Murray-Dick-Fawcett House and Garden
The Murray-Dick-Fawcett House, at 517 Prince Street, is one of the earliest homes in the city, and possibly the least altered 18th Century home in Northern Virginia.
The 0.3-acre lot, which contains a 1770s timber-frame and brick dwelling and a small garden, was one of the few buildings in existence in the area during the American Revolution. The house has been recognized by local historians as a “fascinating microcosm of the complete single family dwelling, containing in addition to the usual living, dining and bedrooms a kitchen, a necessary, rooms for slaves or servants and storage rooms, all under one roof.”
The property was acquired by the City of Alexandria in 2017, with the support of conservation trust funds. It is to be used in perpetuity as a historic site, vest-pocket park and garden, creating new open space in Old Town and preserving this nationally significant architectural and cultural resource for residents and visitors. The former owner has life-tenancy in the house, with public access for special events 12 times per year. In the future, the house will be operated as a museum and educational center focused on domestic life in Alexandria during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Honored by Preservation Virginia
Congratulations to the Murray-Dick-Fawcett House: Honored by Preservation Virginia
Since 1971, Preservation Virginia has recognized outstanding preservation efforts across the Commonwealth. This year, the Office of Historic Alexandria is being honored for its exceptional restoration work on the Murray-Dick-Fawcett House, one of Alexandria’s oldest and best-preserved residential structures. Acquired by the City of Alexandria in 2017, the house recently completed a multi-year, two-phase exterior restoration that began in 2021, ensuring the preservation of its architectural integrity.
The Preservation Awards Ceremony will take place on Friday, September 27th, at the historic Main Street Station in Richmond. The event will celebrate nine awardees, including the Murray-Dick-Fawcett House, and honor the distinguished career of Elizabeth S. Kostelny, CEO of Preservation Virginia, for her 34 years of leadership.
Preservation Virginia is dedicated to inspiring public engagement in preserving and sustaining Virginia’s historic places through its leadership in advocacy, education, revitalization, and stewardship. To learn more, visit preservationvirginia.org.
Preservation at Murray-Dick-Fawcett House
The Murray-Dick-Fawcett House is one of our community treasures and its preservation is a top priority. Before doing any work, a combination of archival research and field investigation was performed to understand the physical and social history of the site. Deeds, fire insurance maps, family photos and ledger entries were combined with close inspection of the materials in the field, dendrochronology and laboratory paint analysis.
Historic Structures Report and Comprehensive Plan
The City engaged Glavé & Holmes Architecture (G&H) in 2022 to perform a Historic Structure Report (HSR) to summarize the history and evolution of the Murray-Dick-Fawcett House and document its form, materials, and condition. This would precede the creation of a Comprehensive Plan to develop the property into a destination for public visitation and heritage tourism. The HSR was funded by the Historic Alexandria Foundation.
Visiting
Visiting the Garden
The garden area is normally open to the public from the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please respect the privacy of the home’s tenant and do not ascend the steps to the house.
Visiting the House
Event Tickets
To purchase tickets to events at Historic Alexandria Museums and to shop online, visit The Alexandria Shop.
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