Historic Homes Tour in Old Town on Saturday

The 71st annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour will take place Saturday as a benefit for the Twig Surgical Center at Inova Alexandria Hospital.

Alexandria Chef Cathal Armstrong and his wife Meshelle are honorary chairs of this year’s event, scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Old Town.

Six homes built in the 18th and 19th centuries and rich in the early history of Alexandria will be featured Saturday. Highlights include the famous “Double Dwelling House of Wood” built in 1786 for William Hartshorne, a Quaker Merchant and business partner of George Washington in the Potomac River Company. Washington ordered tools, plants, seeds and farming equipment for Mount Vernon from Hartshorne.

At another home, built in 1867, visitors will see a garden featuring mature English boxwood, camellias, Lenten roses, hydrangeas, and dogwoods.

This is the second year in a row the Armstrongs, who own restaurants including Restaurant Eve, Society Fair and the Majestic, have served as honorary chairs.

This annual event brings in more than $30,000 for the hospital. This year’s proceeds will benefit The Twig Surgical Center at the hospital, a new 24 private-patient room addition dedicated to the care of post-surgical patients. The Twig is the junior auxiliary of Inova Alexandria Hospital.

“Having the Armstrongs as part of our team is a real gift,” said Twig President Cindy Peterson. “They obviously support Old Town, and now we know they support our local hospital and a healthy community. We are delighted to have them as our honorary chairs this year.”

Tickets for the homes tour may be purchased through Friday for $35 one of three ways: online via the Twig’s website, at The Twig’s Thrift Shop, 106 N. Columbus St., or at the Ramsay House Visitor’s Center, 221 King St.

On Saturday, tickets are $40 and may be purchased online, at the Thrift Shop, at the Ramsay House, and at the Homes Tour Marketplace at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 228 S. Pitt St. Homeowner names and addresses will not be public until the day of the tour. 
Tour booklets will be available the day of the tour at all ticket sales locations and at each of the tour homes.

To coincide with the tour and to raise money for the hospital, the Armstrongs have helped the Twig organize a raffle. Individuals can buy tickets to win a five-course dinner for two at Restaurant Eve’s Tasting Room, a “Date Night Dinner for Two Bag” from Society Fair, or coffee and a treat from Society Fair.

Raffle tickets will be available Saturday at the same locations as tour tickets. Raffle tickets are $10 each or three for $20.

A Marketplace is also part of this year’s tour. Jewelry, gifts, home décor and artwork will be for sale between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s.