The 2026 Garden Party will be held at the home of R. Latane Montague, 207 Prince Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, on Saturday, May 30, 2026
Join us for lunch and a compelling discussion with Robert F. Weinhagen, author of Old Town Style: Inside Alexandria’s Most Beautiful Historic Homes.
February 2, 2026
Old Town, Alexandria, VA — In early 2026, readers will have an extraordinary new way to experience Old Town Alexandria’s architectural charm. Old Town Style: Inside Alexandria’s Most Beautiful Historic Homes is set to offer the most comprehensive and visually rich exploration ever published of more than 40 remarkable period residences—many of which have never before been shown in print. Preview copies can be ordered from the Historic Alexandria Foundation website (historicalexandriafoundation.org); world-wide distribution via Amazon, ACC Art Books and Simon & Schuster will follow later this spring.
Stepping beyond Old Town’s iconic brick sidewalks, gas lamps, and 18th-century facades, Old Town Style invites readers into a hidden world of meticulously preserved homes and inspired restorations. The featured properties range from a rustic Colonial-era sea captain’s house and an elegant Federal townhouse to the dramatic transformation of an early 19th-century bank building into a refined private residence. Each chapter blends personal renovation stories, decorating insights, and historical background to celebrate both timeless design and the importance of architectural preservation.
Lavish full-color photography by acclaimed photographer Erik Kvalsvik captures interiors that span centuries of style—from Jacobean and early American to mid-century modern and contemporary—while additional images showcase Old Town’s distinctive exteriors, intricate architectural details, and secluded walled gardens.
Written by Robert F. Weinhagen, Jr., President of the Historic Alexandria Foundation and longtime Old Town resident, together with the HAF Book Committee, Old Town Style is both a visual treat and a tribute to the homeowners and stewards who preserve Alexandria’s unique heritage.
“All of us at HAF are very excited about Old Town Style and the unprecedented glimpse it gives into what it’s like to live in—and preserve—Alexandria’s architectural gems,” says Weinhagen. “More than a simple photographic overview, the book delves into the homeowners’ personal aesthetic vision and practical advice for owning and renovating historic properties. By generously opening their homes and gardens and sharing their personal restoration stories and anecdotes, they inspire all of us who love history, old houses, and the unparalleled charm of Old Town.
We look forward to sharing Old Town Style with everyone who loves historic architecture, stylish interiors and period design.
Published by Belgian-based Pelckman’s Publishers in December 2025, the book is now available through a special pre-release offering through the Historic Alexandria Foundation website where specific details for purchasing books, shipping and local delivery options are posted. For more information, please contact Executive Director Mary Sterling at (703) 549-5811
Established in 1954 to preserve and protect the architecture and character of Old Town Alexandria — the third-oldest historic district in the United States — the Historic Alexandria Foundation (HAF) has a long tradition of supporting meaningful preservation initiatives. For more than fifteen years, the HAF Board has discussed the idea of creating a high-quality book celebrating Old Town’s historic interiors and architectural styles. We recognized a gap in the literature and felt we could make a lasting contribution by creating a comprehensive, museum-quality volume that documents these homes and the lives lived within them. With the untimely passing of our longtime Board Chair, Dr. Morgan Delaney, in April 2024, the Board moved swiftly to authorize Old Town Style in his honor, supported by a generous grant from his longtime friend, Jacqueline Badger Mars.
Readers will first notice the beauty and craftsmanship of the book itself: a linen-bound volume with embossed gold-leaf script and a jacket featuring the circa-1792 Ghequière House, along with an elegant period-based organization of homes. The book opens with a warm and personal introduction from our Board Chair, inviting readers on a morning stroll through Old Town. A brief historical overview follows, setting the stage for a rich visual and narrative journey through Old Town’s most exquisite houses and interiors. From Colonial to Federal to Victorian architecture — with interiors ranging from period to modern — each home is presented as both a visual delight and a personal story. The book concludes with an essay reflecting on the essence of “Old Town Style:” shaped by time, preserved with intention, and elevated by personal expression. We are especially excited to offer readers an insider’s view of Old Town while also strengthening appreciation for historic preservation — creating an enduring work meant to inspire for generations.
We believe Old Town Style is a definitive volume on Old Town’s historic homes — a beautifully photographed (by Erik Kvalsvik) and thoughtfully written tour of 44 interiors and architectural styles, created from a preservation perspective with full Foundation support. The book combines historical research, personal homeowner stories, and detailed design context — much of it documenting homes that have never before appeared in print. Our research was conducted through the Local History/Special Collections Division of the Barrett Branch Library, drawing on original sources and respected scholarship — including work by Evelyn Cox and Ruth Lincoln Kaye. We also interviewed every homeowner personally, gathering insights into the experience of living in — and caring for — an historic property. Working with an international fine-art publisher with global distribution ensures the highest editorial standards and production quality, including luxurious heavy-weight paper that highlights the spectacular photography and an elegant, sophisticated layout and design. All net proceeds benefit HAF programs and initiatives — advancing preservation now and into the future. In short, Old Town Style is distinguished by its scope, scholarly foundation, editorial rigor, design excellence, and mission-driven purpose.
Old Town includes hundreds of historic structures — including more than 200 homes built before 1820 — giving us an extraordinary range of architectural and interior perspectives to consider. Our goal was to present a thoughtful cross-section of Old Town life, including iconic landmark homes as well as lesser-known gems — many of which have never appeared on public tour or in print. Some of Old Town’s most remarkable houses and collections are hidden behind garden walls or within modest façades that open into elegant sequences of rooms. Our photographic journey captures both the grandeur and intimacy of these spaces. This is the most comprehensive illustrated volume on Old Town ever produced — and the remarkable richness of our historic district suggests that a future companion volume may one day be possible.
To help readers understand the evolution of style and design, homes are presented in chronological order by architectural period — from Colonial through Federal to Victorian — with interiors ranging from historically traditional to contemporary. The book opens with an evocative introduction from our Board President, who reflects on Old Town’s history and the importance of preservation leadership and partnership. A concise historical overview follows. The heart of the book is the beautifully photographed tour of homes, interiors and gardens. The book concludes with a reflective essay underscoring a key idea: Old Town Style is not one look — it is a feeling created when the past and present meet and beauty becomes timeless.
We think readers will be delighted by both the breadth and individuality of the homes featured. Highlights include an inside look at the three-year restoration of the landmark Alexandria Bank Building, the exquisite collections of the Ghequière House, the beloved Gentry Row residence of an iconic preservation leader — now lovingly updated by her grand-nephew — and many more. The architectural range spans Colonial through Victorian — while interiors reflect everything from period authenticity to layered, imaginative, contemporary design. The result is a vivid portrait of Old Town life today.
The decision to create Old Town Style took on special meaning with the passing of our longtime Board Chair, Dr. Morgan Delaney, in April 2024. Dr. Delaney was a passionate preservationist and visionary leader whose scholarship, steady guidance, and deep love for Old Town helped shape the Foundation for decades. This book honors his belief that historic preservation is not only about buildings, but about the lives, stories, and communities that inhabit them. Publishing Old Town Style now allows us to celebrate the beauty and cultural significance of Old Town’s architecture at a moment when preservation leadership is more vital than ever — and to carry forward the legacy of a friend and colleague who cared deeply about ensuring Old Town’s heritage endures for future generations. The project was made possible through a generous grant from his longtime friend, Jacqueline Badger Mars, whose commitment to honoring Dr. Delaney’s vision helped bring this important book to life.
Published in Belgium by Pelckman’s in December 2025, Old Town Style is now available through the Historic Alexandria Foundation website. In addition, we are fortunate to be partnering with renowned international artbook distributor ACC Art Books with worldwide distribution through Simon & Schuster (Old Town Style Datasheet). The book will be available on Amazon and in bookstores nationwide later this spring, extending Old Town’s preservation story to readers across the country and beyond. HAF will also host a series of launch events in 2026, which will be announced soon. Please check the HAF website at Home – HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA FOUNDATION, INC. directly for updates.
Interim and final reports will be presented at the Foundation’s Annual Meeting.
Saturday, November 21, 2026
7-9 p.m.
Please remember the Foundation when making contributions to Historic Preservation in Alexandria.
(ALL CONTRIBUTIONS to HAF, are tax-deductible.)
WE are so appreciative of their generosity.
Although not an official element of the current Basilica School of Saint Mary’s transformational campus construction project, it was discovered in early 2021 that our 72-year-old iconic Williamsburg cupola and its internal structural supports were severely compromised and in dire need of restoration. Housing the 1811 school bell that pre-dates the 1827 Royal Street church, our iconic cupola is now sound and gleams as a beacon of Christ’s love and of our commitment to Catholic education and formation for our children.
Costs associated with this unexpected restoration project amounted to $167,000 and was paid for by church restoration and preservation funds. Special thanks goes to the Historic Alexandria Foundation (HAF) for being part of this process. Because of a generous and timely 2021 grant from the HAF, subcontractors were able to perform forensic architectural assessments that identified years of hidden damage to the cupola and school bell.
Historic Alexandria Foundation (HAF) works to protect historic structures and artifacts associated with Alexandria, Virginia. Through advocacy, grants, awards, and recognition programs we encourage public participation and appreciation of our cultural heritage.
Since its founding in 1954, HAF has raised many millions of dollars for surveys of historic architecture, protection of endangered buildings, restoration of museum properties, and conservation of important historical artifacts. Please join us in safeguarding – and celebrating – Alexandria’s rich cultural and architectural history.
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Crilley Warehouse
218 North Lee Street, Suite 310
Alexandria, VA 22314
Telephone: 703.549.5811
Facsimile: 703.548.4399
E-mail: [email protected]
Executive Director,
Mary Sparks Sterling
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