Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Side profile of the bomb prototype.
Petwood Hotel Bouncing Bomb
RAF Harrington
RAF Harrington
The Beaux-arts interior with Pool layout still visible.
Écomusée du fier monde
Village du Livre de Fontenoy-la-Joûte
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Echo Park Time Travel Mart.
Atlas Obscura Presents: Traveling Back in Time for Coconut Cake With The Sporkful
about 21 hours ago
One of the PATH’s many entrances.
A Supposedly Boring Mall I Might Actually Visit Again
2 days ago
People paddling in their wooden canoes on one of the lakes near the Allagash Waterway in the north woods in Maine
The Allagash Abductions: This State Park’s Most Famous Visitors ... Are Aliens?
3 days ago
The rocky Revere Beach coast in Revere, Massachusetts, just outside Boston.
Which Places With Bad Raps Are Actually Worth Visiting?
4 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Virginia Alexandria Braddock Road Cannon
AO Edited

Braddock Road Cannon

This cannon dating to 1755 has stood guard at this suburban intersection since 1915.

Alexandria, Virginia

Added By
Ian Hall
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Braddock Road Cannon   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Braddock Road Cannon   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Cannon in the middle of the road   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
In front of the Community Praise Church   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Braddock Road Cannon   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
General Edward Braddock  
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Believed to have been abandoned by British General Edward Braddock in 1755 during the French and Indian War, this cannon was placed here in 1915 at the intersection of two rural dirt roads at what is now the intersection of Braddock and Russell Roads.

Braddock was commander-in-chief of the 13 colonies during this conflict. His forces were defeated during a mission to capture Fort Duquesne from the French in what is now Pittsburgh. Braddock died during the Battle of the Monongahela in July of 1755, which was a major setback.

Following the loss, a young George Washington emerged as a leader of the nascent nation. 

The cannon sits atop a base made from cobblestones from the streets of Alexandria and features engraved markers on the north and south sides.

The monument marks the trail taken by the army of General Braddock, which left Alexandria on April 20, 1755, to defend the western frontier against the French and Native Americans. The structure was erected by the Society of Colonial Dames of America in the State of Virginia, May 26, 1915.

Related Tags

History & Culture War History War Memorial Military

Community Contributors

Added By

blimpcaptain

Edited By

jonathancarey, Jason Michael Walker

  • jonathancarey
  • Jason Michael Walker

Published

June 23, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://rosemontcitizensassoc.org/braddock-cannon-centenary/
Braddock Road Cannon
1400 Russell Rd
Alexandria, Virginia, 22301
United States
38.817964, -77.066206
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Judy Lowe Neighborhood Park Labyrinth

Alexandria, Virginia

miles away

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial

Alexandria, Virginia

miles away

Captain Rocky Versace Plaza and Vietnam Veterans' Memorial

Alexandria, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Alexandria

Alexandria

Virginia

Places 34

Nearby Places

Judy Lowe Neighborhood Park Labyrinth

Alexandria, Virginia

miles away

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial

Alexandria, Virginia

miles away

Captain Rocky Versace Plaza and Vietnam Veterans' Memorial

Alexandria, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Alexandria

Alexandria

Virginia

Places 34

Related Places

  • Sơn Mỹ Memorial

    Quảng Ngãi, Vietnam

    Sơn Mỹ Memorial

    A memorial dedicated to the victims of the My Lai Massacre.

  • Memorial to the fallen soldiers.

    Kaliningrad, Russia

    Fort No. 5 "Friedrich Wilhelm III"

    This monument commemorates the soldiers who fought for 16 hours straight to penetrate this concrete fort.

  • The wall of executions

    Lviv, Ukraine

    Lonsky Prison National Memorial Museum

    This museum explores the tumultuous history of Lviv under Nazi and Soviet occupation.

  • Explore the wide collection of moving military photographs printed in The Stars and Stripes.

    Bloomfield, Missouri

    The Stars and Stripes National Museum and Library

    The first military newspaper in U.S. history was printed in Bloomfield, Missouri.

  • Grove of Remembrance

    Baltimore, Maryland

    Grove of Remembrance

    This grove was planted more than a century ago by the War Mothers of World War I.

  • Carnbooth Anti Aircraft Battery

    Glasgow, Scotland

    Carnbooth Anti-Aircraft Battery

    This former World War II artillery defense site was built to guard the industrial city of Glasgow.

  • Hacienda Santa Rosa

    Costa Rica

    Hacienda Santa Rosa

    Costa Rica's best known combat zone, used during the Battle of Santa Rosa.

  • Carmunnock War Memorial

    Clarkston, Scotland

    Carmunnock War Memorial

    This 1920's sandstone war memorial was constructed with an unusual drinking trough for horses.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.