Basilica of St. Mary

The Basilica of Saint Mary stands in the historic Old Town of Alexandria, Virginia, and is the oldest Roman Catholic parish in the state. The congregation was founded in 1795, just as Catholicism in Virginia emerged from colonial-era illegality. The present brick building in early Federal style was raised by the parish in 1826 with architect Joseph Hill on its still-active cemetery. George Washington himself contributed to the founding fund, a fact the parish proudly records. Pope Francis elevated the church to Basilica Minor in 2018, a rare rank in the United States. The interior is restrained neoclassical with polished wooden pews and 19th-century stained glass. A worthwhile pairing with the Old Town walk.