New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
514 Chartres St., New Orleans, Louisiana
This vintage apothecary in the French Quarter is a national historic landmark and the site of the first licensed pharmacist in the US. Shelves of potions, perfumes, surgical devices, and other questionable curiosities are on display behind the old-time soda fountain for a fascinating look into medical practices of the past.
The Pharmacy Museum is small and can easily be seen in less than an hour. The first floor is home to a soda fountain counter and displays of apothecary bottles, show globes, voodoo potions, and surgical devices from the 19th century and beyond. Climb up to the second floor to see the physician’s office, sick room, and special exhibits.
Many New Orleans attraction passes include museum admission, so it's a quick and easy stop to fit in while strolling around the French Quarter.
- Check out the Prescriptions and Compounding exhibit in the back corner to see where the pharmacist would mix up elixirs.
- The historic courtyard and carriageway can be rented out for private events; this may affect opening hours.
- Self-guided museum tours are offered in the afternoons, Wednesday through Saturday
- The museum is free for children under 6, though some vintage surgical equipment on display may be unsettling for kids.
The Pharmacy Museum is located at 514 Chartres Street between St. Louis and Toulouse Streets in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
The museum is open in the afternoons, Wednesday through Saturday.
The Pharmacy Museum is conveniently located within walking distance to many other landmarks in the historic “Vieux Carré. Step inside a Victorian mansion at the Hermann-Grima House, learn about colonial history at the Cabildo, browse Mardi Gras artifacts at the Presbytere, or explore secretive practices at the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum.
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