Special One-Day Opening of Friendship Firehouse Museum

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The City of Alexandria

Friendship Firehouse Museum will be open to the public 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, 2020. As city museums reopen, they will initially operate at 25% capacity. In order to reserve a space and maintain physical distancing, purchase your entry time in advance at a steep discount. Instead of paying per person for admission, advanced tickets are only $2 for your entire group of up to ten people. Purchase one $2 ticket for up to ten people in your party.

In lieu of individual tickets, select one entrance time for your group and present your emailed receipt. Alexandria residents visit for free, but please reserve a time. If you have already purchased a Key to the City ticket, choose that option to reserve your entrance slot and present your Key to the City upon arrival. Tickets are available at The Alexandria Shop. Don't forget to visit the museum shop and pick up this year's Historic Alexandria ornament featuring Friendship Firehouse Museum's Prettyman Hose Carriage!

The Friendship Fire Company, established in 1774, was the first fire company in Alexandria.  Friendship members were volunteers motivated by their concern for the property and well-being of the community.  Today the Friendship Firehouse, built in 1855, is a museum open to the public.  Buckets, hose, axes, Friendship’s mid-19th century suction engine – elaborately decorated with the company’s clasped-hands insignia - are on view. 

Safety Measures

We have enacted additional measures to ensure the safety of our visitors and staff. We ask that visitors:

• Wash hands upon arrival (in museum restrooms or at hand-sanitizing station at the entrance).
• Wear a face covering while visiting as required by the Commonwealth of Virginia (exceptions include children under 10 and people with health conditions that do not allow them to wear face coverings).
• Follow one-way traffic patterns through the museum and maintain physical distancing.
• Limit group sizes to less than ten people.
• Please do not touch exhibits or displays.

Museum staff are implementing safety standards based on Department of Health recommendations, including:

• Requiring all staff wearing face coverings in the building.
• Enhanced daily cleaning, including disinfecting high-touch surfaces throughout the day.
• Providing hand sanitizer and tissues throughout the museum.
• Restricting admission to timed entry to ensure physical distancing.
• Installing plexiglass sneeze guards at shop counters.

Friendship Firehouse Museum is located at 107 South Alfred Street in Old Town, Alexandria. For more information please visit www.friendshipfirehouse.net.; or contact the museum by calling 703-746-3891.