Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
Phone: 703-746-1703

Local History/Special Collections at the Barrett Branch
Phone: 703-746-1706
717 Queen Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-2420

Driving Directions:

From the Beltway, Prince Georges County, Maryland, via the Woodrow Wilson Bridge:

Get off at Exit #1, Route 1 North, Old Town (first "off" after the Woodrow Wilson Bridge) and follow Route 1 North for 10 or so blocks to Queen Street. Turn Right (east, toward the river) on Queen and go 2 blocks to Columbus St. Find a parking place.

From Virginia, via the Beltway:

Get off at Exit #1, Route 1 North, Old Town (last "off" before the Woodrow Wilson Bridge) and follow Route 1 North for 10 or so blocks to Queen Street. Turn Right (east, toward the river) on Queen and go 2 blocks to Columbus St. Find a parking place.

From the Beltway North, Montgomery County, and I 270:

Get off at the George Washington Parkway going south. This is the first exit in Virginia after the American Legion Bridge. Follow the G.W. Parkway south all the way to Old Town. This is about 7or 8 miles. Once you get to Old Town, keep your eyes open for Princess Street and turn right (west, away from the river. Princess Street is one street north of Queen which is one-way the wrong way) then left on Columbus and look for a parking space.

From McLean, Great Falls, and nearby points:

Follow the G. W. Parkway south as above.

From Route 50 on the Virginia side:

Go east until you're practically at the river. There will be a sign that says Alexandria via the G.W. Parkway and follow it south as above.

From Shirley Highway, I 95:

Exit at King Street and go east until you reach West Street (you will have passed the Masonic Temple and gone under the Metro Tracks, and it will have begun to look like Old Town). Turn left (north) across traffic, and go two blocks to Queen Street, then right (east, toward the river) to Columbus, and look for a parking place.

Alternate routes include taking either Route 1(Jefferson Davis Hwy.) north or the G. W. Parkway (Rt. 235, Mt. Vernon Memorial Hwy) which you can pick up in the Woodlawn area.

From the District:

Cross on either Memorial Bridge or 14th Street Bridge and look for a sign for Alexandria. Be careful, the signs are not good. Then follow the G. W. Parkway south to Old Town as above. Key Bridge and Teddy Roosevelt do not have easy access to the parkway.

PLEASE NOTE: The Alexandria Library does not have a parking lot. If you park in one of the neighboring lots, your car will be towed! The nearest "pay to park" lot is in the 100 block of Alfred Street (between King and Cameron) and if you come out the Columbus Street exit, you're about one block south of the library.

MAP


DETAILED MAP

From the Metro:

Old Town is served by 2 Metro lines, the Blue and the Yellow. There are 2 metro stations, Braddock Road and King Street, and both lines stop at both. Neither is exactly close to the library but both are walking distance if you are wearing comfortable shoes (brick sidewalks can be treacherous) and have enough time. Both also have bus connections (get a transfer) on either Metro bus or Dash bus lines. Routes are posted at the stations, and drivers are very helpful. Just ask.

To walk from Braddock Road, go east (toward the river) on Wythe or Pendleton Streets until you reach Columbus, then right (south) on Columbus until you reach Queen.

To walk from King Street, go east (toward the river) on King Street until you reach Columbus, then left (north) on Columbus until you reach Queen. If you plan to walk, the King Street route is more interesting with a variety of shops to investigate.

Public Transit:
Metrobus: 9A, 10A, 10B, 11P, 11Y   Exit Queen St.
DASH Bus: AT8. Eastbound from King St. Metrorail Station   Exit Queen St.

City of Alexandria Bikeways Map: this map features icons for Library branches.