Photo courtesy of Alexandria History Tours
Tim Rose discusses the history of Old Town Alexandria during a tour.
Tim Rose served eight years on active duty in the Marine Corps and then built a career in investment banking before a plaque at Christ Church honoring George Washington's pallbearers pointed him somewhere else entirely. He founded Alexandria History Tours in May 2023, ran 233 tours that first year and expects to run between 550 and 600 this year. Alexandria Living recently caught up with him to see how things are going.
Take readers back to 2023. What were you doing before this, and what was the moment you decided to leave it?
Before starting Alexandria History Tours, I had two careers. I served eight years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps and another two and a half years in the Marine Corps Reserve. As an infantry officer, I deployed overseas twice and served as both a platoon commander and a company commander. Leading Marines remains the greatest honor of my life. Looking back, the responsibility I carried at such a young age was remarkable.
After leaving active duty, I entered investment banking. I had been the only graduate in my college class to forgo the private sector to serve my country. I do not regret that decision, even though it meant beginning a new career in my early 30s while many of my peers had a head start. Through hard work, adaptability, and persistence, I found success at a small firm and built a strong book of business.
When my wife and I moved to Alexandria for her job in 2021, I continued working remotely, traveling by train to New York and flying to the West Coast to meet clients. Eventually, I reached a point where I wanted to build something of my own, something meaningful that would challenge me in a new way.
The idea began taking shape at Christ Church. When I saw the plaque honoring George Washington's pallbearers, I realized there was an incredible story waiting to be told. I began noticing more plaques and historic markers throughout the city and started thinking that perhaps I could give tours. I tested the idea at Christ Church by approaching visitors holding maps and telling them about the church's history. They were genuinely interested.
Eventually, I knew… this is what I am being called to do. I prayed about the decision, and I believe God called me into this profession. I believe I was put here to share these stories, inspire people, and make an impact on their lives.
You've said you had the 250th anniversary in mind from the beginning. Did it live up to its promise?
It was a strong period for us. We had good crowds, even with the heat and humidity, although some guests canceled after seeing the forecast. At the same time, we are not yet where I believe we need to be. The 250th created momentum, but there is still a long way to go to reach the goals I have for both the company and Alexandria as a historic destination.
You've added more guides, so it looks like your business is growing. Do you have numbers comparing 2023 with today?
It is not a perfect comparison because I launched Alexandria History Tours in May 2023 and took approximately two weeks off that June for my wedding and honeymoon. However, comparing the eight months of 2023 with the first eight months of 2026, the business has grown by more than 330 percent.
That is significant growth, but I still believe we are in the early stages of what this company can become.
Compare this summer with last summer. Are you up, flat, or down?
We are up approximately 11 percent this summer compared with last summer. That continued growth is encouraging, particularly because periods of extreme heat and humidity affected some bookings. We are moving in the right direction, but I still see tremendous room for growth.
What about July specifically, the anniversary week itself? What did that look like on the ground in Old Town?
It was hot and humid, but my team was relentless. We worked with Christ Church to keep the church open so guests could step inside, experience the history, and get out of the heat. I filled a cooler with ice and water and carried extra bottles for our guests. By the end of each day, I was drenched in sweat. I guided multiple tours, some with a couple of people and some tours with more than 20 people.
In some ways, it reminded me of my Marine Corps days. I was carrying 20 pounds of water in the heat, moving around Old Town and coordinating with guests and guides. It was an exciting week because it gave us an opportunity to demonstrate how much we care about our customers. The conditions were challenging, but we showed up every day and made sure people had a great experience.
How many tours did you run in 2023, and how many will you run this year?
We ran 233 tours in 2023. This year, we expect to run between 550 and 600 tours.
Where are your customers coming from? Are these people who came to Alexandria on purpose, or people who came for Mount Vernon and Washington, D.C., and found you?
Our guests come from across the United States and many parts of the world. We also welcome many people from Northern Virginia and, of course, Alexandria. Some local guests have heard about Old Town for years and are looking for a reason to spend a day here. Other visitors intentionally include Alexandria in a trip focused on Washington, D.C., or Mount Vernon. There is considerable crossover among those travelers.
People find us through online searches, the Alexandria Visitor Center, booking platforms such as Tripadvisor and GetYourGuide, word of mouth, repeat guests, and, increasingly, social media. We had fewer than 1,000 followers on Facebook and Instagram entering 2026. We now have more than 53,000. That growth is introducing Alexandria's history to an entirely new audience, and I am determined to reach 100,000 followers.
What share of your business is private groups versus public tours, and has that mix shifted?
Public tours currently account for approximately 60 percent of our business, while private groups make up the other 40 percent. Public tours remain the foundation of the company because we offer them consistently and want visitors to have an opportunity to explore Alexandria with us every day. At the same time, our private-group business is growing as more organizations discover what we offer.
I want to provide daily tours as much as possible. My philosophy is simple: If someone wants a tour, I will show up for them. This past February, I guided two guests even though the temperature felt like negative three degrees. They had traveled here, and this might have been their only opportunity to experience Alexandria. I wanted to be there for them.
Are the bookings you're getting from the 250th anniversary the ones you expected, or a different kind of customer entirely?
Many of our guests were visiting Washington for the fireworks and other Independence Day events and decided to include Alexandria in their trip. We also continued to see local residents and travelers whose visits were not specifically connected to the anniversary. The 250th brought additional attention, but our audience remained diverse.
You've said Alexandria is consistently overlooked. Overlooked by whom: tour operators, travel media, the city itself, or visitors?
Tour operators, without question. Visitors are often captivated once they arrive and understand what is here, but many organized tours barely give them that opportunity.
I have met visitors whose tour operator stopped at Christ Church, let them off the bus for a few minutes, and then moved on. The tour operator could check a box on the itinerary and say they had visited Old Town Alexandria. But they missed almost everything that makes this city special.
One woman recently told me that she looked down Cameron Street and immediately knew she would have to return because she was missing something special. That reaction tells the story. Alexandria is not overlooked by people after they truly experience it. The challenge is convincing more tour operators to give them that opportunity.
In your experience, is there a specific site or story here that you think is nationally significant and nobody promotes?
There are dozens. Winston Churchill's visit to Christ Church with President Franklin Roosevelt on January 1, 1942, is an extraordinary story. The Braddock Campaign and the Alexandria Congress deserve much greater recognition. So do George Washington's relationship with George Mason, his involvement in the Potomac Company and the meetings in Alexandria that helped lead to the Mount Vernon Compact of 1785.
These are not merely local stories. They are chapters in the development of the United States. Yet many visitors, and even many Alexandrians, have never heard them. That is one of the primary reasons I started giving tours.
The 250th anniversary of independence has passed, but the Revolutionary War anniversaries run for years. What is the next milestone you're building toward, and what does Alexandria have to do with it?
The next major milestone is the anniversary of the fall of New York City, which sets the stage for Washington's crossing of the Delaware River on December 25 and 26, 1776. Alexandria has an important connection to that story through the 3rd Virginia Regiment, whose soldiers served with Washington and participated in the crossing.
We should use this anniversary to recognize the Alexandrians who served in that campaign, including Lt. Col. John Fitzgerald, one of Washington's aides-de-camp. Fitzgerald crossed the Delaware with Washington, and he is quoted at the museum at Washington Crossing Historic Park. I believe his name should be restored to the Alexandria park that formerly honored him. Restoring it would honor not only Fitzgerald but also the other Alexandria veterans who served in that pivotal campaign.
We should also begin looking ahead to George Washington's tricentennial in 2032. The time is right to think boldly about another major project. In 1928, the George Washington Bicentennial Commission helped set in motion the plans for what became the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Completed in 1932, it created a beautiful and scenic route connecting Washington, D.C., with Mount Vernon. The tricentennial gives us an opportunity to consider what lasting contribution our generation will make.
When researching your book, is there anything that people get wrong about Washington and Alexandria?
People do not fully appreciate the scope of Washington’s network in Alexandria. He had deep personal, commercial, religious, and political relationships throughout the city. I am proud of how I told that story in George Washington and Alexandria: A Founding Friendship, and I hope readers come away with a better understanding of how important Alexandria was in his life.
More broadly, I do not think people fully appreciate how remarkable George Washington was. There is a tendency today to search for reasons to discredit or deconstruct him. The more I study him, however, the more impressed I am by his resilience and sense of duty.
Consider the Braddock Campaign. Washington was ill and in pain, yet he rode into the chaos of battle and helped lead troops to safety. It is remarkable that he survived. After Braddock’s defeat, Washington was only 23 years old when he took command of Virginia’s forces. When he first arrived in Alexandria to muster troops, no volunteers appeared. Imagine showing up to see who would stand and fight beside you and finding no one.
Moments like that reveal his character. We do not use words such as honor and duty often enough anymore, but we should. Washington became a great man because he performed his duty and continued forward in the face of extraordinary adversity. These stories should inspire generations of Americans. That is why I am committed to talking about George Washington and ensuring that people understand the man we call the Father of Our Country.
That does not mean every story has to be solemn. Washington’s life included humorous, quirky, and deeply human moments that provide welcome levity. But even when sharing those stories, I try to approach him with respect. I often tell my guests that it is an honor to share the history of Washington and our other great Founding Fathers.
What's the hardest part of this that you didn't see coming?
The hardest part is seeing how many visitors miss the opportunity to make a real connection with Alexandria's history. Some people choose a self-guided map instead of a professional tour, then become lost or leave with only a few isolated facts and none of the larger context. A guided tour is a relatively small part of a travel budget, but it can become the experience people remember most.
When I visited Normandy in 2022, we hired a private guide to show us the beaches and other important sites. I do not remember every fact he shared, but I remember his passion. I remember what it felt like to stand there with a local expert who has devoted himself to helping people understand the weight and importance of that history.
That is what we try to provide in Alexandria. It is not just about facts and dates. It is about human connection. I try to learn our guests' names, discover where they are from, and understand what brought them here. I also want them to talk with one another. When you see me walking through Old Town with my guests, we are having a blast. I genuinely believe we are the happiest people you will see on the street at that moment.
I would not want to be doing anything else. I am excited about growing this company and believe we are destined to accomplish great things. We intend to be here for many years, and I hope every Alexandrian will eventually take one of our tours and understand the service we are providing to this city, our commonwealth, and our nation.
