Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop is a pharmacy museum in Alexandria that displays thousands of original items from the 1800s. The collection includes medical instruments, hand-blown glass bottles, scales, mortars, and medicinal supplies that reveal how pharmacists prepared and dispensed medicines in their time.

The shop opened in 1792 and remained a family operation for over 140 years until closing in 1933. During its long run, it served well-known figures and preserved detailed records that illuminate everyday medical practice in early America.

The name reflects the founding Stabler family and the Leadbeaters who ran the shop for generations, their names still visible on the storefront. The shop demonstrates how neighbors relied on a trusted pharmacist to prepare medicines on demand and offer guidance for their ailments.

The shop sits in the historic downtown area and is easily reached on foot, though parking nearby is limited for those arriving by car. The best time to visit is outside peak hours, when you can explore the displays at leisure and the rooms feel less crowded.

The work room remains frozen in time since the shop closed, with herbs, chemicals, and tools sitting exactly where they were left in 1933. This time capsule lets visitors see precisely how the pharmacist worked on the very last day of operation.

Location: Alexandria

Website: https://alexandriava.gov/Apothecary

GPS coordinates: 38.80425,-77.04275

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:01