Friendship Firehouse
Firehouse museum on St Alfred and King Street in Old Town, Alexandria VA
Alexandria's first volunteer fire company established in 1774. The current firehouse was built in 1855 and houses a variety of historic firefighting equipment, including hand-drawn fire engines, leather water buckets, and sections of early rubber hose. The second-floor Meeting Room is furnished the way it was during the 19th century and is a window into Friendship's heyday as a community organization. Ceremonial objects are on display, including parade uniforms, caps, banners, and other regalia. In the 20th century, the members decided to make the firehouse into a "shrine" to George Washington, honoring him as Alexandria's greatest citizen.