From 1792 to 1933, the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum was a family business selling everything from medicine to garden and farm equipment to soap, perfumes, cigars, and art supplies. Famous customers included Robert E. Lee and Martha Washington. Today, the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum is home to what visitors call a truly astonishing array of historic and archival materials.
The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum has been operated as a museum pretty much since the doors closed to mercantile customers during the Great Depression, so the entire original inventory remains on display. Visitors say the structure itself has been flawlessly preserved, and it’s a great cultural experience for anyone interested in herbal remedies or the history of pharmaceuticals and medicine.
Tours are available, and history buffs will likely be fascinated by the curiosities on view.
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
105-107 S. Fairfax Street
Alexandra, VA 22314
(703) 838-3852
www.alexandriava.gov/Apothecary
www.yelp.com/biz/stabler-leadbeater-apothecary-museum-alexandria