Rebuilding The Alexandria Waterfront: Urban Landscape Development and Modifications

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "Rebuilding The Alexandria Waterfront: Urban Landscape Development and Modifications," at the 2019 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The City of Alexandria is one of the more compelling history destinations in the country, due in no small part to the City’s decision to integrate historic preservation into the revitalization and development. As the redevelopment of the waterfront around Point Lumley continues, recent discoveries provide insight to the City’s initial development and growth. The waterfront near Point Lumley originally consisted of high bluffs overlooking the Potomac. By 1798, these high bluffs had been cut down and spread out on the tidal flats in order to improve access to the deep­water channel. Point Lumley was the location of numerous industries, warehouses and residences during the late 18th and 19th centuries, including shipbuilders, blacksmiths, carpenters, coopers, iron foundries, and commission merchants. This session focuses on the recent archeological work at the Robinson Landing site that was required by the City prior to redevelopment.