The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum in Alexandria is opening a new temporary exhibit titled “Disease and the Apothecary” on September 26, 2025. The exhibit explores the impact of three significant diseases—Smallpox, Yellow Fever, and Influenza—on public health during the apothecary’s 141 years of operation.
The exhibition uses objects and archival material to illustrate how scientific advancements and community efforts played a role in managing these health crises. According to museum representatives, “Objects and archival material show how scientific innovations and collective action saved lives.”
Located on the museum’s first floor at 105-107 S Fairfax St., Alexandria, the exhibit is included with regular admission. Residents of Alexandria can visit free of charge. The content is also available online via a QR code displayed at the entrance panel.
The Office of Historic Alexandria manages this initiative as part of its broader mission to preserve and share local history through museums, archives, archaeology, tours, exhibits, and public programs. The office states: “Through powerful storytelling and confronting the City’s past, Historic Alexandria enriches the present and inspires the future. We enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors and serve as a partner in the City’s equity and inclusion initiatives.”
Visitors who require disability accommodations can contact Nicole Quinn at historicalexandria@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4554 or Virginia Relay 711. Interpretation services are available by emailing LanguageAccess@alexandriava.gov or calling 703-746-3960.
For more information about Historic Alexandria’s work with eight museums and various programs across the city, visit https://www.alexandriava.gov/Historic.
