[Archived] President's Day Open House at Friendship Firehouse

Monday, February 16, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Visit the Friendship Firehouse Museum when you are in Old Town for the George Washington Birthday Celebration parade.  Free admission.  Telephone 703.746.4994, or see www.friendshipfirehouse.net.

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, and Friendship’s mid-19^th century suction engine – elaborately decorated with the company’s clasped-hands insignia - are on view.  Visitors also see their ornate hose reel carriage that was made in Alexandria, and learn about the company as a fraternal organization and its larger role in the community.  In addition to fighting fires, Friendship members participated in parades and performed ceremonial duties for civic events. In the firehouse Meeting Room ceremonial artifacts such as helmets, capes and other regalia, are exhibited alongside the room’s original furniture.

Friendship Firehouse Museum is located at 107 South Alfred Street in Old Town, Alexandria.  The site is open from 1-4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays; closed on major holidays.  The museum is owned and operated by the City of Alexandria, and managed by the City’s Office of Historic Alexandria.  Special programming is offered throughout the year.  For more information see www.friendshipfirehouse.net.; or contact the museum by calling 703.746.3891.