Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum

I had to pleasure of taking the poison tour that was offered by the museum, and I had so much fun learning about the way people in the late 1800 to early 1900s utilized what we now know was poisonous chemicals and herbs as unique treatment methods. It was so cool getting to tour the shop and storage spaces and learn about how the shop operated when it was still in business. I would love to come back and take another tour during their normal business hours to browse the exhibits, but Gray, our tour guide did a phenomenal job during our hour-long tour!

Very cool experience in the middle of downtown Alexandria. The historical value is so interesting, it really is frozen in time. The gift shop is also phenomenal found sons awesome books and stickers. Admission is only 5 dollars and discounted with military, aarp and something else. Definitely worth a pop in!

So worth checking out. A rare time capsule. So rare in fact, that even the original owners realized it was worth preserving with as much originality as possible...back in the 1700s! It's also worth your money for the guided tour. Our guide was wonderful.

Great museum to visit if you like old vintage stuff. Tickets were 5$ for adults and 3$ for kids. The people working there are amazing and very friendly. Also their shop has a lot of things to check out.

Amazing experience! Guide was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. This place is truly frozen in time, and you will learn so many surprising things about the way people used to treat ailments and practice medicine.

Very interesting place to visit. We had a great tour guide that was able to answer any of our questions. I would reccomend stopping by if you're in the city.

What a treasure! We went for the first time this week and it was so fascinating. The store was open during George Washington’s presidency and closed in approx 1930. We had a wide age range from lower elementary up to teens and the staff was so great with speaking to each group at their level. Our tour guide was delightful and so patient. The kids loved smelling the herbs and trying to guess how things were used. Seeing all the old furniture and bottles was really cool, I loved seeing the pill maker and a machine that could make corks the right size. There were other things I didn’t expect like perfume, razors, baby bottles, and dyes for clothes. I took so many pictures but I know there were things I missed…which means I need to go back! It was also fun to visit after reading “The Lost Apothecary”

What a cool authentic time capsule of an early US Apothecary. Well worth the time! They even had a letter from Martha Washington ordering supplies from them. The upstairs work shop contains all the original ingredients, storage bins, and tools of the trade that have been there for over 200 years.

This is a unique, memorable museum that's well preserved. It's small but there is much to see and learn about. Definitely do the tour! I found the overall experience to be surreal - in a good way. It's a place I'd visit again; the upstairs portion of the tour was my favorite. if you're a history buff, you'll love the apothecary. If you're not, you'll still love it. There is so much history and charm in this space and you'll feel like you stepped back in time. The museum is free if you're an Alexandria resident. Lots of street parking nearby; most of it is pay-to-park, FYI.

Such a wonderful and unique little museum! I come to Alexandria occasionally for conferences and have always wanted to visit this place, but always seem to get out of the meetings too late. Last Friday I was lucky enough to finish my business in the morning and popped over. Apparently, the community bought to whole apothecary, lock, stock and barrel in 1933 when the owner went bankrupt. They preserved things exactly as they were. It hasn't changed since then. It opened in 1775 and has a very early 19 century feel to it. You can take a guided tour, which I recommend, as that is the only way for you to personally visit the second floor. If that's not in the cards for you, a quick visit to the first floor is also fascinating. The staff is so knowledgeable and friendly. It also has a great little gift shop with some funky items. It's a small place, but you'll have a lot of fun. It reminds me of the New Orleans Pharmacy museum, but even better.

The place is very quaint, but incredibly interesting. You can go on a self guided tour of the main room or a self guided which takes you upstairs to see where all the medications/remedies were mixed and prepared. My sister in law lives in VA so she got a discounted rate for her ticket. My cousin and I paid $5 a piece for the self guided tour, All of the bottles and vials have been sealed and the materials inside are still the original from when the Apothecary was still running. There are cool relics like old nail clippers and other materials for viewing. There is a small gift shop. I bought myself a cheek tint made of roses and am obsessed. Would recommend if you're in the area. Beautiful and unique piece of history to explore!

I visited for the Poisons at the Apothecary tour. Gray was a wonderful guide! Promptly opened in time for our tour. Adorable gift shop with items for all ages. This apothecary operated from 1792-1933.

Such warm and knowledgeable staff, I'm looking forward to booking a tour! I just came by to take a look inside.

It was a very interesting small museum. We did the $5 self guided tour. It was small so I felt the $5 was reasonable. Everything was left as is when it closed so everything is original. I found it very interesting.

This is an excellent gem of a museum. It is a small museum but that's the charm of it. Sometimes I like going to small museums because it's like taking in a bite sized amount of information and you don't feel overwhelmed or pressured to look at a myriad of displays. We got to Alexandria in the late afternoon and the guided tour had a capacity of 8 people due to preservation reasons and the space. The very friendly person at the front told me that the 3:15pm tour was sold out and that if we wanted to do a self guided tour of the first floor we could. Since we came all the way here to visit this museum, I decided we should wait for the 4:15 tour (last tour of the day), this way we could have a guided tour and see the second floor. There is a way of buying tickets online but I couldn't find it in on the website. I would suggest calling if you can't find it either. Our docent was informative and the tour lasted about 40 minutes. Once the docent explains the history behind the apothecary, you have a few minutes to look around. There is a cute mini gift store to buy some mementos. I have a soft spot for small museums and it was a pleasure to visit this one. Something unique and quirky to do, off the beaten path. Thank you to the City of Alexandria for preserving museums like this.

My husband wanted to do the tour. I thought "45-minutes, for a two-room tour! That's long." But I was pleasantly surprised. It ended up being the BEST tour we went on in Alexandria. Surpassed the ghost tour. Must see!

One of Alexandria's smaller museums, the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum is worth a visit if you have 30-45 minutes. Founded in the 18th century, the pharmacy used to serve people like George and Martha Washington. The pharmacy closed in the early 20th century and the original space is preserved as a museum with jars and their contents from the historic pharmacy. For $5, I toured the bottom floor, took a virtual tour of the second floor, and learned a lot from a tour guide in 15 minutes. There's a small gift shop on the bottom floor as well.

I had the guided tour, and had a wonderful experience! The tour guide was knowledgeable and everything with a notable history had a brief description and timestamp of significance. My tour had kids in it, so the guide put a big spin on Harry Potter themed items to keep them interested. The gift shop was a nice touch, and had some items that resembled apothecary merchandise.

Jessica was a great tour guide! This was a fantastic tour :). Highly recommend coming here as part of a visit in downtown Alexandria.

Loved the tour and history of this museum. It's a step back in time and really neat to see the way it was set up, so undisturbed. I recommend the tour instead of just walking in and out. The guide was really knowledgeable and we learned a lot by asking additional questions. It's a good idea to book a time in advance. Enjoy the little shop while you wait. Not much space to sit down and wait so don't go incredibly early for your tour if you can't stand. There's a single bathroom on site.

What a cool little museum. Shortly after the original owners went bankrupt back in the 30s, the building/Apothecary was purchased with all of its content and turned into a museum. Walking through it is like walking back in time. I loved every bit of it. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and willing to answer your questions. I highly recommend taking the guided tour which lasts about 45 minutes. It's gives you so much more background and access to the second floor.

Randomly found this place online looking for a cool museum in Alexandria. So random that many of the people I talked to never heard of it. But it was so interesting! its a small place, so the tour was 30mins but I learned a lot. This apothecary museum is as in from the 1930s! You learn about the family owned business, some about apothecaries/pharmacies back then, and get to see some old school relics like glass baby bottles and the retro bengay. Our tour guide was super knowledgeable, and the woman working the front was helpful and answered other questions about the space as we shopped in the gift shop. If you're a history nerd/like weird museums definitely visit it's only $5!

The apothecary museum was a business up until a bit less than a century ago (apparently the Depression killed it), and many of the bottles and other artifacts are originals. That being said, there wasn't a ton to it physically; one main room downstairs, and one pretty well stuffed upstairs room. There are enough details about the stuff on display to keep a conversation running for a while though, and I went for a specialized tour. The science and the business of medicine are fertile ground. The gift shop out front you can look at without paying for admission, and it is a small room but had some interesting specialized stuff that looked worthwhile. The conversation here ran to a comparison to a similar museum in New Orleans, which I thought was a bit bigger and had more going on (but also more visitors, as compared to this one which keeps the crowds small). I liked the one in NOLA better, but I'm glad they're keeping this one running.

We really only has time on our last day for the self guided tour as the guided tour was full (four people??). The self guided tour only allows access to the first floor whereas the guided tour takes you up to the seconds floor as well. It was fun to see the old bottles and some of the other displays. They have some really great books and gift items in the gift shop. Definitely worth a stop!

Didn't take the tour but the gift shop was cute, clerk was very friendly, and the Deep Tissue Balm worked very well on dry skin

I had a few hours before my flight left DC so this tour came up on my "things to do in Alexandria" searches. The tour was only $5 and they start about every half hour so I didn't need to wait long. There was only one other couple on the tour and we were welcome to ask any questions we wanted. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and I found the tour fascinating! It was very impressive how hard they work at maintaining its original condition! If you have a little bit of time, this tour is very unique

5 stars all the way I could listen to stories about this store all day. The ladies are super nice, very knowledgeable, funny and friendly. They have a fun gift shop that I regret not buying more. If I'm ever in town again I would do this tour again.

If you are interested in history, this is a really cool tour. It's an unusual situation because the place was perfectly preserved in its 1933 state. It's an exact picture of pharmaceutical practices from that time. You will leave with information not just on this apothecary, but on medical practices from 1700-1900 in general. The coolest part is that the tour actually goes upstairs to see how seeds/gum/flowers/herbs were stored and made into medicine. Many museums/tours stick to the main retail area, but this one goes beyond. And, at just $5 it's a deal. Of course, if you plan to visit more than three historical spots, you should get the Key to the City for $15. You can buy that pass just across King Street at the Visitor's Center. The reason I took off one star is because there was only one staff member on site. That means she had to close the museum shop while giving the tour, and really push our tour to get back before the next one. They give tours at the quarter hour and again at quarter till. We were told it was a 40-ish minute tour, but that didn't happen because of the staffing issue. Our guide was clearly knowledgable and very entertaining, but we probably didn't get everything she had to offer because she was rushed. That said, I would go back to take the tour again with friends who haven't been there, or to spend longer in the gift shop (we had to leave so the guide could start the next tour).

Like taking a walk back in time! This little museum is just off of King Street, and is well worth the nominal admission price. We got a guided tour, our tour guide was so nice. She was very personable and knowledgeable about the museum. Everything has been perfectly preserved. It's like stepping into a time capsule. And the tour takes about 30-45 minutes. There is a also a small gift shop that is worth popping into even if you don't have time for a tour. If you're looking for something different to do on a visit to DC this is worth the trip! Street parking is fairly easy to come by, there are a number of parking garages in the area as well. There are also a number of other shops and small museums in the area so it's worth a day/afternoon trip.

This is for you history lovers and medical/drug industry folk who enjoy a combo of both. My friend Forrest and I came in here to check out this place. It was a full run family owned pharmacy from 1792 until the Great Depression then instead of selling it off - they handed it over to the City of Alexandria for preservation. It is believed that President Washington himself had a couple of prescriptions from here himself along with Mrs. Washington just to name a couple of their customers. On the shelves, you will see all sorts of things that wouldn't be on full display anymore in this day and age. Being that I am not a doctor, I can't recall the actual medical names, but I can remember the purposes - activated charcoal, hemp, and many others. The tour takes you in the main pharmacy area and upstairs where there was the office and another room that served as a multi-purpose room. The cost to get in is $5 and accepts groups of 10 at maximum.

High Yield: - $5 for admission/30-minute tour - Tickets available via phone and in person We got our tickets on the day of about 1.5 hours before our tour time. The tour covers the history of the apothecary and the family that owned it as well as some general information about the history of medicine. I would have liked a little more information about some of the remedies, but overall it was an informative and interesting tour. During the tour, you enter into the retail space, which was extremely well preserved, as well as a private office/storage space upstairs.

This place is a Harry Potter fan's dream! As someone who also still utilizes Chinese medicine and often takes herbs, it was cool seeing the similarities between this place and apothecaries that still exist in Asia today. We did the tour, which was very informative. The tour guide was able to answer every question we threw at her. The tour moved pretty quickly though and I was they gave us more time to explore the store and read through the labels on each product. It was so neat seeing vintage labels for recognized brands such as Vick's and Pepto Bismol. The museum still does some pretty interesting work. The guide told us that they were able to send some custom dye made with early 1900s ingredients to an artist from a museum trying to restore an old painting that used those ingredients. Definitely worth a visit, especially with a Key to the City Pass.

If you have any interest in medicine or history in general this is an excellent stop in your day. This family run pharmacy was in business for over 100 years before going bankrupt in the Great Depression. Rather than selling and the using the space for a new business, it was immediately turned into a museum, leaving all the original medicinal tools and ingredients behind. The tour costs $5 for adults and lasts 30 minutes touring 3 rooms. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly, answering any questions that we had. Back then, pharmaceuticals were created using natural ingredients rather than synthetic, it was fun flipping through the index upstairs that showed what each plant root / bark / leaf etc. treated based on symptoms. For the price, the great history lesson, plus fun photo ops, this is an appropriate tour for all ages really. There is 1 flight of stairs so keep that in mind if you are planning on going with anyone with a month ilott problem, there isn't an elevator.

Great step back in time to understand how medicine use to be formulated and dispersed. Enjoy the connection that was made during the workshop to the Harry Potter series to create options and spells. It was nice to hear that African american people worked here and were not slaves during a time when slavery was still plaguing this country.

So, I'm a history nerd. I mean, I'm not dressing up at the Renaissance Fair or doing Civil War re-enactments (although I love to see both and participate vicariously through those people since I'm too self-conscience, vain and worried about the opinions of others to do either). If you're down in Old Town, you could walk right past the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum and not even know it. The Apothecary shop was a family business founded in 1792 by Edward Stabler which operated in its current location from 1796 - 1933. Obviously, Mr. Stabler didn't work there through that whole time period. The place closed in 1933 during the Great Depression and the owners literally walked away and locked the doors; leaving everything behind as is. When you go upstairs, there's tons of little drawers still filled with herbs, tinctures, talcs. Some of the cooler things: * A written request from Martha Washington for some castor oil before she died * A log book showing customers such as Robert E. Lee * All sorts of cool bottles and "remedies." * A plaque showing the exact spot Robert E. Lee was standing in when JEB Stuart came in to give him the orders to put down the uprising at Harper's Ferry. The tour guide - a nice lady who does it as a labor of love- said that a lot more items are being prepped for display in this tiny, two-floor museum. For $4.00 she gives about a 30 minute tour that's pretty fascinating. One odd thing is that when you go up to the "warehouse" part of the apothecary there's a modern kitchen and sink... kinda snaps you out of the charm of the old building. There was also a keg in the corner (they apparently rent out the top floor for events). Other than that, it's a fantastic snapshot into the past.

I went to the Apothecary Museum on 7/31/15 to celebrate Harry Potter's birthday (yes, I said Harry Potter) at an adult only event. I had been wanting to visit this museum for a while and being a fan of Harry Potter books I thought the event was the perfect excuse to go. Before I get into the specifics of the event, I want to talk about the museum itself. The museum is small when compared to the Smithsonian and some of the other private museums in the area. However, its content is fascinating (and somewhat over looked) in learning about what it was like to live in earlier America. You forget about how difficult it must have been when it came to getting sick (or even just having an upset stomach and not being able to pop into a place like CVS or Walgreens). The upstairs has many original boxes with herbs and (had) controlled substances (our tour guide told us they museum has received visits from the DEA to make sure all the controlled substances have been removed). It gave me a really good picture of what it must have been like to work in apothecary on the manufacturing side of things. The event itself was fun (and cheesy in a good way). I appreciated several of the participants got into costume for the event. The food as described in the advertising of the event was on the lighter side but delicious. The museum also took the time to get a Harry Potter themed cake and made themed alcoholic beverages. I got to use dragon's blood (which apparently is real thing but instead, of scaly beast it is a large tree) to make a powder for my teeth. The highlight of the event for me was the tour. Our guide was a volunteer but you could tell she really enjoyed the subject and had done enough research to adequately answer everyone's questions. My only suggestions (and having learned this was the 1st time the event for adults only was held) that the organizers next year staff more volunteers for different stations to make more herbal powders for more than one purpose. It also might have been nice to have some live music in either the lobby or area where the powders were being made. In a nutshell worth the trip to see this off the beaten path museum but don't expect it to take several hours (like a Smithsonian museum) to get through.

A wonderful small museum--don't miss it if you are in Old Town Alexandria (it is right across from Alexandria's Visitors' Center). The museum is open only for guided tours that begin a quarter after the hour and a quarter to the hour and last for 30 minutes, led by volunteers and museum staff who clearly love what they do. For just $5 a ticket ($4, with this coupon: http://alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/historic/info/apothecary/SLCoupon.pdf), this is a fascinating place to visit: A family-owned apothecary operated from this location between 1792 and 1933, witness to Alexandria's history from the early days of Independence (Martha Washington filled out her orders here), to the Civil War (there is a plaque marking the spot where Robert E. Lee stood when he was called out to suppress the Harpers Ferry rising), to the Great Depression. The museum is unique in that nothing much changed since the apothecary closed its doors in 1933--it became a museum immediately after it closed, all the herbs and the pills and the tinctures still in their picturesque boxes and drawers. I loved the second floor of the museum especially: the storage area and the pharmacists' workshop, with colorful remedies of the past, many so toxic that they haven't been touched or moved for 80 years. Constantly changing displays throughout the museum illustrate various aspects of the apothecary's 141 years in operation--the changing instruments of the trade, the "cures", the letters and orders from Alexandria's prominent denizens. Interesting events take place here for different ages--this is a great place for kids and adults alike. Do give it a try. Here's what you may expect when you visit: http://transplantedtatar.com/2012/08/12/wistful-mondays-an-apothecary-and-a-church-old-town-alexandria/

Quick Review: It's a very interesting and quick tour that you'll enjoy if you like history. I'm glad I took the tour and recommend it, but don't make a special trip to Old Town just to visit this museum. Tour: My docent was Ken, a retired pharmacist who was extremely knowledge and passionate about the products stocked in the apothecary. He spent a good amount of time explaining the logic behind why things were used, whether they actually worked, and how some of those same herbs are still used today. His passion for the history really showed and it made the tour more engaging. The upstairs area is very cool and maintained well. Cost: At just $5 per person for a 30 minute tour, it's extremely reasonable. Should You Visit: I decided to spend a day in Old Town for a mix of shopping, eating, and historical sightseeing. As I noted above, I recommend visiting as part of a larger tour of historical sites in the city. If you have little children, I'd skip this because they'll likely be bored. However for adults or teens, it's a nice insight into everyday life in the late 18th, early 19th, and 20th centuries. Location: Easy to get to, surrounded by fantastic restaurants, and close to the Carlyle House and other historic sites.

My husband and I are always looking for interesting things to do and while we live in the area, we are always up for "playing tourist." A friend is a professional tour guide and I asked her for some ideas and she recommended Old Town Alexandria and getting The Keys to the City. For $10 a person it gives admittance to nine locations, including the Stabler Leadbeater Apothecary Museum. (The booklet does not expire and pays for itself on your second admission. ) Located just off King Street on South Fairfax Street this small museum is a hidden gem. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and interesting and encouraged question asking. The Apothecary opened in 1792 and remained in the Stabler Leadbeater family until they went bankrupt in 1933. The doors closed on the shop and it pretty much remained untouched for decades. Learning how medicine was practiced back then made me grateful to be alive now. Cases included blood letting tools and various medications ranging from helpful to poisonous. The storage rooms were particularly interesting.

Not all that impressive in my opinion. Didn't learn that many new things. The tour guide didn't seem all that enthusiastic or friendly. The museum is small but at least the entrance fee is cheap. The upstairs is kind of cool with the turkey leg over the door beam. I did appreciate the air conditioning on a hot day though.

Well worth a visit for those interested in herbal remedies, history of medicine and drugs. Older kids would enjoy as well. Nicely done gift shop as well. Key to alexandria tour book is $10 and covers many historic locations and fees.

Loved this tour! It was so interesting to see this old store! I would recommend this to anyone who loves history or medicine !

Cool historical stop. You have to pay $5 for the half hour tour if you want to go beyond the rope on the 1st floor, as well as get access to the 2nd floor. Well worth it. Really cool bottles and old timey artifacts.

Such a cute little museum! Staff was very well educated on the history of the building and all of the items in the museum. Staff was also very friendly!

Visiting this museum has been on my "local bucket list" for a long time. I was finally able to pop in on a Saturday afternoon. It's a super cool building with an interesting history. I paid $5 for the tour, which lasted less than 30 minutes. My assessment of Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum is that there is SO MUCH potential here for interesting, insightful, and historically accurate museum curation. I would have loved to have had more in-depth and "case study" like information about the contents in some of the containers. Like, what's Dragon's Blood and how is it harvested? Is there any scientific research to verify or debunk the various remedies that were being peddled? Which of these things are the "natural" precursors to today's more effective, manufactured pharmaceuticals? How were these prepared for ingestion? Are there any journals or other historical documents detailing specifically the uses of these items? How would a local have ordered these things--by the ounce, per dose, etc? What did they cost in today's dollars? Who used these things--I'm guessing the wealthier residents versus "common people." What was happening here during the Civil War? I have so many questions that were not even touched on. There weren't placards or other edifying documentation either. Overall, I was disappointed because I wanted more information. Towards the end of our tour, one of my fellow tour-mates noted the name of one of the herbs in a storage drawer as being mentioned in one of her favorite books, which happens to be a favorite of mine too (heeeeey Outlander series #LoveDianaGabaldon). That led us to having a lively discussion of the remedies mentioned in that book versus the ones we could find in the storage drawers. That was fun. I wish that was provided/facilitated by the museum staff and curator.

Pretty disappointing- go to the Apothecary in Fredericksburg for a real history lesson - live leeches, lots of instruments and friendly tour guides. This place just has old bottles & jars.

The second floor is a must for every Harry Potter fan. The admission price is totally worth it!

Our favorite stop in Alexandria. Used our key to the city tickets for free admission. The volunteer tour guide Leila was better than the employees and incredibly knowledgeable, plus funny. We had a blast and the artifacts there were priceless. Great place for a break from walking around the city on a hot day.

Cool little pharmacy museum. Definitely worth taking the kids to during special events. Free on Saturdays!!! Educational.

This multi-story apothecary shop, opened in the mid-18th century, became a thriving business, but, ultimately, closed in 1933, and has remained untouched since then. A docent guides a 30-minute tour ($5 donation), providing detailed explainations of medical practices of the day, displaying equipment and pharmaceuticals that were available during the 18th through early 20th century at this, the largest apothecary business in America at the time. Visiting this storefront museum is an interesting, educational experence. It is believed that George Washington, afflicted with pneumonia, actually died as a result of the bloodletting done on him, as was the practice of the day, in order to "treat" his illness. Oops.

Have just a minute? If you are in Old Town this is a really great place to pop in. It is informal and comfortable but really interesting and terrific for kids. If you have out of towners or kids who need something that doesn't need to be plugged in to think about for a while, this museum is quite perfect. Because the tour is quick you won't have to listen to long drawn out teenage whining.(No, I am not talking about the tour guide) Chances are any teen will really like even if they won't admit to it. Now here is the surprise- the gift shop! I stop in there just to pick up gifts for wedding showers, anniversaries, birthdays and holidays. They have some really cool stuff and people love local Virginia things of which they have plenty. If you love lavender products like I do you will want to check out their selection. It rocks!

Ever wonder what a CVS (or an old school version of it) would look like or be back in the late 1800's? Then, check out the Stabler -Leadbeater Museum. This is the oldest pharmacy in the country. The museum was going through renovations for the past 2 years and just reopened a few months ago. On my tour, I learned that this apothecary was opened in 1792 and was open and operational for 140 years. That's a long time. In its prime, this shop serviced high profile folks like Presidents Monroe, Lee and possibly George Washington. What you can plan on seeing inside the museum is stuff like old drug store equipment such as mortars and pestles, drug mills, and medical glassware . There's also medical journals and other documents including letters and day books. No apothecary table like the one from that Friends episode, though.

Fun/Cost: (4/5) Admission into the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum costs $6 for adults, and you get just the right amount of education, picture taking opportunities, and antique viewings for the price. The museum tour is pretty informal. You pay at the gift shop cashier area and the cashier-turned-tour-guide leads you on a 30 minute guided tour of the actual pharmacy area adjacent to and above the gift shop. As you cross the line into the previously roped off museum area, you'll feel as if you've stepped back in time. As the tour guide will explain, everything nearly everything in the store -- from the jars of mysterious liquids and powders, to the shelving, to the safe in a corner -- is original to the pharmacy that dates back to the 1800s. After explaining the shop area in the lower level, the tour guide leads you upstairs to where more pharmaceutical items and medicines are stored. Don't miss the roaster leg above the doorframe! Oh, and a drawer labelled "Dragon's Blood"! For picture fanatics like me, the tour is great because they'll let you wander around and take pictures of anything you see and ask questions after the guide finishes his general talk. Ambiance: (5/5) The museum is well preserved from its operational days. I love that everything, both upstairs and downstairs, is exactly as it was in the past. The pharmacy store area downstairs is actually quite a lovely space with wooden floors, white walls, and scalloped cutouts near the crown moldings. When you go upstairs, the storage area is dark and musty, just as you would expect, and the unaltered arrangement and furnishings lend the space an authentic and historically-rich aura. You can almost see the 19th century apothecary/pharmacist directing his apprentice or holding up a newly completed bottle of medicinal powder. I'm not sure if it's because we visited during off-peak tourist season, but there was nobody else here when my group of 5 came. Fine by us though; we got the tour all to ourselves. Location: (5/5) The museum is conveniently located in Old Town Alexandria with restaurants, museums, and shops aplenty. You'll have plenty to see and do before and/or after your visit here. We visited the area on a Saturday afternoon in mid-April and had no problem finding street parking. Service: (5/5) The only person we interacted with here was the gift shop cashier, turned tour guide who sold us our tickets and gave us the guided tour. He was very laid back, knowledgable, and friendly. He answered all our questions and let us take our time with pictures. No complaints! Overall: (4/5) I've visited countless museums in DC proper and some in Virginia; this museum -- though small -- stands up to the rest of them. A visit here is particularly worthwhile if you're just looking for simple museum outing that doesn't require much reading or much time. The tour is pretty short, but for a mere $6 (less than a price of a decent meal), you'll making a financial contribution to keeping this cool bit of history alive.

Great museum off the beaten path. Would recommend for sure staff was very nice and knowledgable, place itself has been preserve impeccably.... Loved the original hardwood floors the most.

Great little museum except the tour was extremely rushed. I was trying to show respect to the guide by listening to her but then right when she finished talking, we were herded to move along. There was no time to look around and take advantage of reading all the material. Tours should be 45 min, not a quick 30 min because you're too busy for people to look around.

I'm in pharmacy school, so it's kind of a "must" to tour pharmacy museums when I go somewhere new, and I love learning about the "old days" of pharmacy (i.e. apothecaries). At previous ones I've been to, you just walk around and look at things, so I was pleasantly surprised that we get a guided tour at this one. It's only $5, and our tour guide was great and full of information. The museum is also full of many preserved artifacts, and I thought it was so cool to be standing in the pharmacy that George Washington used! My only complaint is that I would've liked to spend more time looking around at things, which you only are able to do during the guided tour. As an added bonus, I was able to get some Fruit Stripe gum in the gift shop!

The guide really made this experience, taking us through the life of the pharmacy and the production of goods. The place looks amazing, and I'm not at all surprised a "Harry Potter wedding" took place here. But the best part of the tour was definitely learning that "unicorn root" and "dragon's blood" are both plants really used in remedies.