Saturday Morning Post: Wilkes Street Tunnel

The Wilkes Street Tunnel runs from the original river bluff overlooking the Potomac River, at Windmill Hill, down to the river bank level.  Over 150 years, the riverfront was filled, extending the shore between 50 and 200 feet into the river.  This created valuable ground for wharfs, and moved the shoreline into deeper water, allowing larger ships to get closer to the shore. At the time of the War of 1812, Alexandria surrendered to the British, actually paid a ransom in exchange for the British warships agreeing to not destroy the undefended city, or harm anyone on land.  The British ships had anchored 100 yards off shore, as close as they could safely get to shore.  The negotiators and goods paid in ransom were shuttled back and forth by skiff or row boat.  The British also offered freedom and asylum to any enslaved people who could make it to the ships, some took row boats, some swam.   

The tunnel was built for steam powered trains to haul freight up and down the 30-40 foot bluff at a gentle controllable grade. Control of the tunnel was essential in the "Battle of Alexandria" at the start of the American Civil War, when Union Forces displaced the Confederate Army.  Confederates were blocked from fleeing through the tunnel, and with cannons aimed at them from two directions, surrender was swift and relatively bloodless.  The Confederate prisoners of war, were confined in the slave jail in the city, many for the duration of the war. 

In World War I and World War II, the riverfront was occupied with munitions plants and shipyards (Liberty Ships were built here.) The railroad was a major transportation tool for heavy materials.  Ford had an assembly plant on the wharf. In the gentrification of Alexandria, in the 1980's the waterfront become home to luxury low rise condos and townhouses.  

Windmill Hill became Windmill Park so named because there were Dutch style wind powered mills here in the 1800's.  The natural bay across Union Street from the park remained undeveloped and remains as a park.  

When the trains stopped running the tunnel was saved,  the tracks removed, paved and reinforced, it is a popular pedestrian way, and photo spot.  Let me know when you are nearby, we will walk the tunnel from the river to Safeway (there is a small supermarket at the top of the hill.)