A National Historic Landmark District (NHLD) is a geographical area that has received recognition from the United States Government that the buildings, landscapes, cultural features and archaeological resources within it are of the highest significance and worthy of preservation.
7-505: The Alexandria Historic District is a National Historic Landmark District in Alexandria, Virginia . Encompassing all of the city's Old Town and some adjacent areas, this area contains one of the nation's best-preserved assemblages of the late-18th and early-19th century urban architecture. The district was locally designated (as the Old and Historic Alexandria district) in 1946 and was declared
14-490: A National Historic Landmark in 1966. The city of Alexandria was chartered in 1748, and its city center was laid out as a grid of streets on the west bank of the Potomac River . One of the surveyors involved in this work was future United States President George Washington . The city grew to become a major seaport serving much of northern Virginia, and its streets were lined with Federal style townhouses. The city remained
21-765: A National Historic Landmark or on the National Register of Historic Places but may also include non-contributing properties. The U.S. federal government designates historic districts through the National Park Service , a division of the U.S. Department of the Interior . Once designated an NNL District, districts often become cultural destinations and generate economic benefits for the communities from history-related tourism. NHLDs often qualify for preservation grant monies but dramatic or negative change to them can impact their integrity and create cause for concern over
28-476: A major port, dealing principally in grain and tobacco, until the American Civil War . Elements of its historic importance as a port continues in the survival of several waterfront warehouses from that period. Other National Historic Landmarks within the district include: Other National Register-listed properties within the district include: The district boundaries, as defined by the National Register and
35-767: The Art Deco Virginia Public Service building at 117 S. Washington Street, the Post Office and Courthouse at 200 S. Washington Street, and the Burke and Herbert Bank at 621 King Street. Within this larger district is a smaller historic district as defined by the National Historic Landmark designation, consisting of the central portion of the larger district. National Historic Landmark District The boundaries of an NHLD typically include contributing properties that may themselves be listed distinctly as
42-599: The Virginia Landmarks Register , are the Potomac River to the east, Queen Street to the north, Jones Point and the Capital Beltway to the south, and Alfred Street to the west. There are a few extensions beyond these bounds, notably along Washington Street as far north as 2nd Street. The commercial center of the district is around S. Washington Street and King Street. Notable buildings in that area include
49-670: The loss of NHLD designation. These threats can come from development or climate change as evidenced most recently with the catastrophic damage to the Lahaina NHLD from wildfires. One of the largest NHLDs is the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts at over 30,000 acres; some are much smaller, including the Cobblestone National Historic Landmark District in New York state , which is under one acre in size. There are over 2,600 National Historic Landmark Districts in
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