Story + Photography by David D'Agostino

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood for the 78th Historic Alexandria Homes Tour. The tour is presented each September by The Twig, the Junior Auxiliary of INOVA Alexandria Hospital. The Twig is a volunteer organization of women devoted to providing financial aid, volunteer service and support to the hospital.

Six homes were featured on this year’s tour, including a residence on Prince Street which sits on one of two known lots that George Washington owned in Alexandria. When empty lots were first sold, owners were given two years to build on them or they were forced to forfeit their land. This Prince Street residence was one of three houses on the tour featuring McVeigh architecture, where an original “Flounder” – an easy to build structure with one side tall, the other short, and with a single roof line – is later joined to a larger home with a curved wall.

Special thanks go to the owners of these historic properties, who generously opened their homes to the hundreds of guests who enjoyed the tour. Proceeds will help The Twig fulfill their pledge of $1 million for the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at INOVA Alexandria Hospital. You can support them by visiting The Twig Gift Shop at 106 N. Columbus Street.