Alexandria Heritage Trail

Peter Wise, a city councilman and tanner, established the Duke Street Tanyard in 1797. The Business was situated near the stone bridge on the east bank of Hooff's Run by West End Village. The tannery's ownership and name changed many times; Quakers operated the large tannery from 1812 until it was destroyed by fire in 1853.

West End, Alexandria's first suburb, was a processing center for cattle, which were brought here for slaughter and butchering. The hides were then taken to the tannery to be processed into leather by soaking them in solutions of lime, tree bark, and animal dung. The tanned hides were curried by oiling, scrapping, and pounding and then made into saddles, harness and boots.

"The Tannery was located in what was once called Spring Gardens Farm just "beyond the [town's] Corporation limits and... of course, exempt from taxation" along a major commercial artery, Little River Turnpike." — Alexandria Gazette, 1844.

Archaeological excavations were conducted here in 2000, prior to construction. It was discovered that the remains of the tanyard were destroyed during the 20th century. Most of the original soil had been removed, and later, fill soils were brought in to level the property. However, in the area where a brick house once stood, archaeologists discovered artifacts dating to the nineteenth century — small reminders of the families of the tanners that once lived on this site.

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Show me all markers in:  Alexandria, VA  |  22314  |  Virginia  |  United States of America

The West End
Hooff's Run Bridge
African American Heritage Memorial
ASIS International 9/11 Memorial
A National Cemetery System
"Pursuers of Booth the Assassin"
Shiloh Baptist Church
In Honor of Those Who Gave the Ultimate Sacrifice, a War Memorial
Alexandria National Cemetery
1323 Duke Street - From Slavery to Freedom and Service

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