# Alexandria Archive MCP server

History of Alexandria, Egypt: search the archive, read articles, find events and prints.

## At a glance

Alexandria Archive is an MCP server in the Docs & Knowledge category. It is hosted remotely and connects over HTTP, and declares no required credentials. It exposes 8 tools, including search_archive, get_article and list_recent_articles. It scores D (33/100) on the MCP Skills Hub health score as of Oct 28, 2026.

## Install

### How to install Alexandria Archive in Claude Code

1. Add the server

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http archive https://www.alexandria-archive.com/mcp
```

2. Verify it's connected

```bash
claude mcp list
```

3. Sharing it with your team?

   Add `--scope project` to write it to .mcp.json in the repository root, which you can commit (with the secrets left as environment variables).

4. Use it in a session

   Ask Claude to use the tools this server exposes (e.g. search_archive, get_article, list_recent_articles). It discovers them automatically.

### How to install Alexandria Archive in Claude Desktop

1. Open your MCP config

   macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json · Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

2. Add this server

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "archive": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://www.alexandria-archive.com/mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

3. Why the wrapper?

   This is a remote (HTTP) server and Claude Desktop only launches local processes, so mcp-remote proxies the connection. It will open a browser window if the server needs OAuth.

4. Restart Claude Desktop

   The tools appear under the 🔌 menu once the app reloads.

### How to install Alexandria Archive in Cursor

1. Create / edit .cursor/mcp.json in your project

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "archive": {
      "url": "https://www.alexandria-archive.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

2. Enable it

   Cursor Settings → MCP → toggle the server on. Tools become available to the Composer/Agent.

### How to install Alexandria Archive in Codex CLI

1. Add to ~/.codex/config.toml

```toml
[mcp_servers.archive]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "mcp-remote", "https://www.alexandria-archive.com/mcp"]
```

2. Why the wrapper?

   Codex runs MCP servers as local processes, so mcp-remote bridges this HTTP endpoint to stdio.

3. Run Codex

   Codex loads MCP servers from config.toml on startup and exposes their tools to the agent.

### How to install Alexandria Archive in Windsurf

1. Edit ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "archive": {
      "serverUrl": "https://www.alexandria-archive.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

2. Reload

   Windsurf → Cascade → refresh MCP servers. Cascade can now call the tools.

### How to install Alexandria Archive in Cline

1. Open Cline → MCP Servers → Configure

   Adds to cline_mcp_settings.json.

2. Add the server

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "archive": {
      "type": "streamableHttp",
      "url": "https://www.alexandria-archive.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

### How to install Alexandria Archive in VS Code

1. Create .vscode/mcp.json

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "archive": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://www.alexandria-archive.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

2. Start it

   VS Code shows a ▶ Start action above the server entry. Agent mode (Copilot Chat) can then use the tools.

## Tools

- `search_archive` — Search historical photographs, documents, maps, articles, and events of the Alexandria Archive. Query can be Arabic or English (e.g. 'Stanley Bridge', 'كوم الدكة'). Returns titles and canonical URLs.
- `get_article` — Fetch one published article by numeric id — returns full markdown text in Arabic and English plus metadata.
- `list_recent_articles` — List the most recently published articles (id, title, excerpt, date, URL).
- `list_institutions` — List museums, libraries, archives and other institutions that publish their collections on the Alexandria Archive. Returns name, type, item count and canonical URL.
- `get_institution` — Fetch a single institution by its slug — description, history, contact details, and a sample of its published archive items with canonical URLs. Use this to answer questions about a specific institution's holdings, or to find items available for licensing.
- `list_upcoming_events` — List the Alexandria Archive's upcoming events — heritage walks, workshops, talks — soonest first, with date, place, price in Egyptian pounds (or free) and the page where a person books a seat. Use for questions like 'what is on in Alexandria this week' or 'a history walk in Alexandria'.
- `list_store_products` — List products on sale in the Alexandria Archive's store — prints, books and gifts about the city — with price in Egyptian pounds and the product page. Sales support the archive.
- `get_licensing_info` — Explain how an image or document from the Alexandria Archive may be reused or licensed (publication, broadcast, commercial use), and where the request is made. Pass itemId for one archive record; omit it for the general terms.

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Source: https://mcp-skills-hub.vercel.app/mcps/com-alexandria-archive-archive · MCP Skills Hub · data as of 2026-10-28T12:31:05Z