Blackbeard and brothels and bootleggers — oh, my!
Alexandria Colonial Tours has launched a new tour featuring both ghosts and pirates, and it has quickly become the historic tours company’s most popular option.
“There’s a sense of fun and excitement when you add pirates to the mix,” the company’s General Manager Jimmy Meritt told ALXnow.
The tour starts near The Old Town Shop on South Union Street and travels along the Potomac River before heading inland a few blocks to the Wilkes Street Tunnel. The tunnel can be particularly spooky at night when lit with a lantern.
The new tour was in development for about a year and took about eight months to research, write and map out. Then, the tour guides went through a few months of training and rehearsals before launching the tour to the public. Everyone in the company participated in the tour development process, either by helping with research, offering ideas for new elements or writing and editing.
“There’s a surprising amount of pirate history on the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay,” Meritt said.
Stories delve into oyster pirates and other troublemakers, floating brothels and a potential local connection to the famous pirate Blackbeard.
Meritt said he’s lucky to work with a variety of smart and talented team members who made the new tour possible.
“All of the historic stories are true,” Meritt said.
The ghost stories have been documented, although attendees will have to use their own judgment on whether to believe the tales. All ages are welcome on the tour, but it’s up to parents to decide if a tour might be too scary for younger children.
The tour is already popular enough that the company is considering adding additional slots for the tour that covers about eight blocks over the course of an hour and 15 minutes. Reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with this tour getting 5 out of 5 stars from more than 75 reviews on TripAdvisor.
The company has also recently launched a new tour in D.C. called Georgetown Ghosts & Vampires. That tour includes a documented vampire story that appeared in The Washington Post in the 1920s.
Alexandria Colonial Tours has been operating in Alexandria since 1985. In addition to the original Ghosts & Graveyards Tour and this new pirate tour, the company offers a variety of other historic tours.
Guests can book tours through www.alexcolonialtours.com. Tickets range from $9 to $20 per person. Children under age 6 are free.
