Lee, Robert E., Boyhood Home
Also known as: Potts--Fitzhugh House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built around 1795, this brick house at 607 Oronoco Street in Alexandria has five bays, two and one-half stories, a raised cellar and a center-hall plan, with a matching rear ell. John Potts, Jr., built it with his business partner William Wilson, who built the nearly identical house next door. The front is laid in Flemish bond, and a gutterhead is dated 1795. Inside, much original Federal woodwork survives, including paneled shutters, wainscoting, cupboards, plaster cornices and an Adamesque ceiling medallion. William Fitzhugh, a friend and associate of George Washington, bought the house in the 1790s, and his daughter married Martha Washington's grandson here in 1804. Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee's family rented the house from 1811, and they lived here for a total of nine years until 1825. His son Robert E. Lee spent his boyhood here before leaving for West Point. A 1976 restoration returned parts of the rear wing to their 1796 appearance. The house has a garden and is in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The house is the boyhood home of Robert E. Lee, whose family rented it for about nine years between 1811 and 1825. It is also tied to John Potts, William Fitzhugh and their circle around George Washington. It retains much original Federal-style woodwork, hardware and plan.
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 86001228, listed June 5, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 607 Oronoco St., Alexandria (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Alexandria |
| Listed | June 5, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001228 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | John Potts, Jr., and William Wilson (builders; Wilson owned and built the neighboring 609 Oronoco) |
| Architectural style | Federal (Adamesque interior detailing) |
| Areas of significance | Military, Transportation, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition; the house was restored in 1976 and is listed as occupied and used as a museum and private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Alexandria Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.80973, -77.04520 (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 86001228.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7343834
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.