Town of Vienna, VA
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Freeman Store and Museum
131 Church Street NE
Vienna, VA 22180
703-938-5187
historicviennava@gmail.com
Mailing Address
PO Box 53
Vienna, VA 22183
Tours may be scheduled by via email.
Hours of Operation
Wednesday - Sunday
12:00pm - 4:00pm
(Closed January and February)
Freeman Store and Museum
Operated by Historic Vienna, Inc., the Freeman Store and Museum brings visitors into a historic country store that allows an opportunity to step back in time and experience what general stores in Virginia once looked like. The gift shop sells a variety of exclusive hand-crafted gifts for the home, specializing in Vienna- and Virginia-themed items, pottery, and hand-painted wooden ornaments of historic Vienna buildings. The store also carries books on local history written by local authors, children’s books and toys, puzzles, a wide assortment of stationery, postcards, souvenirs, old-fashioned candy, and cold drinks. In addition, the Used Book Cellar, located in the basement, is a popular spot for local bibliophiles.
The museum, located primarily on the second floor, features rotating exhibits related to Virginia and Town of Vienna history. Occasionally, traditional teas and parlor talks are hosted at the museum. For information about current exhibits and events, visit Historic Vienna, Inc.
History
The Freeman Store and Museum has seen a great deal of history over its many evolutions. Built in 1859, and originally known as the Lydecker Store, the store/house also served as a hospital and offices for both Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War. In the late 1800s, the family business/house was handed down to Leon Lydecker Freeman, who continued to operate the store until 1929. Descendants continued to use the building for their insurance company and home into the 1950s.
In 1969, the building was sold to the Town of Vienna by Leon Freeman’s daughter, and in 1976, as a United States Bicentennial project, the Town of Vienna restored the building to its earlier appearance. Since then, the Freeman Store and Museum has been operated by Historic Vienna, Inc. volunteers.
In 2011, the Freeman Store and Museum was included on the Virginia Landmarks Register by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. The U.S. National Park Service listed the Freeman Store on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.