Eighteenth-century wharves, taverns, homes, a bakery—archeologists unearthed them all when they started digging into the Lee Street site in Alexandria. Shallow foundations make for a relatively routine excavation, but before they could get to the 18th-century remnants, the team had to go through another layer.
After the residential neighborhood, the site held a U.S. army hospital facility where wounded Civil War soldiers sought treatment. The main exhibit at Alexandria Archaeology Museum introduces visitors to this entire city block, named for the intersection where it sits (Lee Street and Queen Street). Explore the exhibit to learn about everything from the history of the city block, to the details of its excavation, to the artifacts it yielded.
After all, this Alexandria museum is all about acquainting the city with its past. In the public laboratory, you can actually watch employees scrub down and catalog new artifacts. Or you can head to a hands-on activity area where kids can try their hand at piecing together replicas of artifacts. Each of the exhibits promises new insight into Alexandria's history.
Alexandria Archaeology Museum
The Torpedo Factory Art Center
105 N. Union Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
http://www.alexandriava.gov/Archaeology
http://www.yelp.com/biz/alexandria-archaeology-museum-alexandria
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