Alexandria Canal (Virginia)

Alexandria Canal Tide Lock
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Virginia Landmarks Register
Alexandria Canal Center with restored Tidal Basin and Tidal Lock
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Nearest city	Alexandria, Virginia
Coordinates	38°48′49.6″N 77°2′18.2″W / 38.813778°N 77.038389°W / 38.813778; -77.038389Coordinates: 38°48′49.6″N 77°2′18.2″W / 38.813778°N 77.038389°W / 38.813778; -77.038389
Area	5.7 acres (2.3 ha)
Built	1833
Architect	Alexandria Canal Co.
NRHP Reference #	80004305
VLR #	100-0099
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	January 15, 1980
Designated VLR	November 20, 1979

The Alexandria Canal was a canal in the United States that connected the city of Alexandria to Georgetown in the District of Columbia.

In 1830, merchants from Alexandria (which at the time was within the jurisdiction of the federal District of Columbia) proposed linking their city to Georgetown to capitalize on the new Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O Canal). Congress granted a charter to the Alexandria Canal Company in 1830.

Construction began soon afterwards on the Aqueduct Bridge, which would enable canal boats from the C&O Canal to cross the Potomac River without first unloading at Georgetown. The boats would then continue their trips downstream on a canal on the southwest side of the Potomac until they reached Alexandria's seaport.

Construction of the bridge and of the Alexandria Canal began in 1833. Both were completed a decade later.

The canal ran southwards for seven miles through today's Arlington County and City of Alexandria, Virginia, dropping 38 feet through a series of four locks between Washington Street and the Potomac River in the northern portion of Alexandria. The Canal ended at a Tidal Basin (Pool No. 1) and a Tidal Lock (Lift Lock No. 1) located at the north end of Old Town Alexandria.

The canal was abandoned in 1886. Ten years after the canal closed, an electric trolley line was constructed in 1896 in Arlington on the bed of the towpath that traveled along the canal's west side. Arlington's S. Eads Street now approximates the canal's route in this area.