Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum is a historic apothecary shop offering a glimpse at medicine in the 19th century
The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop opened in 1792 and moved to its permanent location (where the museum is now) in 1805. It was operated by two generations of Stablers before being passed to the in-laws – two generations of Leadbeaters. One of the apothecary’s most famous customers was Martha Washington. A letter requesting castor oil be delivered to Mount Vernon for Martha Washington is on display in the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum. Almost all of the artifacts on display are original, and the museum is set up exactly as it was in the 1800s, giving adventurers a peek into the history of medicine. The museum can only be viewed on a guided tour.
The medicines produced at the apothecary shop were made from plants and minerals. Despite the Harry Potter-esque labels on the containers in the supply room, ingredients like unicorn root and powdered dragon’s blood are actually botanical. The ingredients are organized in drawers, tins, and boxes based on what part of the plant they are taken from. Read the labels on the containers to see that Hemlock Bark is above Polar Bark, Parsley Seed is by Poppy Seed, and Prickly Ash Berries are next to Poke Berries. The apothecaries had to be very familiar with plants in order to find their ingredients. Going to the pharmacy seems like it was a lot more interesting in the 1800s!
In addition to medicine, the apothecary sold farm equipment, dental and surgical tools, paint, perfume, and art supplies. The second floor of the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum is the warehouse and workshop area where ingredients were stored and medications were prepared. As the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary business grew, they began manufacturing medicines to supply around 500 pharmacies in the surrounding area.
Because the owners of the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop were Quakers, they never owned slaves, setting this site apart from many other historic locations in the area. Edward Stabler, the founder of the apothecary, often purchased slaves in order to free them. Although Virginia voted to join the Confederacy, it was occupied by Union troops for almost the entire Civil War. According to ledgers from the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop, “Hot Drops” were a best-seller with the soldiers. This cough medicine sold for one cent each and was so popular that the apothecary sold more than $1,000 worth in one day.
Between the Great Depression and the rise of the rise of modern pharmaceuticals, the apothecary saw a decline in sales and closed in 1933. It reopened as the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum in 1939.
The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum is enchanting with its collection of original containers and interesting ingredients, so it’s disappointing that the regular tour doesn’t do this historic site justice. My tour guide provided little context or history for the site or its collection. Therefore, I recommend visiting on one of their free open house days or signing up for one of the “Geek Tours” that provide a longer, behind-the-scenes tour of the museum.
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Address
105 S Fairfax St, Alexandria, VA
Metro Station
- King Street-Old Town (BL, YL)
Cost
$5.00
Hours
November to March:
- Wednesday to Saturday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Sunday from 1:00 – 4:00 pm
April to October:
- Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Sunday and Monday from 1:00 to 5:00 pm
Length of Adventure
45 minutes
Website
https://www.alexandriava.gov/Apothecary
