Archaeology of the 500 Block of King Street

The site of the Alexandria Courthouse, on the 500 block of King Street, was the last of the six Urban Renewal blocks to be excavated in the 1960s and 1970s.
Page updated on December 29, 2021 at 8:17 AM

Urban Archaeology on Alexandria's Main Street

500 Block of King Street (south side)

In 1967, two thirds of the 500 block (south) of King Street were demolished as part of the King Street Urban Renewal Project undertaken by the City of Alexandria. A parking lot occupied the empty space until the fall of 1977, when construction of a new Courthouse and an underground parking lot were due to begin. The 500 block south redevelopment was the last of six urban renewal projects planned by the City of Alexandria. 

Located on Alexandria’s main street, the inhabitants of the 500 block lived and worked in the commercial and political core of Alexandria. Since its first occupation in the 1780's, the block was characterized by social, economic, and ethnic diversity. From rich merchants to widowed wives to enslaved peoples, archaeologists uncovered the artifacts of a decidedly eclectic community. 

This site was excavated in 1977 by former City Archaeologist Pamela J. Cressey, along with staff and volunteers. The work was funded in part by a grant from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Amanda Iacobelli worked with Dr. Cressey to cull through field records, artifact catalogues and historic research, to provide this summary of the archaeology and history of the block.

The Archaeology Project: Site 44AX1

  • Project Overview 
  • Digging the Block 
  • Excavation Summaries
    • Feature 5 (C), 518-520 King Street
    • Feature 6 (D), 522-524 King Street
    • Feature 7 (B), 104 S. St. Asaph Street
    • Feature 14, 522-524 King Street
    • Feature 17 (X), 121 S. Pitt Street
    • Feature DD, 108-110 S. St. Asaph Street
    • Feature LL, 108-110 S. St. Asaph Street
    • Feature PP, 108-110 S. St. Asaph Street
    • Feature QQ, 106 S. St. Asaph Street
    • Feature VV, 112-114 S. St. Asaph Street
    • Feature AAA (Y), 508-512 King Street
  • Images: Urban Renewal in Action 
  • A Musket in a Privy

History of the Block

People on the Block

References

The site of the Alexandria Courthouse, on the 500 block of King Street, was the last of the six Urban Renewal blocks to be excavated in the 1960s and 1970s. The following publications and unpublished papers can be read by appointment at the Alexandria Archaeology Museum.

General References

  • Sinberg Baker, Ruth. 1992. “Home of Peace Cemetery” in The Fireside Sentinel, Vol. VI, No.4. The Alexandria Library, Lloyd House Journal, April 1992.
  • Beidleman, Katharine D. “Eight Parking Spaces at a Time: pragmatism and research methods within the urban environment.” Paper presented at the 12th Annual Conference of the Society for Historical Archaeology, Nashville, Tennessee, 1979.
  • Beidleman, Katharine D. “The 500-block King Street Excavation: Alexandria Archaeology’s First ‘Test Square’ ” Paper presented at the 9th Annual Middle Atlantic Archaeology Conference, Rehobeth Beach, Delaware, 1979.
  • Beidleman, Katherine D. et al.“Creating a database: the city’s test square.” Paper presented at the 45th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 1980.
  • Cox, Mrs. Hugh B. “Historic American Buildings Survey: Adam Lynn House.” The Historic Alexandria Foundation. Ed. Antoinette J. Lee, 1975.
  • McCord, T.B., Jr. Across the Fence But A World Apart. The Coleman Site, 1796-1907. Alexandria, VA: Alexandria Urban Archaeology Program, 1985.
  • Perge, Catherine. “A Historical Survey of Alexandria’s Water Supply 1755-1852.” 1980.
  • Provine, Dorothy S., abstracted and indexed by. Alexandria County, Virginia Free Negro Registers 1797-1861. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc. 1990.
  • Shephard, Steve J. Obtaining Water and Discarding Waste: an Overview of Attitudes and  Practices in Nineteenth-century Alexandria, Virginia. Paper presented at the First Joint Archaeological Conference, January 5-9, Baltimore, Maryland. Alexandria Archaeology Publications Number 4, 1989.
  • Smith, William F. and T. Michael Miller. A Seaport Saga: Portrait of Old Alexandria, Virginia. Norfolk/Virginia Beach: The Downing Company Publishers, 1989.
  • Terrie, Phillip. “Alexandria’s Main Street Residents: A Social History of the 500 Block of King Street.” Alexandria Archaeology Manuscript, 1979.
  • Van Landingham, Marian. “Digging Alexandria: The 500 Block of King Street.” Alexandria Archaeology Publications Number 57, 1994.
  • Wheelock, Perry. Robert Hartshorne Miller, 1798-1874, a Quaker Presence in Alexandria. Alexandria Archaeology Publications Number 61. 1995.

Artifacts

  • Baker Larsen, Ellouise. American Historical Views on Staffordshire China. 3rd Edition. Dover Publications, Inc., New York. 1975.
  • Godden, Geoffrey A. Encyclopaedia of British Pottery and Porcelain Marks. New York: Bonanza Books, 1964
  • Magid, Barbara H. “Alexandria Archaeology: Evidence of the China Trade,” The 27th Annual  Washington Antiques Show Catalogue, 1982.
  • Magid, Barbara H. Artifacts, Advertisements and Archaeology, Catalogue of an Exhibition. Alexandria Archaeology. City of Alexandria, 1985.
  • Magid, Barbara H. Commemorative Wares in George Washington’s Hometown. Ceramics in America, Chipstone Foundation, 2006.

Feature 5: 518-520 King Street

Munson, James D. “The Several Alexandrias.” Student paper on file at Alexandria Archaeology Museum, 1979.

Feature 6: 522-524 King Street

  • Bachorik, Stephen P. 1983. “Canova-Style Whiteware Wash Basin.” Student paper on file at Alexandria Archaeology Museum.
  • Clement, Jennifer P. 1986. “Love of AX1 D19-C9.” (on the netted silk glove found in Ft. 6 Lev. 19, information about gloves in general and glove sizing).Student paper on file at Alexandria Archaeology Museum.
  • Griffin, Rebecca E. ?. “Frozen Charlottes.” (on fragments found in Level 13). Student paper on file at Alexandria Archaeology Museum.
  • Lazar, Fern. 1983. “The context and content of an artifact found in the 500 Block of King Street Alexandria.” (green and brown white ware plate, deposits 1835-1860). Student paper on file at Alexandria Archaeology Museum
  • Moyar, Joanna T. 1983. “Interpretation of a Chinese export porcelain demitasse of the Federal period featuring the neo-classical urn motif.” (deposited 1820-1835). Student paper on file at Alexandria Archaeology Museum
  • Reilly, Marie Therese. 1985. “Historical Perspective on the Evolution of the 19th century Glass Nursing Bottle.” (found in levels 17-20, 1854-1885). Student paper on file at Alexandria Archaeology Museum
  • Weilbacker, Kristine. 1983. “Oriental Offerings: Canton Ware artifact in Alexandria.” (probably from Ft. 6, 1834-54). Student Paper
  • Youngers, Lisa Andree. 1986. No Title. (discussion of fragments of a Floradora Doll found in Level 12 and manufactured early 1900s). Student paper on file at Alexandria Archaeology Museum

Feature 7: 104 S. St. Asaph Street

  • Byrnes, David J. 1978. “Changes in Status in Alexandria: the evidence of 518-520 King Street.” (paper completed before levels 31, 33, and 35 had been catalogued). Student paper on file at Alexandria Archaeology Museum.
  • Kornel, Barbara, n.d. “The Staffordshire Mug.” (found in Level 1). Student paper on file at Alexandria Archaeology Museum
  • Napoli, Richard. 1979. “Preliminary Analysis of the glass from Ft. 7, Lot 4, of the 500 Block, King Street in the City of Alexandria, Virginia.” Student paper on file at Alexandria Archaeology Museum.
  • Ripley, Scott. 1983. “A Pike and Jones Pitcher commemorating the war of 1812.” Student paper on file at Alexandria Archaeology Museum
  • Wolff, Peter K. Jr. 1983. “Lafayette and the Surrender of Cornwallis.” Student paper on file at Alexandria Archaeology Museum

Features 6 or 7

  • Heald, Susan C. 1983. “Pitcher from a Privy.” Student paper on file at Alexandria Archaeology Museum.
  • Marcot, Paul R. 1983. “A Castleford-type sugar bowl: ostentatiously sweet, cloyingly sentimental, an Alexandria Historical Society find.” Student paper on file at Alexandria Archaeology Museum.

Feature LL: 108-110 South St. Asaph Street

  • McLoud, Melissa. “The Courthouse Site 44AX1 Feature LL. Urban Water Technology: An Alexandria Cistern and Filtration System.” Alexandria Archaeology Manuscript. 1980.

Feature QQ: 106 South St. Asaph Street

Alexandria Archaeology. A Musket in a Privy. Brochure.

Feature VV: 112-114 South St. Asaph Street

  • Cargill, Jody and Gilliland, Mary. “Feature VV: Level I White Ware.” Student paper on file at Alexandria Archaeology Museum. N.D.
  • MacMahon, Darcie. 1983. “Children’s Mugs and Victorian America.” Student paper on file at Alexandria Archaeology Museum.
  • Scholz, Karen L. 1983. “A pitcher says a thousand words.” Student paper on file at Alexandria Archaeology Museum (porcelain milk/water pitcher with classical motifs, mask spout, and raised blue and white UG, deposited 1840-1865).