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       For most of its 169-year history, the Bayne-Fowle House in Alexandria, Va., has been a private residence. But during the Civil War, history intruded and assigned it a public role in service to the Union occupation.

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       The house, at 811 Prince St., was one of 13 Alexandria residences appropriated by the federal government for use as military quarters during the war. In 1864, it was briefly used as a military hospital, and graffiti from that time remains at the uppermost level, preserved under plexiglass.

       The house was built in 1854 for a merchant, William Bayne, and in 1855, he sold it to William H. Fowle, also a merchant and the son of a Massachusetts businessman. Fowle may have been involved with the abolitionist movement, according to a nomination form submitted to the National Register of Historic Places, but his son, another William H. Fowle, fought in the Confederate Army. The elder Fowle went to live in Richmond before the house was seized.

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       After the war, Fowle sued for the recovery of his property, but he died in 1869 before the successful conclusion of the lawsuit. The estate was sold, and it has been a private residence ever since, though for a time, it was the home of several doctors who used one wing for their private practice.

       The three-story house — with finished lower level and partially finish attic — is on the market for $8 million.

       Despite its war-related history, the house received a spot on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural significance as an example of urban residences built by the merchant classes in the mid-19th century. The Italianate design contrasts with the Federal-era townhouses in the neighborhood, and the quality of construction, according to the National Register nomination, suggests that a professional architect was involved in its design.

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       The current owners restored and renovated the house, with approval from the easement-holding Virginia Department of Historic Resources, from 2013 to 2021. The plumbing, electrical and heating and cooling systems and the three-level elevator were upgraded, mosaic tilework was installed in the foyer, the kitchen was renovated and a dressing room was added to the primary bedroom suite.

       Sandstone stairs lead to the front door, which opens to a foyer nearly as long as the house. The dining room, living room and family room are connected by pocket doors, and each of them has a marble fireplace mantle and period plaster cornices lining the 12-foot ceiling. The living room adjoins a conservatory, which has scalloped window shelves believed to be original to the house. The conservatory is next to a breakfast room with large arched windows. The kitchen has white marble, double ogee (curving) countertops. The other side of the main level has a home office with custom cabinets and a powder room with a stone basin.

       The second floor has three bedrooms, each with a fireplace, and there are two full bathrooms and a laundry room. On the third floor, the primary bedroom suite has a fireplace, a dressing room and a mural of 19th-century Washington and the Potomac River. The en suite bathroom has a marble fireplace, a tub, a glass-enclosed shower, and three vanities, two with sinks. The attic has a finished room with exposed brick walls and an unfinished area that contains the Civil War-era graffiti.

       The lower level has an area for entertaining with a television set behind a sliding sculpture depicting the layout of the city of Alexandria. This level also has a gym, a full bathroom, storage space and a wine room that can hold 1,600 bottles.

       An iron gate to the right of the main entrance opens to a terrace with hornbeam trees, hydrangeas and azaleas. Beyond that garden is a courtyard with ivy-covered brick walls. Another courtyard is between the two-car garage and an office suite.

       S8,000,000

       811 Prince St., Alexandria, Va.

       Bedrooms/bathrooms: 4/5 Approximate square-footage: 8,600 Lot size: 6,052 square feet Features: The 1854 house has undergone extensive restoration and renovation. It has several fireplaces and an elevator that connects three floors. It has a two-car garage. Listing agent: Wetherly Barker Hemeon and Karen Barker, the Barker Team with TTR Sotheby’s International

       Thinking about buying a home? Let us help. Buying a home can be a daunting process. We’re here to help. Start with our Home Buyers Guide, which has everything from important real estate vocabulary to how to find a real estate agent to mortgage options. Or start below for helpful advice on navigating the housing market, or ask us your questions here.

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