Fairfax-Moore House
Also known as: Fairfax House
Why it's listed
Located at 207 Prince Street in the Alexandria Historic District, this white-painted brick town house has three bays, three and a half stories and a long rear service wing. Its architecture reflects the homes of the city's wealthiest residents in the late eighteenth century. Features include an Aquia stone doorway, Flemish bond brickwork, a modillion cornice and an elliptical arch over the stair. The lot was once owned by George William Fairfax, a friend of George Washington, though the present building most likely dates from the mid-1780s, when John Harper developed the lot. Later owners included merchant William Hodgson. The house is also significant for preservation. In 1929 Gay Montague Moore bought and restored it, becoming the first person to restore a historic house in Alexandria. She went on to found the Alexandria Association and write a history of the city. Her work helped lead to the district's designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1966. The house remains a single-family home in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a classic example of late-eighteenth-century Alexandria urban domestic architecture (Criterion C). It also qualifies under Criterion A for historic preservation, because Gay Montague Moore's 1929 purchase and restoration marked the beginning of the preservation movement in Alexandria.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 90002113, listed January 17, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 207 Prince St., Alexandria (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Alexandria |
| Listed | January 17, 1991 |
| Reference number | 90002113 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1785-1940 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Conservation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and well maintained; used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Alexandria Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.80338, -77.04237 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 90002113.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5430144
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.