About

Founded in 1792 and relocated to its current location in 1805, the Stabler-Leadbeater family operated this Alexandrian business for 141 years! After closing their doors in 1933 and selling everything as-is in a bankruptcy auction, forward-thinking citizens of Alexandria purchased the historic site and opened it as a museum in 1939. As an apothecary, the family sold not only medicine, but other products used in daily life to the citizens of Alexandria, including George and Martha Washington. Today the apothecary tells the story of what it was like to purchase and make medicine in the 19th century, as well as how changing laws and practices affected the apothecary business.

This site is a National Historic Landmark and is a part of the Office of Historic Alexandria.