New Orleans Pharmacy Museum — Attraction in New Orleans

As a massive fan of the Sawbones Podcast, when I saw this museum on the map preparing for a conference trip to NOLA, I Knew it was the one stop I absolutely had to make and I had to bring my friend who had introduced me to the medical history podcast. We ran about this tiny museum overjoyed seeing all the patent medicines and crazy cures we’d heard about on a beloved podcast. I highly recommend this adventure for anyone visiting NOLA and if you’re coming with kiddos I’d probably say plan ahead. It will likely be much more fun for kids over age 8-10 who can read the signs and info but also there is so much PACKED in a small space this is not a read everything museum, it’s more of a “find something you think is Crazy and cool, read about. And then excitedly tell you siblings about this crazy thing people did!” If you’re coming from far away and have a flight/ car ride I’d even try use some time to share some more visual-accessible medical history with younger kids like videos about how sodas started out as medicines or old patent medicine songs (ie the Hadacol boogie). Encourage kids to think about times they’ve been sick and what kinds of things parents/doctors gave them to help, then try explore the museum and find out how doctors in the 1920s would have treated that same sickness. I think this museum could be a quick in and out especially with tweens/teens if you try to approach it like a normal museum but with a little primer to medical history on your journey into town it can really show the absolute madness of medical history as well as how far we’ve come in our treatment of children our development of vaccines, and how women are treated in medicine (the obstetric exhibit Blew my mind!!! And all girls 13+ should have an opportunity to...

I am highly impressed by the management and services provided by the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum. We had our wedding and reception here in February 2020. Since we live out of State, we booked this venue online without ever seeing it in person. Needless to say, I was super nervous about our decision in the beginning! However, after our very first call with the Pharmacy management, our minds were immediately put at ease. Stephanie, Liz, and the entire staff are so friendly, responsive, and downright organized! They sent me everything I asked for – including multiple photos, videos, a recommended vendor list, and a detailed floorplan. They were on top of anything we needed and made sure that our wedding went off without a hitch.

I was slightly concerned about the transition of the space from the ceremony to the reception but even that went seamlessly. With the help of our wedding coordinator’s team, the guests were moved into the museum immediately after the ceremony to grab a drink and explore the exhibits while the space was flipped for the reception. It really was perfect.

From the moment we saw the venue in person we were in love. The courtyard is truly magical. It has a special historic look as well as elegant and personal. We really didn’t even need to bring in any decorations because of all the natural beauty in the space.

My husband and I are extremely happy with how everything turned out and we have heard nothing but nice things from our guests about the museum. I highly encourage future brides to check this place out, you will...

This museum tells the story of pharmacy not just in New Orleans, but all around. There’s so much to learn; the devices and bottles with (fake) medication on display show the progression of germ theory and how major scientific influences changed medical and pharmaceutical practices over the course of the 19th and early 20th centuries. As is the case in any museum, there is a lot to learn here. Tickets can be purchased in advance and I would strongly recommend doing so – going for a guided tour is also the best way to get a good experience. Those tours flow with a detailed explanation of the pharmaceuticals and devices on the bottom, and freedom to explore on the upper floor. In some ways, this museum is a hidden treat – not one of New Orleans’s most famous attractions, but it really ought to be. We spent around 1.5 hours here – the tour takes around 1 hour, and then the remaining half hour is for self-guided exploring. A Saturday morning tour is ideal as only those who have purchased tickets are allowed in at this point. Of note, parking is up to the individual as there is no parking lot very close by, but there are parking garages.

Grace was our tour guide, and she did a phenomenal job in covering both history and pharmaceuticals. Bravo, Grace – and a shoutout as another Connecticut-native (that too as someone who spends a lot of...