Looking for something fun, unique, and inexpensive to do in Old Town Alexandria? Swing by the Torpedo Factory Arts Center for an afternoon of artistic discovery. As you stroll through the 82 workshops and seven galleries, you’ll see a few real torpedoes that harken back to the building’s history as a World War I munitions factory.

Since the 1970s, the factory—which opens out onto a walking path on the picturesque Potomac River—has functioned as a communal space for working artists to interact with the community. You can see artists at work and discuss the process with them. Be forewarned: the artists make their own schedules and if there’s someone you’d specifically like to see, you need to schedule privately with them.

Don’t miss the third floor, where the Alexandria Archaeology Museum resides, or the gift shop where you can purchase art, jewelry, clothing, and other goods made by the Torpedo Factory artists!

Torpedo Factory Art Center
105 N. Union St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 838-4565
torpedofactory.org

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Dean Hochman

Roughly half a million people check out the Torpedo Factory Art Center every single year. Since it first opened in 1974, the massive collection of art galleries has attracted a lot of attention due to its sheer size. It houses 82 studios, each holding the work of a different local artist. The public is always welcome to walk through and see what the masters are working on, which is another aspect that makes Torpedo Factory Art Center so unique.

It also plays host to six galleries, two workshops, and its own in-house museum, the Alexandria Archaeology Museum. After you've explored the art galleries, head to the museum to see its main exhibit, "A Community Digs Its Past: The Lee Street Site." The exhibit excavates one of Alexandria's city blocks, unveiling its many layers of years. From Civil War hospitals to a commercial bakery to taverns and warehouses, you'll see everything that's ever sat atop this particular city block.

Torpedo Factory Art Center
105 N. Union Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 838-4565
torpedofactory.org
www.yelp.com/biz/torpedo-factory-art-center-alexandria

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/futurilla