Franklin and Armfield Office
Franklin and Armfield Office | |
Freedom House in 2025, following comprehensive exterior renovations | |
| Location | 1315 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°48′14″N 77°3′17″W / 38.80389°N 77.05472°W |
| Area | 27 acres (11 ha) |
| Built | 1810 |
| Architect | Robert Young |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 78003146 |
| VLR No. | 100-0105 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 2, 1978 |
| Designated NHL | June 2, 1978 |
| Designated VLR | October 16, 1979 |
The Franklin and Armfield Office, which houses the Freedom House Museum, is a historic commercial building in Alexandria, Virginia (until 1846, the District of Columbia). Built c. 1810–1820, it was first used as a private residence before being converted to the offices of the largest slave trading firm in the United States, started in 1828 by Isaac Franklin and John Armfield. Ship manifests from the National Archives indicate that at least 5,000 slaves were trafficked through the office.
The building at 1315 Duke Street is located just west of Alexandria's Old Town. Its exterior, which was renovated in a vernacular Empire style after the building was subdivided into apartments, was restored to its original, Federal appearance in 2025.
The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1978, and has also been designated a Virginia Historic Landmark. The building was formerly owned by the Northern Virginia Urban League, which used the building for offices and a museum. The City of Alexandria purchased the building in March 2020 and reopened it as a museum in June 2022.