Matthew Maury

Maury Elementary School was opened in 1929 – with six classrooms and an auditorium – to serve the growing population of Rosemont and what was then referred to as the “West End” of Alexandria, replacing a small building on what are now the grounds of the Masonic Memorial. The school since has been significantly expanded, including a wing added in the late ’40s with a cafeteria and nine additional classrooms.

Matthew Maury was a naval oceanographer and is known as the “Father of the Confederate Navy.” The neighboring park originally also was named after Maury, but became Beach Park in 1974 to honor Lillian Beach upon her retirement after a 22-year tenure as principal of the school. A former elementary school in Arlington (1910-1975) also was named after Maury.