Friendship Firehouse Museum

The Friendship Fire Company was established in 1774, as the first volunteer fire company in Alexandria. The current firehouse was built in 1855, was substantially remodeled in 1871, and was restored by the City of Alexandria in 1992.

Page updated on May 14, 2021 at 5:25 PM

Friendship Firehouse Museum

Friendship Firehouse Building PhotographIn a town of mostly wooden buildings, where open flames provided heat, light and cooking on a daily basis, fire was a constant danger. The Friendship, Sun, Relief, Hydraulion and other local volunteer fire companies served the community faithfully, particularly during enormous blazes in 1827, 1855, 1871, and 1922. Some of their stories and equipment are preserved today in the Friendship Firehouse Museum.

Museum Open One Saturday per Month

The Museum is reopening one Saturday per month. Visit the museum April 17, May 22, and June 19, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. See below for details, including information on advanced tickets and safety guidelines.

Museum Closures and Covid-19 Operational Guidelines

While Friendship Firehouse has reopened, some of our museums are closed and public programs are cancelled until further notice. Check the Historic Alexandria homepage to see the latest on which museums are now open.

The Office of Historic Alexandria established the following guidelines to ensure consistent operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff will regularly re-evaluate them based on safety and available staffing levels and as the region moves through Phase 3 of the Forward Virginia plan. Includes guidelines for guided tours, volunteers, rentals, public programs and events, and on-site research and collections use by the public.

Covid-19 Operation Guidelines

STAY CONNECTED!

Follow the Alexandria History Museum on social media and sign up for eNews and join the  Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association.
Lyceum Facebook Page   Lyceum Twitter Page 

More social media from Historic Alexandria
City Facebook Page   Twitter Page   Historic Alexandria Instagram Historic Alexandria YouTube Channel

Virtual Tour

Visit the  Friendship Firehouse Museum on a Google 360 virtual tour.

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Open One Saturday a Month: Friendship Firehouse Museum

Friendship Firehouse Museum will be open one Saturday per month, April 17, May 22, and June 19, 2021, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. As city museums reopen, they will initially operate at 25% capacity and will require purchase of timed tickets in advance at The Alexandria Shop. Tickets are $2 to reserve an arrival time for you and your party of up to ten people. 

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Historic Preservation Month 2021

May is Historic Preservation Month. This year, Historic Alexandria and its partners are focusing on Equity in Preservation. We invite you to our lectures on the free Black population of Alexandria before the Civil War; the demographic evolution of the District of Columbia, of which Alexandria was once a part; a history of Franklin and Armfield, the notorious slave trading firm that once operated out of what is now the Freedom House Museum; and housing practices in Alexandria from the Civil War until today. You can also join masked and socially-distanced walking tours of Alexandria's historic buildings.

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Saving the Historic Fire-fighting Vehicles

The vehicles and exhibits at Friendship Firehouse Museum illuminate the history of firefighting in Alexandria. Years of hard use took their toll on the suction hand engine and hose-reel carriage, but when they are fully conserved, the apparatus’ paint history will be stabilized and preserved for future generations to enjoy.   

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Select Museums Now Open

The following museums are now open. Check the museum links for current hours and safety protocols. Alexandria Archaeology Museum, Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, Friendship Firehouse Museum, Gadsby's Tavern Museum. Luckily, history doesn’t stop just because our hours are limited! Visit us here on our website and follow us on social media to discover new things about your hometown.

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Educational Resources at Friendship Firehouse

Find firefighting learning resources for your students (Pre-K through 8th grade), scouts or other group. Learn from home with fun activities, books, and links to explore Friendship Firehouse Museum, firefighting history, and fire safety at home.

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Activities and Events at Friendship Firehouse

Join us for events and activities throughout the year.  Children visiting the museum are invited to go on our history hunt and explore firefighting history through hands-on objects. For adults and youth, special guided firefighting history tours are offered in the spring and fall. Visit us for special Open House days, and for the Firehouse Festival on the first Saturday in August. 

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Plan Your Visit to Friendship Firehouse

Location, hours, directions, and everything you need to know to visit Friendship Firehouse Museum.
Parking and Trolley Map 

Museum Hours

Open one Saturday-per-month

April 17, May 22, and June 19, 2021, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Closed
New Year's Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day

Email the Museum

Email the Friendship Firehouse Museum

Event Tickets

To purchase tickets to events at the Friendship Firehouse Museum, and to shop online, visit  The Alexandria Shop. 

American Alliance of Museums logo 

American Alliance of Museums
Accredited Museum 

 


 

 

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