What is the Pharmacy Museum

When you enter inside, you will immediately feel that you are transported into the past. The eerie atmosphere of an old pharmacy filled with outdated medicines makes many visitors feel a little scared. The history of early drug development in the United States will surely appeal to audiences of all ages. Even children will find something interesting in exhibits such as soda fountains.

Despite the size of this museum, guests usually spend at least 1 hour inside. Some visitors stay 2 hours or more.

Pharmacy Museum history

The most significant contribution to the history and integrity of the pharmaceutical field occurred in New Orleans only in 1816. 12 years earlier, in 1804, Louisiana, led by Governor Claiborne, passed a law that required licensing for pharmacists who wanted to pursue their profession.

Before the adoption of this law, there were some informal measures for licensing the territory, but they were not applied. A person could study for six months, and then compose and sell their own mixtures without any rules or standards. The public received the wrong doses and wrong medications. In 1804, Governor Claiborne decided to fix it.

Louis Dufil was the first to pass the licensing exam. This made his establishment the first drug store in the United States based on evidence-based medicine. He and his family lived in this place in an apartment on the 2nd floor until 1855, when a pharmacy was sold to a man named Dr. Joseph Dupas.

Instead of turning the pharmacy over time into something else, Dupas decided to make a museum out of the old store. Old bottles and medicines of the 1800s are still stored in this place.

Those who believe in paranormal phenomena may be interested in hearing about the rumors, the ghost of Dr. Dupas is still wandering around the old museum - some visitors claim to have seen the old man in a brown suit and top hat. Although this, obviously, cannot be confirmed.

Exhibits of the Museum of Pharmacy

Although the museum has many historical exhibits, the owners are doing everything possible to make things look like a real pharmacy. As a result, you will find many gizmos that reflect certain moments in the history of medicine.

• Voodoo potions

While many people did not trust these potions, there were times when the treatment prescribed by Voodoo Priestess was much more effective and based on legitimate herbal medicine than anything offered by the others.

• Perfume

Some of the ingredients they used for these products may be dubious for a modern audience, but you will be surprised at how many elements remain in most perfumes and cosmetics to this day. Medicines intended for women of those times also contain alcoholic or narcotic components.

• Soda Fountain

Can you believe that the effervescent drinks we give our children today were once considered medicinal? Initially, bitter medicines were mixed with sugary drinks to make them more attractive to customers. This is one of the reasons Coca-Cola once contained the ingredients of a coca plant - commonly known today as a source of cocaine. This ingredient was removed from the drink in 1903.

• Surgical instruments

They may look incredibly outdated, but many of the current inventions in the field of surgery were actually influenced by some of the tools you will see in this museum.

• Glasses collection

This exhibition includes various glasses used for the visually impaired. Although some styles and concepts are still used to this day, many of them have changed over time.

Visit the Pharmacy Museum with the assistance of the American Butler Travel Agency.