Apothecary Museum marks 20 years as a city museum Nov. 8

The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum in Old Town is throwing a free open house to mark 20 years as a city-owned museum. It runs from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at 105-107 S. Fairfax St.

The Office of Historic Alexandria set out the plans in its event listing on the city calendar. Visitors get free tours from staff stationed around the building.

Two record books, rarely on view

Two pieces from the museum’s archive come out for the day:

• Edward Stabler’s daybook from the 1790s
• an account and prescription book from the 1860s

The city said these materials are rarely shown. Both are part of the museum’s future work to conserve its archival collection.

How a pharmacy became a city museum

The shop’s history, as the city tells it:

• 1792: the family-run pharmacy opens. It trades for 141 years.
• 1933: the business declares bankruptcy and closes.
• 1933: community members buy the building and its contents.
• 1939: it opens to visitors as a museum, run by the Landmarks Society the buyers set up. That group is now the Mortar and Pestle Society.
• November 2006: after an extensive renovation, the Landmarks Society donates the museum and its contents to the City of Alexandria.

The museum is one of the city’s historic sites run by the Office of Historic Alexandria. It is also open on Veterans Day: the city’s holiday schedule lists it, with the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, as open from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, when the other city museums close.

What it means for you

• When: 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8.
• Where: 105-107 S. Fairfax St., Old Town.
• Cost: free.
• What to see: the original shop and the two record books, which the city says are rarely on display.

The open house is on our list of things to do this weekend, with the rest of the month in things to do in November. For more on Old Town’s historic buildings, see our history and landmarks guide.