Rosemont is an established Alexandria neighborhood between the Old Town and Del Ray areas, near the city’s rail stations. Development began in 1908, leaving streets of Craftsman, Arts and Crafts and Colonial Revival homes with distinctive porches and rooflines. The historic district preserves that early suburban character, while the surrounding city provides shops, restaurants and transit connections.
A house in the Rosemont Historic District.Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and compressed for the web; page layouts may crop the display.
Rosemont at a glance
Rosemont is a residential neighborhood in Alexandria. Its historic district developed beginning in 1908, with houses built near the former trolley line to Washington.
The district includes Craftsman, Arts and Crafts and Colonial Revival houses. The Rosemont Citizens Association publishes neighborhood news, history and information about civic meetings.
Houses and architectural context
Rosemont’s older houses include Craftsman, Arts and Crafts and Colonial Revival designs. Porches, gables and individual lot arrangements contribute to the streetscape, while later additions and renovations have changed many interiors. National Register recognition and Alexandria’s local historic-review requirements are separate designations; use the city’s preservation resources to check an individual property.
A house and front porch in the Rosemont Historic District.Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and compressed for the web; page layouts may crop the display.
Checking a Rosemont address
Older houses, historic recognition and nearby rail connections each have a different reference source. These links help with an individual address or trip.
Historic recognition and property review
Rosemont is a National Register district. Alexandria explains that its locally regulated historic districts are Old and Historic Alexandria and Parker-Gray; National Register recognition alone does not establish that local review. Separately designated 100-year-old buildings can be regulated. Use the city's preservation viewer or contact preservation staff to check a particular Rosemont property.
Alexandria's Parcel Viewer connects map parcels with assessment details, zoning codes and available subdivision plats. Those historic land divisions can be helpful context when comparing a Rosemont lot with neighboring properties. A public map is a reference; check the recorded documents for a specific transaction or project.
Commonwealth Avenue's wide median is a visible legacy of the streetcar that helped shape Rosemont. Railway service through the area began in 1896, before the neighborhood was developed. Streetcar service ended in 1932, leaving a reminder of how early residents traveled.
Before Rosemont, much of the land was known as Spring Park and had been farmed after the Civil War. In 1908, the Rosemont Development Company renamed the property for a Philadelphia suburb to which some of its financial backers had ties.
On July 30, 1909, Orville Wright and Lieutenant Benjamin Foulois flew from Fort Myer to Shuter's Hill and back during the Army's aircraft trials. The hill, now the site of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, marked the turn on their ten-mile course.
In Alexandria, near Old Town, Del Ray and the city’s Metro and railway stations.
What is the Rosemont Historic District?
A residential historic district recognized for its early twentieth-century development and architecture. The state register record includes its history and boundaries.
Where is neighborhood news published?
The Rosemont Citizens Association maintains a website with news, meeting information and historical material.
