Lyceum, The
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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 1837 at 201 South Washington Street in Alexandria, this two-story brick building was erected as the headquarters of the Lyceum, a society for scholarly activity founded in 1834 by Benjamin Hallowell. It also housed the Alexandria Library Company, founded in 1749 as the city's first organization for the advancement of learning. The Lyceum remained an important institution until the Civil War disrupted its activities; afterward the society was dissolved and the building became a residence for the daughter of John B. Dangerfield. Its facade is faced with scored stucco and has three bays separated by pilasters, with a projecting two-story pedimented Doric portico at the center. A Doric entablature with triglyphs and metopes surrounds the building. Much interior woodwork was lost to early twentieth-century alterations, though the staircase survives. The nomination describes it as an unusually fine monumental Greek Revival building in Virginia and a rare surviving structure built for a cultural function. At the time of listing it stood abandoned and badly deteriorated.
Significance in brief: The building is described as an unusually fine example of monumental Greek Revival architecture in Virginia. It is also a rare survivor of a structure built specifically to house local cultural institutions. It served the Lyceum society and the Alexandria Library Company until the Civil War.
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 69000334, listed May 27, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 201 S. Washington St., Alexandria (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Alexandria |
| Listed | May 27, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000334 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | At the time of nomination (1968-69) the building was abandoned and badly deteriorated; later file notes record that it was acquired by the City of Alexandria and restored. |
| Coordinates | 38.72539, -77.04749 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 69000334.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6707234
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.