleasure of the hotel guests, and the hotel also had bathing machines which were little horse-drawn houses on wheels with an open floor so ladies could be taken out into the river and bathe without being seen.

Many women with their attendants visited, as well as visiting sea captains from around the world. Gentlemen could also play billiards all evening for $0.25. It was so luxurious that the British Consult chose to live here. During the Civil War, the Macon House was filled with Confederate officers and their families. After the Confederate evacuation, it became a Union hospital. The signatures of wounded soldiers remain carved in the floorboards. The attached house facing Middle Street was the private residence of the hotel proprietor. During the War it was occupied by the officers in charge of the hospital.

20. Borum House

Return to the corner of Middle and North Streets. Turn right and walk south down Middle Street and look across at 355 Middle , the Borum House built in 1867.

You will notice the verandas feature fretwork in the New Orleans style. By 1867, many foot-powered and hand-cranked scroll saws were available in the US. The evolution of the scroll saw is linked to the rise in popularity of fretwork.

21. Nash-Gil House

When you reach 370 Middle , you will see the Nash-Gil House built in 1880 which is a wonderful example of late Gothic Revival architecture, sometimes referred to as “Steamboat Gothic”. Once again this style of “gingerbread” became popular after the invention of the scroll saw. Notice the interesting shapes of the windows and the slate roof. For more information see the Path of History placard by the home. If you are feeling tired, enjoy one of the benches in Red Lion Park before you continue your tour.

22. Ball-Nivison House

Cross Middle Street toward the playground and continue walking south.

Next on your left you will find the Ball-Nivison House at 417 Middle Street which was built in 1752 even though the Bill of Sale indicates that it was sold in 1784.

The house was built by John Nivison and was originally located on Crawford Street. Moved to its current location to make way for the Seaboard Air Line Railroad in 1869, the house was used as a barracks during the War of 1812. The home also entertained the Marquis de Lafayette in 1824 and President Andrew Jackson in 1833.

When Andrew Jackson and his cabinet came to Portsmouth at the opening of the Gosport Dry Dock in 1833, they stayed here. Mr. Ebenezer Thompson, who was at that time about ten years old, was employed to keep the men who were working on the dock supplied with drinking water. He carried a bucket and dipper. On the day of the President’s visit, he was stopped by a tall gentleman who asked for a drink of water. Seeing that this wasn’t a workman, he replied, “ I haven’t the time, Sir; I’m hired by the government to wait on its employees.” “Then, my lad, I’m entitled to a drink. I am employed by the government as its President, Andrew Jackson at your service.” Mr. Thompson was still an employee a the Navy Yard at age 90 and could still remember that day vividly. For more information on the home and the interesting people who have visited here, you can read the Historic Marker.

23. The Colonial

Across the street from the Ball House is 414 Middle Street , the Colonial, a large building with a very interesting history. This Greek revival building was built in 1835 and was originally a two-story structure that was the Odd Fellows’ Hall. The third floor was added in 1901 in a very unusual way. The entire roof with its massive cornice was lifted on supports, and the new second story was built under it. The Doric columns of the portico were made higher in the same way. These three-story pillars are solid brick covered with stucco. The triangular section above the pillars is an excellent example of a classical pediment. The Odd Fellows was a national fraternal order. It may have gotten its peculiar name from the fact it included members of the working class who otherwise were not eligible for membership in such exclusive clubs and, therefore, were “odd”.

24. Plaque in honor of William “Billy” Flora

Continue down Middle Street then cross London, and you will once again see the Middle Street Garage.

In front of the garage is a plaque in honor of William “Billy” Flora, a distinguished African-American citizen. His heroic service at the Battle of Great Bridge during the American Revolution was critical in defeating the British. He held back Governor Dunmore’s Ethiopian Brigade at the Bridge, which they attempted to cross three times and were driven back by his fire. This delayed the British just long enough for the militia to draw up before the bridge and to drive the enemy forces back to Portsmouth. Flora was a free black, but his wife was not. He purchased her out of slavery, but unfortunately the baby she was carrying having been conceived when his wife was a slave, was still a slave, and so he had to then buy his daughter out of slavery when she was born. His livery stable stood on the corner of London and Middle Streets.

0.6 Mile Marker

There are many more wonderful stories and beautiful houses, but if you feel you have done enough walking for the day, you can return to your car at this point. You have walked 0.6 mile.

If you need coffee or maybe something to eat before you continue your tour, walk 2 blocks down Middle Street to High Street for a restaurant or the locals’ favorite coffee shop which stands where Benedict Arnold’s headquarters stood when he was the commander of all British forces in the Commonwealth during the American Revolution. (Despite being a turncoat, when he died in London, his wife complied with his final wishes to be buried in his American general’s uniform.)

25. 320 London Street

To continue your walk through history, cross Middle Street and keep walking until you see 320 London across the street on the right.

This interesting home was built in 1886 by a gentleman named John Neeley who owned a lumberyard. When building the house he decided to include every fashionable architectural detail of the day. You will notice a cupola, tower, bay window, and stained glass windows.

26. Court Street Baptist Church

As you approach the next intersection at Court Street, you will see Court Street Baptist Church which was burned down and rebuilt of pink granite quarried in Salisbury, N.C. in 1901. This church is one of only two Baptist churches in this exuberant Romanesque Revival style in the nation. The other is in Tennessee. The stained glass is also exceptional in its design, with yellow and shocking pink predominating. The windows go up the stairwells to the towers. When hit by full sunlight this creates a golden glow in the church that is quite unique.

If you would like a tour of the sanctuary, please stop in the office from 8-4 Monday through Friday, and someone will gladly assist you.

27. 430 Court Street

Cross Court Street and stop at the Italianate home on the corner at 430 Court . This house and the one across London were built by the Parkers, two Catholic brothers who had 28 children between them. If you take a few steps down the side of the home, you will notice that it has had three different brick fronts. The house was originally built in 1830 in the Federalist style of the time. Notice the porous brick walls built with the Flemish-bond technique. Around 1860, the structure was given a new facade and then finally in 1917 the current Italianate front was added. During this time, it was important to keep up with current style. If you look up you will notice the Xs on the side wall. These are ends of masonry ties that hold the joists in place. During renovations, a cannon ball was found embedded in the attic.

28. 420 Court Street

Despite research, there seems to be no reason why the streets running east and west in Olde Towne have two 300 blocks and two 400 blocks. This does tend to confuse visitors. So when you cross London Street and continue down Court, you are still in the 400 block.

The home at 420 Court was built in 1874 by Joseph Parker and is an excellent example of Victorian architecture. The residence features a sacred heart above the doorway which was a symbol of his Catholic faith. The home had 14-foot ceilings and had a chapel above the foyer where the family worshiped. As you stroll down Court Street, notice how wide the street is compared to the ones you walked on earlier indicating this was a street for the gentry.

29. 408 Court Street

Keep walking and at 408 Court Street you will see a wonderful example of handblown glass windows. The window would start as a ball of molten glass at the end of a blowpipe. It would be blown until it formed an elongated tube of the desired length and diameter. The ends would be removed forming a cylinder, which was then cooled. The cylinder would be scored down the length, reheated and flattened to form the glass for windows.

30. 401 Court Street

When you reach the corner at Glasgow, look across the street at 401 Court Street .

During the gold rush in California in 1849 and 1850, when people were clamoring for houses there, several cities undertook to send them pre-fabricated homes like this type of building. A company to build such houses was formed here. The necessary parts for constructing a house were cut and fitted ready to be set up. These parts were numbered then bundled and shipped to California by sailing vessels around South America. The Niemeyer House is one of two “ready to put up houses” still standing in Portsmouth.

31. 400 Court Street

On your left at 400 Court Street is an English Basement house that belonged to the British Naval Attache before the American Revolution. This and many other homes became Mom & Pop groceries up until the 1960s. Notice the brick pattern in front of the house and you can see where the original stairs went to the second story living quarters.

32. 370 Court Street

When you cross Glasgow, you will see 370 Court Street which was built in 1906. A receipt was found for the granite showing that it was purchased from Court Street Baptist Church. The architecture on this home is once again Romanesque Revival. The gorgeous cut glass front doors were found wrapped in newspaper in the basement and restored by the previous owners.

33. 344 Court Street

Continue down Court Street and cross North Street to 344 Court Street .

This was the home of Thomas Hume, the first Superintendent of Schools for the city and the minister of Court Street Baptist Church. The introduction of stronger plate glass from the 1830’s allowed the use of larger glass panes, offering improved ventilation and natural light, as well as improving views to the outside.

34. Trinity Church Rectory

Your next stop is 340 Court Street , the Trinity Church Rectory built in 1826 by Thomas Hume. This is a classic example of an English basement house. You might notice that the “basement” is actually the first of four floors. The basement was used for family rooms or possibly slave quarters. The second floor was where the family entertained guests. The third floor housed the adult bedrooms and the fourth floor space was usually less than 6 feet tall with one-quarter sized windows and used for children’s bedrooms. The Parish was pressed for money during the depression and sold the interior paneling to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation during their restoration.

35. 336 Court Street

A few steps away one of the local doctors lived at 336 Court Street . If you look just to the right side of the door you will notice an important invention of the time. If a person had an emergency after hours, they would go to the doctor’s house and yell in the “speaking tube” which carried the sound to his bedroom. He could listen to the problem and determine if it was worth getting out of bed for or could wait until morning. This home also has a fire mark.

36. 328 Court Street

Next you will pass a beautiful brick home at 328 Court Street . Rather large and elaborate for a Portsmouth townhouse, it is the only house in the city that displays the Art Nouveau style, then in fashion. The architect was Charles Cassel who also designed St. John’s Church on Washington Street. Notice the stunning carved capitals on top of the columns. This house is one of the few still owned by the family which built it.

37. 318 Court Street

Continue to stroll down Court Street to 318 Court where you will see an architectural feature which is often seen on Victorian homes, a witch’s cap. Notice the original slate roof.

38. 316 Court Street

The house next door at 316 Court features beautiful stone work and Ionic capitals on the columns.

39. 300 Court Street

40. Swimming Point Walk

Across Crawford Street, you will see Swimming Point Walk. This sidewalk allows pedestrian access to the Swimming Point neighborhood, best known for the Dale-Reed House (200 Swimming Point), the oldest house in the city. Colonel William Crawford built this Georgian-style house in 1732 for his plantation overseer Daniel Dale. It included 100 acres of plantation and is the birthplace of Commodore Richard Dale, a famous American Revolutionary naval officer.

41. 315 Court Street

Cross Court Street and return on the other side.

Your next stop is 315 Court Street , a Classic Revival house designed by Pierre L’Enfant who also drew the street plan for Washington D.C. Originally, this home was to be built for the Federal government to be used as officer’s quarters, but it was considered too ornate. William Peters got the plans and built the house in 1859. When it was constructed, the north portico overlooked a garden sloping down to the river.

In the Civil War, when Portsmouth was occupied by Union soldiers, this dwelling was confiscated by Union General Benjamin Butler for his headquarters in 1862. He was nicknamed “Spoons” Butler because of the strange disappearance of silverware whenever he inspected local homes. Later when Butler ran for President on the Greenback ticket he hung a banner that said “Vote for the Hero of Five Forks” and someone wrote under it “and God knows how many spoons!” The home was sold in 1910 to John Porter, the grandson of the naval architect responsible for the Confederate ironclad Virginia. It has been in the Porter family ever since.

42. 323 Court Street

Passing 323 Court , you will see another home where the wrought iron railings are an excellent example of the New Orleans influence on architecture of the time.

43. 326 North Street

Court Street offers a variety of architectural styles and features – too many to mention them all, but enjoy the beauty as you continue to North Street. At the corner, you will see 326 North Street, The Bain House. The house sits on the original site of General Cornwallis’s Portsmouth headquarters. Cornwallis and his troops sailed from Portsmouth to Yorktown to fight the final battle of the American Revolution. William Armistead offered his services to Lafayette and brought his slave, James with him. When Lafayette realized how intelligent James was, he recruited him as a spy. First, he was at Benedict Arnold’s headquarters, and then later here after Arnold departed. Cornwallis also saw his usefulness as a spy and sent him to spy on Lafayette which allowed this patriot to pass back and forth between the lines carrying intelligence to Lafayette and hoodwinking Cornwallis. Lafayette embraced Armistead and publicly told his story and Armistead added Lafayette to his name. He later won his freedom using a letter from Lafayette about his service.

The Bain House was built in 1830 by Antonio Bilisoly. The Bain brothers purchased the home just after the Civil War. They were bankers and in 1885, were involved in the biggest bank fraud scheme in Portsmouth history.

44. Elk’s Lodge

Cross North Street, and you are at 329 North , the former Elk’s Lodge. This excellent example of Romanesque Revival architecture was built in 1892 by Mr. Beverly Armistead, president of the Bank of Portsmouth. This style of home is sometimes called a “General Grant Victorian”. Identifying features of this architectural style are the round arches over thick cavernous entryways and window openings. The tall arched windows and curved glass were intended to give a shadowed effect inside. The turrets, finial, and decorative shingles are also excellent examples of the common features of this type of architecture. The home was converted to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge 82 and later known locally as Dr. Madblood’s Castle, the imaginary home for the television show Dr. Madblood’s Movie. For more information about the history of this grand building, see the Path of History placard facing Court Street.

45. The Grice House

Walk on North Street passing the front porch of the Elk’s Lodge and when you look across the street you will see another amazing home at 318 North , the Grice House.

Dr. Grice built this handsome house set back from the street for his new bride who was the daughter of the Bishop of Southern Virginia. He proposed the city create a Health Department, which seemed an outlandish idea to the town council. Finally Grice opened his own health department for the city. Patients entered from the little side porch which still can be seen on Gaskins Lane. This house has a widow’s walk on the roof. It was where the wives of sailors would watch for their husband’s ship to enter the port. You will also notice there is a hitching post in front of the residence.

46. 316 North Street

Continue down the street and cross over North Street at Gaskins Lane to 316 North . You will see the residence of James Gaskins, the town’s first silversmith and a Revolutionary War veteran. The Path of History placard gives more details about this home.

A little over a mile!

Although there are many more interesting stories and historic homes to enjoy, if you are ready to leave, continue down North past the Macon Hotel and Civil War Hospital and turn right on Middle Street. Keep walking straight and you will be back to your starting point at the Middle Street Garage.

If you decide to stop here, you will have walked a little over a mile.

47. 417-419 North Street

If you would like to continue your historic walk, turn around and walk back down North Street crossing Court Street. On the left at 417-419 North , you will see two beautiful brownstone Romanesque homes built in 1916. Notice the bowed glass and the gargoyle on the third floor as well as the fire mark. At one time Jim and Tammy Faye Baker lived here in 419.

48. 424 North Street

As you pass 424 North Street on the right, notice the capitals on the columns are from the Corinthian order and the decorations on the roof are snow guards or snow brakes.

49. 497 North Street

At the end of the block cross North Street to your left, and you are at 497 North where you will see a mermaid statue. This lovely Queen Anne Victorian home was built in 1898 by Dr. Parrish.

50. Watts House

Diagonally across the street, you will see the Watts House originally built one block away in 1799 and moved to this location in 1808. This Federal style home was built by Colonel Demsey Watts. Congressman Henry Clay, Chief Black Hawk and President Andrew Jackson have all been entertained here. When Blackhawk was brought here Captain Watts took him to the Navy Yard to see the battleship New York in Dry Dock 1. Blackhawk commented, “I would like to shake the hand of the man who built that canoe.”

51. 525 North Street

If you are in need of a rest, enjoy the benches in Greenwich Park across the street from the Watts House. If you walk through the park, you will notice a Path of History placard with more information about the yellow fever epidemic. Behind the park, you will see 525 North Street which was built in 1775 by William Pritchard, a wealthy shipbuilder and Merchant Marine captain. The house was used as an orphanage for children whose parents died in the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1855. The official list showed nearly 400 children had passed through the Pritchard House during the ordeal. A large number of them were also taken to the City of Richmond and placed in orphanages there.

Over 1,200 people died between July and October that year when the ship the Ben Franklin discharged bilge water from tropical seas. Despite the fact that the doctors knew the “yellow fever flies” had something to do with the epidemic, it would be half a century before the true vector, mosquitoes, would be identified by Walter Reed in Cuba. In the summer of 1855, the Gosport Shipyard went from having 1,400 employees to only 400 and the government ordered them to make coffins rather than ships. The relatives were so desperate they would fight over the coffins as soon as they were made.

52. Richard Dale Monument

Continue down North Street and as you cross Washington Street, in the median you will see a monument to Richard Dale who was the premier Commandant of one of the nation’s first shipyards, now known as the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth. Dale was born a few blocks to the north at Swimming Point. He was captured five times by the British during the Revolutionary War and escaped all five times. He also served as John Paul Jones’ Second in Command aboard the Bon Homme Richard . When John Paul Jones died he willed the gold hilted sword given to him by the King of France to Richard Dale.

53. Lincolnville Neighborhood

As you continue down North Street, you are in the neighborhood formerly called Lincolnville which was Portsmouth’s first middle-class African American neighborhood developed in 1890. It was a ‘city within a city,’ with its own schools and services.

The last house on the right was the birthplace of Mayor James Holley III, Portsmouth’s first African American Mayor. He was Portsmouth’s longest-serving mayor, spending 18 years in office. He was remembered as a man with a great love for his “Portsmouth Family”. His trademark suits were so well known that he was listed as America’s Best-Dressed Mayor on the cover of Esquire Magazine in September 2007. Notice the Path of History placard that contains more information.

54. Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church

Next you will see the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, founded in 1772, three years before the American Revolution. It is the oldest African American church in the area. Originally the church was on Glasgow Street, but it was “burned by wicked hands” in 1856. This building was built entirely by hand by slaves and free blacks in one year and was dedicated in 1857.

Emanuel also prides itself in being one of the stations on the Underground Railroad, and in it can be seen the hiding places for slaves as well as the location of the water duct used by slaves to crawl to the Elizabeth River so they could stow away on merchant ships. No slave was ever caught in the church.

The church has its original stained glass windows and hand-carved benches and pews. Because mail would not be delivered to African Americans at that time, two gentlemen had post office boxes downtown specifically to receive mail for the members of the congregations so the church also served as a substitute post office for the people living in Lincolnville. If you would like a tour, please call the church secretary at 757 393-2259 between 9 and 3 Monday through Friday to schedule an appointment.

55. Cedar Grove Cemetery

If you stop here in front of the church and look down North Street, you can see the historic Cedar Grove Cemetery which is listed on the Virginia Registry of Historic Sites. Purchased in 1831, it was the first secular cemetery in Portsmouth. It is known for its handsome sculptures, and for the graves of many men and women of national prominence. When it was first established, the keeper was paid $50 a year. In the 1850s a woman took over the job and was paid $10 less per year than the prior keeper. With more than 400 graves that feature notable examples of Greek Revival, Late Victorian, and Exotic Revival funerary art, as well as historic markers, Cedar Grove provides another excellent historical walking tour. The entrance is located on the far side of the cemetery at 301 Fort Lane.

56. 359 Washington Street

Now turn around and proceed back up North Street and make a right turn on Washington Street. Stay on the right side of the street and keep walking until across the street you see the green house, which is the second house from the corner at 359 Washington . This is the Brown-McMurran House built in 1789. It was originally a farmhouse on the highest point of Olde Towne. It once belonged to Thomas Veale, the heir to the city’s founder, Colonel Crawford. The house was originally one room deep and two stories high. Notice the windows on the side of the house. When it was built, glass was very expensive so houses often had tiny windows.

57. 412 Washington Street

Continue down the street one block until you reach 412 Washington , on the right. For many years before the Civil War, the white petticoat was an indispensable garment. Fortunately for the soldiers, a deep hem was the correct finish for these underskirts. Since medicine was in very short supply in the Confederacy, brave women would steal it from the Federal hospital in the Macon House Hotel on North Street by hiding it on the inside of their hems. They would bring it to this home and then hide it under a stone beside the door. Other women would then pick it up and smuggle it through Union lines in their petticoat hems.

58. St. John’s Episcopal Church

Next to this home is St. John’s Episcopal Church. You may notice that the stone looks familiar, you saw it earlier on Court Street Baptist Church. In July 1845, seven members of Trinity Episcopal Church had become dissatisfied with the church and decided to form a congregation themselves. They withdrew from the church in 1848 and elected a vestry and built their church which was burned. A new church was built on this site in 1897 designed by Charles Cassell, a local architect and member of the vestry who also built the Art Nouveau home at 328 Court Street.

Among the many treasures of this church is what is thought to be one of the largest windows by Tiffany and Company in the nation. It was placed over the sanctuary and illuminated from the back, since the parish hall, when it was built, blocked the sun from shining through it. Notice that the brass cross facing Washington Street promises “All Seats are Free”. This was because at Trinity, their former church, you had to pay rent for your pew. From 10 am to 1 pm during the week you can ring the bell in the parking lot off London Street and someone will give you a tour of the sanctuary.

59. St. Paul’s School

Turn left on London Street and cross Washington Street going back toward the parking garage.

Across the street, you will see the former St. Paul’s School. Built in 1891 at the bequest of Elizabeth Burke Gregory, this school was operated by St. Paul’s Catholic Church. During its 100 years of service, 13,000 students passed through its doors. Girls were admitted in 1931, and it became Portsmouth’s first integrated school in 1959. Upon closing in 1991, it was one of the oldest Catholic schools in the nation. It was renovated in 2020 and is currently a commercial event venue called Cambridge Hall, named for the square in which it resides.

60. Belgian Block

As you are strolling down London Street, notice the large granite stone blocks used in many driveways. This is called Belgian block and was often used because it gave horses’ hooves better grip than a smooth surface did. Much of this block came here as ballast in ships. All the curbs in Olde Towne are also made of granite.

61. 423 London Street

Continue down London Street for a half of a block until you see 423 London on the right which was built in 1846.

This house was a model for the houses at 419 and 421, both built 40 years later. A Federal-style frame dwelling, it received an Italianate update with the installation of brackets at the cornice line. During the Civil War, it was used as a hospital and later an apothecary shop.

62. 412 London Street

A few houses down on your left you will come to 412 London which is considered one of the oldest homes in Portsmouth, this colonial bungalow was likely built before 1750. During the Union occupation of Portsmouth, the area’s Provost Marshal worked out of this home. It also has an interesting fire mark.

You've done it!

By now you’ll probably recognize this section of London Street and realize that you are only a block away from your starting point at the Middle Street Garage. When you reach the garage, you will have walked a little over two miles and wandered through over 300 years of history !

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WELCOME ~~~~~~~~~ Voted #1 Historic Small Town - USA Today

Recently voted #1 Historic Small Town by USA Today, Wickford Village is a special place to visit. It’s one of the oldest preserved colonial villages in the country. Stroll our streets and discover historic homes and public buildings. Sit next to the beautiful harbor on Narragansett Bay and learn about its rich maritime past. From the architecture to its legacy of entrepreneurs and influential women, Wickford Village is worth exploring.

HistWick (Historic Wickford Inc.) is a nonprofit 501c3 organization of community members dedicated to preserving, protecting and celebrating the cultural and historic features of this special place.

Old Town House

HistWick is still actively soliciting pledges for the renovation of the Old Town House. To bring the Old Town House back to life, Historic Wickford, Inc. needs everyone’s support with a pledge, no matter how small! No money is being collected now , but YOUR pledge is very much needed to secure the total amount necessary to restore this 1807 historic meeting house .

For the many pledges that we have already received, we are truly grateful. Our goal is to generate as many pledges as possible. So the full participation of our membership and HistWick’s many friends is vital because your pledge will help secure both federal and state grants!

Click below to pledge to help save the Old Town House.

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An oral history of Wickford’s past and present through interviews with people who have called this special place their home.

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Whether or not you’re part of the local Wickford Historic District, the information and links provided here can help guide you in the stewardship of your historic home.

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HistWick Membership is open to anyone interested in preserving, protecting, improving and celebrating the quality of life in the historic village of Wickford.

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This is an oral history project documenting wickford’s past and present through interviews with some of the people who have called this special place home., resources and preservation friends.

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Outside the Christian Science Plaza in Boston where can be seen an Old Town Trolley in front of the Mother Church

Tour Boston sights covers all the major areas including Downtown, Beacon Hill, Back Bay, the Theater District, and the Waterfront District. Stand on the very ground where Samuel Adams and other revolutionary leaders urged their fellow colonials to fight for liberty in Faneuil Hall.

Tour Key West sights – The island of Key West is full of fun and exciting things to do and see. From the Southernmost Point to the quaint streets of Old Town, our tour takes you to all the major areas and attractions.

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Tour Nashville sights – From the hunter-gatherers making their home along the Cumberland to the first musician to step off a bus onto Broadway with nothing but a guitar and dream. Nashville has been the hook on which the brave and entrepreneurial have hung their hopes and aspirations.

San Antonio

Tour San Antonio sights – Embark on a captivating journey through the heart of San Antonio aboard the Old Town Trolley. Our expert guides breathe life into the city’s history, offering a unique blend of entertainment and education.

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Tour San Diego sights – Explore the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park and experience Mexican and early American life in the 19th century, tour the Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum, enjoy the shopping, dining, and entertainment at Seaport Village and the historic Gaslamp Quarter.

Tour Savannah sights – Known for its impressive 18th and 19th century architecture, travel back to the Civil War era as you visit the Green-Meldrim House , the Andrew Low House, home to the founder of Girl Scouts USA, Juliette Gordon Low, and the Flannery O’Connor House.

St. Augustine

Tour St. Augustine sights – Relive the story of the first settlement in North America as you visit Castillo de San Marcos , visit the world famous Fountain of Youth, experience early St. Augustine as you tour old St. Augustine Village, featuring houses from the 18th and 19th centuries.

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Tour Washington DC sights – Visit our Union Station, the most visited destination in DC. See the Capitol building, the Supreme Court and Library of Congress . Visit the Smithsonian, the National Gallery, and the Museum of Natural History.

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91st georgetown house tour shows off unique renovations, designs, by peggy sands • april 22, 2024 0 261.

You would think after 91 years, seeing a multitude of mainly brick-facade Georgetown town houses, many dating over 100 years old, many with steep front steps, would get old despite the wonderful stories they contained of their often renowned past owners.

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4-Day Tour in Moscow

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This 7 Realms Ultimate tour of Moscow can be 3-Day tour, with 7 hours each day, or 4-Day tour, with 5 hours each day.

This bespoke history-culture-art itinerary is the ultimate guide of Moscow with authentic Russian, Ukranian and Georgian cuisines along the way.

Ready for adventure?

Highlights of 7 Realms tour of Moscow

Explore Kremlin , the oldest and the largest fortress in Russia, a UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage;
Learn the stories of two Russian paradoxes – Tsar Bell and Tsar Cannon , both the largest in the world;
Walk the oldest streets in Moscow and observe the ancient architecture of Moskovy;
Discover Kitay Gorod , which used to be home to the first skyscraper and the first typography in Moscow, as well as the biggest pharmacy in Europe;
Dive into off the beaten path of Moscow – Zamoskvorechye and get impressed with a dazzling mix of hidden architectural gems and art masterpieces of Russia;
Visit Tretyakov gallery that reflects 1000 year-old history, art and culture of Russia;
Explore the iconic sights of legendary Kolomenskoe including the Palace of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich, which is considered the eighth wonder of the world;
Get scenic panoramic views of Tsaritsino park , the most romantic park of Moscow;
Admire “Russian Gothic” of the Grand Palace in Tsaritsino , and enjoy the picturesque landscape with fairy-tale bridges;
Have fun in Gorky Park , which is even the #1 park of Russia;
Meet locals and catch up with local art trends in Winzavod Art Center , the oldest and most respectable art gallery in Moscow;
And, of course, try Russian pelemeni, Soviet vareniki or bliny, Ukranian borsch, Georgian Khachapuri , as well traditional hospitality, coziest and amazingly beautiful interior of the best local restaurants.

12-14 th centuries

Red Square, the Kremlin, Kitay Gorod + Russian traditional lunch

We are going to see the cradle of Russian history and track the development of Moscow.

The residence of Dukes, Tsars, Emperors, Supreme rulers, Presidents will surprise you with its cathedrals, largest in the world Tsar Cannon and Tsar Bell, as long as the Armory with personal belongings of Great Tsars.

Highlights:

Red square tour.

Walk-through the Resurrection Gate and don’t forget to flip a coin so you’ll be sure to come back one day!
Visit the world’s famous Kazan Cathedral ;
See the State Department Store (GUM), once the Upper Trading Stalls, which were built over a century ago and still operating!
Admire the lovely St. Basil’s Cathedral , built to commemorate the capture of the cities Kazan and Astrakhan. After construction of the cathedral, the poor architect, Postnik Yakovlev, was blinded by Ivan the Terrible, forbidding him from replicating such a beauty ever again;
Walk by Lobnoye Mesto (literally meaning the “forehead place”, or “Place of the Skulls”), once Ivan the Terrible’s stage for religious ceremonies, speeches, and important events;
As well as Lenin’s Mausoleum, GUM, Manege Square, the Monument after Marshal Zhukov, Alexander Garden, Grotto monument, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Obelisk to Romanov royal dynasty.

Kremlin Tour

The Cathedral of Twelve Apostles forms the grand entrance to the luxurious Grand Kremlin Palace.
The Tsar Bell , the largest bell in the world, and Cannon , the largest bombard by caliber in the world.
The Ivan the Great Bell Tower marks the exact centre of Moscow and resembles a burning candle.
The Cathedral of the Assumption , place of coronation of the grand princes and tsars as well as the burial place of metropolitans and patriarchs.
The Cathedral of the Annunciation , the private church of Russian grand princes and tsars for domestic and family ceremonies.
The Cathedral of the Archangel , the necropolis of the Moscow dynasty of Ruriks and first Romanov tsars. The history of the necropolis started in 1340 with Ivan I, the great grandfather of Ivan the Terrible.
The Armory originated as the royal arsenal in 1508 and boasting the richest collection of the works of Russian and foreign decorative and applied art of 4th-20th centuries.
+ The procession of the equestrian and pedestrian guards of the President’s regiment (April to October).

Kitay Gorod Tour

Kitay Gorod is the oldest part of Moscow after the Kremlin, emerged in the 14th century due to the expansion of the boundaries of the Kremlin.:

Experience Kitay Gorod with its it’s charming one-of-a-kind places, many with great historical significance.

There are 4 monasteries, 24 churches, cathedrals, and 8 chapels in the area of Kitay gorod. We’ll see some of them.

You will also see:

First typography in Russia , founded in 1553;
First “skyscraper” of Moscow , 5-storeyed building built in 1876;
English Old Court on Varvarka street , the former home of the first foreign representation in Moscow (1553);

The Trinity monastery on Ilyinka – Apartment house-monastery of the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra (“Trinity Compound”) which is nowadays an object of cultural heritage of regional significance (1630s).

+ Traditional Russian food with a great buffet bar.

Eat as much as you like! :) Hearty lunch in Russian traditional restaurant, with old Russian traditions, bright decor and amazing authentic food in historical Tverskaya street, the main street of Moscow.

14 th -17 th centuries

Zamoskvorechye & Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve

Highlights :, zamoskvorechye tour.

Explore vibrant Zamoskvorechye neighborhood full of life and character, which locals consider an epicenter of architectural masterpieces and ancient cathedrals, modern street art and best coffee in the town – Ultimate Russian Culture Experience!
Soak in the beauty of the greatest Russian masterpieces;
Explore the treasures of Russian art and architecture , ancient and modern;
Get immersed into Russian history ;
Track the origins of Moscow ;
Experience Moscow’s premier art gallery – Tretyakov Gallery;
Admire the impressive architectural styles of Russian cathedrals and temples.

Kolomenskoe Tour

Discover the oldest settlement of Moscow belonging to the Stone Age!

Kolomenskoye is a Natural Landscape Museum-Reserve in the open air: Ethnographic art, historical and architectural complex with the existing facilities of the medieval farm, stables, a forge, an apiary, a watermill.

You will see:

Palace of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich , initially built in 17th century and consisted of 270 rooms Nowadays considered the 8th wonder of the world by Russians;
The Church of the Ascension – a UNESCO monument and a masterpiece of Russian and world architecture.
Palace Pavillion that served as a tea house or home theater, the main façade is decorated with Doric portico and two lioness sculptures;
Front Gate Complex that was the main entrance to the summer residence of the Tsar for distinguished guests;
Church of Beheading of St. John the Forerunner that Ivan the Terrible for holiday worships and his birthday feasts;
As well as royal Food Yard, Peter I’s House, Household structure (Mead Brewery), The Streltsy Guard-houses, Moss Tower and the Memorial Pole.

+ Lunch in Korchma, Ukranian traditional restaurant.

Dynamic interior with authentic decorations and festive ethnic Russian & Ukranian traditions in one place! Your lunch will include:

Lean sorrel borsch
Podolsky Salad, incredibly juicy and crispy salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, cauliflower, carrots and greens;
Zrazy with mushrooms and spinach
Chicken soup with noodles
Spring salad with cucumbers, radish, eggs, green onions, lettuce and mayonnaise
Chicken schnitzel with stewed cabbage

18 th -21 st centuries

Tsaritsino, Gorky Park, Winzavod Art Center

Tsaritsino tour.

Tsaritsyno is the monument of the so-called “Russian Gothic”, unique in its style.

Enjoy the picturesque nature of the architectural ensemble, fairy bridges and castle, vintage terraces, statues, ponds and historical atmosphere! You will see:

Palace of Catherine II , full of mysteries, gossips, intrigues and scandals;
Famous Bazhenov’s Bridges that are distinguished by unique artistic features that fully represented the architect’s “theater architecture”;
The cascade of Tsaritsynsky ponds formed during 16th-18th centuries;
Magic Slopes with beautiful landscapes that became a natural backdrop for open-air theater during Catherine II reign;
The Ruined Tower of Tsaritsyno offers amazing panoramic views from its observation deck;
Temple of Ceres where the Empress rested and watched holiday hay celebrations;
Tsaritsyno Fountain with 3000 lights dancing polonaises and minuets in the evenings.

Gorky Park Tour

Gorky Park is Russia’s most popular park. It also features Europe’s largest skating rink with artificial ice in winter.

Discover Gorky Park from its early Soviet Communist history and hear the stories behind how it evolved to become the trendiest and hottest spot of Moscow.

Founded in 1923, the park has a lot to impress with:

Rich Soviet past;
Authentic local vibe;
Garage Art Center, founded by Dasha Zhukova, the wife of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich;
Gorgeous nature landscape;
Yoga and dance classes;
A myriad of local cozy cafes , street food kiosks, posh restaurants and coffee places with hot pastry.

What you get:

+ A friend in Moscow.
+ Private & customized Moscow tour.
+ An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
+ An authentic experience of local life.
+ Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
+ Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
+ A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
+ Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
+ Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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St. Petersburg

Boris Pasternak's museum house

Guided tour of Pasternak's museum housein Peredelkino village

Pasternak’s “important achievement both in contemporary lyrical poetry and in the field of the great Russian epic tradition" was honored with a Nobel Prize for Literature in 1958. For many readers outside Russia, Pasternak is known mainly as the author of the touching historical novel Doctor Zhivago written in 1957. The novel as a whole communicates the haphazard, uncertain and chaotic quality of life caused by the Russian Revolution and the heroic case of quiet humanism demonstrated by a single person.

Pasternak’s translations of Georgian poets favored by Joseph Stalin probably saved his life during the purges of the 1930’s. However, the individualistic Pasternak was not suited to the Soviet artistic climate when art was required to have a clear socialism-inspired agenda and so Russian publishers were unwilling to print Pasternak’s novel. In fact, Doctor Zhivago first appeared in Italy in 1957.

Pasternak won his Nobel Prize the following year. Despite Pasternak politely declining his Nobel Prize quoting: “because of the significance given to this award in the society to which I belong”, the award nevertheless spread his fame well beyond Russia. He ended his life in virtual exile in an artist's community in Peredelkino village. His last poems are devoted to love, to freedom and to reconciliation with God.

Pasternak was rehabilitated posthumously in 1987. In 1988, after being banned for three decades, "Doctor Zhivago" was published in the USSR. In 1989 Pasternak's son accepted his father's Nobel medal in Stockholm.

Pastenak loved his house in Peredelkino, the house and surrounding nature featuring in his poetry. The poet considered the cycle of poems "Peredelkino", which he completed in the spring of 1941, to be his best work. The poet spent the first difficult months of the war in Peredelkino; he completed the novel "Doctor Zhivago" here, wrote the Lara poems and translated Shakespeare and Goethe. It was in this house that he learned he was to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature on October 23rd 1958. He died here on May 30 1960.

The house in Peredelkino only acquired the status of a museum in 1990, thirty years after the poet's death and a century after his birth. The museum has fully preserved the environment and atmosphere of the house where Boris Pasternak lived and worked. The director of the museum is Elena Pasternak, grandaughter of Boris Pasternak.

Pasternak’s grave can be found in Peredelkino cemetery which is situated 20 minutes walk from the poet’s house.

Tour duration: 6-7 hours

Tour cost: English - 150 USD, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese - 180 USD

Additional expenses: car - 150 USD, or train - 10 USD

Send us a request!

Money latest: We eat six billion packets a year - here are the healthiest crisps

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Self-checkouts - they're like marmite, people seem to either love them or hate them.

But the boss of Sainsbury's has claimed that his customers do enjoy using self-checkouts, despite criticism that that machines don't always provide the convenience promised.

Simon Roberts told The Telegraph that there are more of them in Sainsbury's stores "than a number of years ago" as shoppers like the "speedy checkout".

But despite this, he said there won't be a time when they'll replace cashiers completely.

"Over the last year, where we've put more self-checkouts in, we're always making sure that the traditional kind of belted checkout is there," he said.

His comments come after northern supermarket Booths ditch self-checkouts at all but two of its sites after customer feedback.

Walmart and Costco in the US have also scaled back on the systems.

Let us know in the comments - do you love or hate self-checkouts?

We've all heard consumer advice that's repeated so often it almost becomes cliché. So, every Friday the Money team will get to the bottom of a different "fact" and decide whether it's a myth or must.

This week it is...

'Smart meters save you money'

For this one, we've enlisted the help of Dr Steve Buckley, also known as the Energy Doctor and head of data science at Loop...

So do smart meters help you save?

"The short answer is both yes and no," Steve says.

"Installing a smart meter by itself won't magically reduce your energy consumption. But, by giving you easy access to your energy usage data, smart meters pave the way for savings that you couldn't achieve otherwise."

Before smart meters, most households only found out how much energy they had used when the bill arrived.

By that stage it's too late to address wasteful usage, leading to what's known as "bill shock".

"With a smart meter, you can see your usage and costs in real-time through an in-home display or an app provided by your supplier," Steve says.

"This immediate feedback encourages you to use less energy. If you measure it, you can control it."

In 2022, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero found that homes with smart meters used about 3.4% less electricity and 3% less gas.

"This might not seem like a lot, but it adds up to a saving of over £50 per household annually," Steve says.

If all homes in the UK made similar cuts, that would amount to savings of around £1.5bn and a potential reduction in CO2 emissions by about 2.7m tonnes each year.

"Good for individual households but also great for the planet," Steve says.

Smart meters are often installed at no extra cost to the consumer - it's effectively free data for households.

Limitations

Smart meters are more or less what you make of them - a simple, free tool that allows you to see headline figures.

However, "without detailed analysis, it's tough to identify and eliminate" where you could be wasting money, Steve says.

Apps like Utrack, Loop and Hugo Energy can help you work out where you might be losing money by offering a more detailed breakdown if connected to your smart meter.

Those tools are often free, but you may need to register your card details as proof of address.

The tools give a number of useful insights, including looking at consumption in other households of similar size or monitoring where chunks of your money are going, such as to a faulty boiler or the "phantom load" (energy wasted by devices left on unnecessarily).

Myth or must?

Although smart meters alone don't reduce energy bills, they are a vital tool to help energy efficiency and cost savings.

By Ollie Cooper, Money team

It can be hard to balance getting nutritious foods that make you feel good without spending a lot.

In this series every Friday, we try to find the healthiest options in the supermarket for the best value.

We've asked Sunna Van Kampen, founder of Tonic Health , who went viral on social media for reviewing food in the search of healthier choices, for his input.

The series does not aim to identify the outright healthiest option, but to help you get better nutritional value for as little money as possible.

This week, we're looking at crisps.

In the UK we eat six billion packets of crisps a year.

Sunna has three easy tips for finding the tastiest options that are kinder to your body...

1. Understand the fat facts

"Typical crisps can be oil sponges and contain over 30% fat from low-quality vegetable oils that have been fried," Sunna says.

"What we are on the lookout for those that buck the trend and stay away from the fat."

So, he says, aim for crisps that contain less than 15% total fat.

2. Fibre up your snack time

"While crisps aren't exactly salad, some can offer more nutritional value than others," Sunna says.

"Check the labels for options that have more fibre or protein."

These help you feel fuller for longer and also keep your digestive system happy.

3. Portion control

"It's easy to demolish an entire bag in one sitting - however, many brands offer multipack bags that are portion-controlled, usually around 25g a bag," Sunna says.

Sticking to these helps to manage calorie intake and stops overindulging.

The big picture

"Small changes might not immediately seem like a lot but if you eat a bag a day with your lunch, we are talking about up to a whopping two litres of oil cut from your diet over the course of the year," Sunna says,

"This is not permission to eat crisps every day (enjoy as an occasional treat) but rather an indication of how small changes add up quickly overtime."

The good news is Sunna's recommendations are all similar in price to their popular, fattier rivals - so you don't need to make a bigger investment to reap some health benefits.

We've included the prices for the brands' standard multipacks at Tesco - correct as of time of writing.

Walkers Oven Baked - £1.95 for six-pack

"Around £1.95 for a pack of six, these crisps are baked, not fried, slashing the fat content to 13%, so a great option."

Popchips - £2.25 for five-pack

"These have just 13% fat content as they're popped rather than fried so are a great way to go reducing fat without compromising on the crunch."

And for some non-crisp options...

ProperCorn Popcorn - £2 for six-pack

Often described as "the healthier, lighter option", Sunna says ProperCorn "isn't actually the best option on the market for fat content at 17.4%".

That being said, you do get "double the fibre of standard crisps at 10.9g per 100g".

At only £2 for a pack of six, it's well-priced, too.

Snack A Jacks - £2.20 for five-pack

"At only 8.3% fat per 100g, it's a great option at £2.20 for a pack of five."

Penn State Baked Pretzels - £1.50 for 175g bag

Now for Sunna's winner.

"The German classic is a great option at only 4.6% fat per 100g," he says.

One downfall is that they are not available in portioned bags, so be careful with the whole 175g bag for £1.50.

Want another option altogether?

"If you want to be even healthier, consider the switch to nuts, seeds or even dried cheese snacks," Sunna says.

"Higher in calories yes, but higher in good healthy fats too and are more satiating which will limit the chance of overeating."

The nutritionist's view - from Dr Laura Brown , senior lecturer in nutrition, food and health sciences at Teesside University...

"Baked instead of fried crisps is definitely a way forward as well as the popcorn suggestion," she says.

"We should also be aiming to look at the amount of protein and fibre found in products. For example, lentil and pea snacks are growing in popularity due to their higher protein and fibre values, so the focus should be more on looking for ingredients other than potatoes, oil and salt.

"I also feel 'crisp' based snacks made in an air fryer are becoming more popular. These can include a wholemeal wrap with a small amount of oil added, and placed in the air fryer with paprika and other seasoning added for flavour.

"Also, chickpeas in the air fryer make for a super delicious protein and fibre rich snack. They are cheaper than crisps and lower in fat since no oil has to be added."

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