In the 500 block of King Street in Old Town Alexandria, just like the renovations going on today, many changes have taken place over the years!

The building we are located in is 515 King Street in Alexandria, VA, but this building isn’t always what occupied this spot on the 500 block of King Street. In the early part of the 20th century, King’s Street’s 500 block was occupied on the corner of N. St. Asaph Street and King Street by the First and Citizen’s National Bank building, among other businesses. The front entrance of the building faced the current Alexandria Courthouse on King St. and the large bank vault was in the rear of the lobby, which had a vaulted ceiling and skylights to allow ample light into the large space. A staircase in the rear of the lobby led to private bank officers’ offices on the second floor.

Check out the historic photos below, part of a photographic series on 503 to 507 King Street, Alexandria, VA, courtesy of the Library of Congress 1. (Click photos for larger image)

503 King Street - First and Citizen's National Bank Building
503 King Street – First and Citizen’s National Bank Building ca 1930s
503 King Street - First and Citizen's National Bank Building - Lobby
503 King Street – First and Citizen’s National Bank Building – Entrance and Lobby
503 King Street - First and Citizen's National Bank Building - Lobby and Vaulted Ceiling
503 King Street – First and Citizen’s National Bank Building – Rear of Lobby and Vault
503 King Street - First and Citizen's National Bank Building Office
503 King Street – First and Citizen’s National Bank Building Office
1. Historic American Buildings Survey, Creator, Vogt & Morrill, and Charles J. Cassidy Company. First National Bank, 503-507 King Street, Alexandria, Independent City, VA. Documentation Compiled After 1933. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/va0108/>.