New Orleans Pharmacy Museum

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Lonely Planet review

The Pharmacy Museum is a beautifully preserved shop with ancient display cases filled with intriguing little bottles. The shop was established in 1816 by Louis J Dufilho at a time when pharmaceutical arts were newly established. He dispensed gold-coated pills to the wealthy, and opium, alcohol and cannabis to those who needed to feel better for less money.

The museum claims Dufilho was the nation's first licensed pharmacist, but his practices would be considered suspect today.

As a bonus, the museum also displays items from the travelling collection of the Museum of the American Cocktail - 19th century bar supplies and photos. The cocktail, afterall, is rumoured to have originated in another pharmacy around the block from here.