With all due respect to Mount Vernon Avenue, King Street is probably Alexandria’s most iconic roadway — but it wasn’t intended to be.
Today, King Street is synonymous with Old Town and runs out to the northwest corner of the city, where it becomes Leesburg Pike. According to Historic Alexandria, the office that oversees the city’s museums and historic sites, back in 1749 city planners had intended for Cameron Street to be the main avenue in Alexandria.
“Cameron Street, named for the Baron of Cameron, was meant to be the city’s main thoroughfare, but King Street has since taken that crown,” Historic Alexandria said in a Facebook post. “This unintentional change was likely because King became more passable than Cameron.”
Historic Alexandria said there were likely two reasons Cameron Street’s popularity never took off the way King Street did.
“First, the head of Oronoco Creek used to make the intersection of Cameron + Pitt Street marshy,” the post said. “Second, Christ Church, built-in 1773, essentially cut off travel on Cameron, making King Street the new main east-west route.”
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Time flies when you’re having fun! The T.C. Williams High School Class of 1973 will hold its 50th reunion July 21-23, 2023 in Alexandria. All graduates and their adult nears and dears are welcome. Events include a Friday evening icebreaker, Saturday dinner dance, and a Sunday brunch. For more information: tcwilliams73.com, 770.789.3534.
Spring Fling at Rising Sol Yoga School
Join us for a day of FREE hot yoga. Experience our class styles and meet our teachers. Buy a bite at the Bake Sale to benefit The Carpenter’s Shelter, peruse some special vendors, take advantage of in-person only discounts on