One of the most important hometowns in American history is Alexandria, Virginia. Along with being the wealthiest city in Virginia, Alexandria is home to the Institute for Defense. Analyses, the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the National Science Foundation.This city of 150,000 boasts a long list of famous residents, including Nirvana drummer, Dave Grohl, Doors front man Jim Morrison, Civil War general Robert E. Lee, and NASA rocket scientist Wernher von Braun, among many others. Alexandria was also location of some of the first fatalities of the American Civil War, when a Union officer, Col. Elmer Ellsworth, removed a large Confederate flag from the top of a local hotel called the Marshall House – a story we told in detail in last week’s episode.But none of this is the reason for Alexandria’s singular importance in American history, which Is simply that in 1797 it was not Washington DC.Let me explain.Visit us online at itshometownhistory.comSupport the show by becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/itshometownhistoryEpisode Sponsors:Grab your Liquid I.V. and get 25% off when you go to LiquidIV.com and use code HOMETOWN at checkoutGet 10% off your first month of online therapy at Betterhelp.com/hometownGet special financing at NetSuite.com/hometown