Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop
No coordinates published for this listing.
Why it's listed
Two adjoining brick buildings at 105-107 S. Fairfax Street in Old Town Alexandria make up the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop. The south building, 107, was built about 1775 by Philip Dawe, a silver- and coppersmith, and Edward Stabler was advertising an apothecary business there by 1796. The north building, 105, dates to about 1815 and was bought by Stabler in 1829 to serve as a warehouse. The business operated under the Stabler name until 1852, when his son-in-law John Leadbeater took over. The first-floor room of 107 has Gothic-style shelves and counters installed in 1835, and the upper floors keep hand-lettered wooden boxes, tins and handblown bottles. Customers reportedly included George Washington, Henry Clay and Daniel Webster. After the shop was sold at auction in 1933, the Landmarks Society of Alexandria bought the buildings. Thomas T. Waterman restored them in 1936-38, and the shop opened as a museum in 1939. It is described as the only Virginia apothecary to operate continuously from the 18th to the 20th centuries.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it among the oldest preserved apothecaries in the United States and the only one in Virginia to operate continuously from the 18th to the 20th centuries. Its interior keeps original storage boxes, tins and handblown bottles, along with Gothic-style shelves and counters added in 1835. It is also tied to patrons such as George Washington and to J.E.B. Stuart delivering orders to Robert E. Lee before Harper's Ferry.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF). NRHP reference 100006254. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 105-107 S. Fairfax, Alexandria (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Alexandria |
| Listed | — |
| Reference number | 100006254 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Built ca. 1775 by Philip Dawe (107); restored 1936-38 by Thomas T. Waterman; the form lists builder/architect as N/A |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival interior (1835) in 107 |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Health/Medicine, Architecture |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated January 13, 2021 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | 107 is open as a museum and 105 houses a consignment shop operated by the Landmarks Society; the form describes the property as occupied and largely unaltered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 100006254.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives)
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.