The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
514 Chartres St.
504 565 8027
Hours:
Tuesday thru Sunday
10 am to 5 pm

Fees:
$2.00 per person

Housed in a four story, charming, French Quarter building, is an early 1800's Apothecary. The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum is located at 514 Chartres St. New Orleans, LA. 

Located in the heart of the French Quarter, this historical pharmacy was the location of the first United States pharmacy under the license of Louis Joseph Dufilho. He was of  Portuguese decent, studied in France and came to New Orleans in 1823.

In 1850, he sold this to Dr. Joseph Dupas, a Civil War physician and apothecary. Well into the early 1900's the building came under disrepair. The mayor of the City of New Orleans acquired the deed and designated this to be a historical museum. The Apothecary has been a museum since 1950.

The museum has two floors of exhibits--the first floor containing a complete replica of an operating Apothecary, including a soda fountain from 1855, which is not in operation because of lead pipes. There are displays of blood letting equipment, voodoo potions, and herbs and drugs used during the period. This was prior to the Food and Drug Administration Controls so all liquid medicine included at least 25% Alcohol, mixed with varying degrees of opium and cocaine.

There is a prescription counter which shows how a pharmacist prepared the drugs and filled them in the vintage bottles. Vintage period bottles can be purchased from the small gift store section. These are authentic and not reproductions, acquired from Max Sampson's closed pharmacy.

An interesting section of the second floor is a 19th Century Sick Room which includes wheelchairs, crutches, a bed from this period, inhalers that were used in the sick room . Also are numerous types and styles of period spectacles and other visual aides.

Outside is a wonderful courtyard which has benches for rest and viewing the various flowers that are grown to show the nature of the plants. Such as Aloe, for burns and other applications, Jasmine, for settling your stomach, Angel's Trumpet's, a blooming plant that was dried and smoked for asthma suffers. A drop of the juice of the Trumpet plant dilated the eyes.

The museum is operated by the Friends of the Historical Pharmacy.

By  Jim Vance