Central Nova News

Alexandria Archaeology has announced the completion of a groundbreaking study on the Alexandria waterfront. The study, conducted by historian Dr. Abby Schreiber, compiles deed research on the waterfront blocks and parcels from Oronoco Street to Duke Street, providing valuable insights into the city's history.

"This report represents a major milestone in documenting the City's history," said Dr. Eleanor Breen, City Archaeologist. "Dr. Schreiber's research reveals stories that have not yet been told, for example, about the role of women as landowners along the waterfront."

The study is the first of its kind to organize documentary sources by block, allowing researchers and archaeologists to delve into the micro-historical details of how early residents built new land in the shallows of the Potomac River to create a thriving waterfront. It sheds light on the contributions of women and enslaved and free Black people to the development of the city's waterfront.

As part of the larger Waterfront Flood Mitigation project, the study will inform future studies and archaeological investigations. The report, along with a companion online StoryMap, can be accessed on the project's webpage.

The Alexandria Waterfront Documentary study is a significant step forward in understanding the city's past. It provides a comprehensive overview of the historical development of the waterfront and highlights the often overlooked contributions of marginalized groups.

For media inquiries, please contact the Office of Communications & Public Information at newsroom@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3969. For reasonable accommodation or an alternative format, email historicalexandria@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4554, Virginia Relay 711.

The full report and StoryMap can be found on the project's webpage at alexandriava.gov/go/5367.