Presbyterian Meeting House, Old
Also known as: First Presbyterian Church of Alexandria; DHR File No. 100-98
Why it's listed
Built in 1836-37, this two-story brick church at 321 South Fairfax Street in Alexandria has a pedimented front gable and a five-stage bell tower at the rear. It replaced the city's first non-Anglican house of worship, a 1775 building that burned after a lightning strike in 1835. Whether any of the earlier walls survive remains uncertain, though some bluestone foundation appears to have been reused. The lot also holds a graveyard in use mainly from about 1772 to 1810, with monuments to associates of George Washington and a tomb of an unknown Revolutionary soldier, plus a 1787 manse now used as offices. The congregation grew from Scottish and Scotch-Irish Presbyterians who settled the port town. Washington's funeral eulogy was delivered here in December 1799. The church closed in 1886, reopened in 1929 as a museum after a national fundraising campaign, and returned to worship in 1949. Its interior retains boxed pews, galleries and a curved apse.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as the early home of Alexandria's second-oldest and first non-Anglican congregation, serving Scottish merchants and sea captains. It is an intact example of conservative ecclesiastical design of its era. George Washington's funeral eulogy was delivered here in 1799, and the churchyard holds graves of many prominent early Alexandrians.
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 01000143, listed February 16, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 321 S. Fairfax St., Alexandria (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Alexandria |
| Listed | February 16, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000143 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Early Republic (Federal style with some Greek Revival details) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Returned to service as a church in 1949 after being closed in 1886 and reopened as a museum and shrine in 1929; the church and its buildings remain in religious use. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | Alexandria Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.80156, -77.04352 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 01000143.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7084779
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.