Alexandria, Virginia: A Pictorial History

Capturing the heritage of a community "united in a common commitment to the good of the city" has been the goal of author Karen Harvey. Over 350 photographs, including maps and sketches, present the spirit of the city and the physical transformation from the seven thousand acres of the Howsing Patent, valued at one pound of tobacco per acre, to the flourishing twentieth century city with its close connections to the nation's capital. George Washington and Robert E. Lee were Alexandrians, and the seaport at Alexandria played an important role in the war for independence and, later, in the Civil War. Today in Alexandria the arts flourish, and the land which once could be exchanged for tobacco is vibrant with the activities of the seventies and the pride of the residents in their rich heritage.