Another Evening in Old Town
Details
Since there's a chance the French frigate Hermione may not dock until sometime during the night after our walk on Tuesday, let's return for a another visit on Wednesday evening. Wednesday all the waterfront historic displays will also be set up, and we'll have an excuse for another walk around Old Town!
http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/9/8/2/600_438343394.jpeg
Between 6 and 7 pm, we'll spend some time checking out the photographic panel display of Lafayette’s role in the American Revolution and the Hermione’s reconstruction. Pier-side activities include historic shipbuilding and Virginia colonial crafts demonstrations, costumed characters, music from Lafayette’s France by Opera Lafayette, interpretive stations with the 1st Virginia Regiment and Alexandria Seaport Foundation, and a traveling photographic exhibition that tells the story of Hermione, its reconstruction, and Lafayette's role in the American Revolution.
If you can't make it until 7 pm; no worries -- that's when we'll take a walk to visit some historic sites around town.See the Google map for details.
The route: From the waterfront behind the Torpedo Factory we'll head north along the waterfront to the miniature Washington Monument north of Rivergate City Park, before returning south along the Mount Vernon Trail to Pendleton St. At Pendleton St we'll head west to visit the Lee-Fendall and Spite Houses before heading south along St Asaph St, taking in the Dulany House, the Lafayette House, and two flounder houses along our way. From there we'll walk east along Wolfe St to Shipyard Park on the waterfront, passing St Mary's Catholic Church, the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, and Windmill Hill Park along our way. From Shipyard Park we'll head upstream along the waterfront back to our starting point.
This is a loop hike of about 3.3 miles and should take just over an hour at a moderate pace. The surface is fairly level and paved throughout, except for brief stretches of pebbled paths in parks along the way.
Google map: http://tinyurl.com/po5pgzd
How to get there: The Torpedo Factory is located at the east end of King Street, 1.1 miles east of the King Street Metro Station. There is parallel parking throughout the area, as well as several parking garages. There is a free trolley running between King Street Metro Station and the Potomac waterfront from 10 am until midnight, see: http://tinyurl.com/nah9fmu
What to bring: Water, comfy shoes, and your furry friend if desired. Sunset is at 8:33, with twilight ending a half-hour later, so a flashlight shouldn't be needed.
Weather: The forecast is sunny and a high of 88 degrees. Updates here: http://tinyurl.com/njo3ngq (http://tinyurl.com/njo3ngq%C2%A0)
Advisory: As a reminder, this is an adult group, and you are ultimately responsible for your own safety and well-being during events. No one under 18 years of age is permitted in this group.
Administrative stuff: There are restrooms and water fountains at the Torpedo Factory.
Notes:
• Torpedo Factory Art Center: http://tinyurl.com/qagjw8f
• Hermione at VisitAlexandriaVA.com: http://tinyurl.com/pbu5wbc
• Lafayette's Hermione Voyage 2015: http://tinyurl.com/qj5tfr5
• Hermione (1779) at Wikipedia: http://tinyurl.com/q4opy3b
• Hermione (2014) at Wikipedia: http://tinyurl.com/nmmcblf
• Hermione at ExtraAlex: http://tinyurl.com/ovav79e
Image © Association Hermione-La Fayette – http://www.hermione.com