Step inside the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum for a one-hour guided tour that uncovers early medicine’s strange remedies and rich local history. Experience exhibits ranging from leeches to opium, all set in the city’s oldest apothecary building.
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Difficulty
easy
Duration
1 hour
Fitness Level
Low fitness needed; mostly standing and walking at a moderate pace.
Wildlife
History
The building served as the first licensed pharmacist’s home and apothecary in the United States, dating back to the early 19th century.
Conservation
The museum upholds preservation of its historic structure and educates visitors on the evolution of safe medical practices.
New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
Step inside the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum for a one-hour guided tour that uncovers early medicine’s strange remedies and rich local history. Experience exhibits ranging from leeches to opium, all set in the city’s oldest apothecary building.
New Orleans Pharmacy Museum interprets the history of pharmacy and medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana, through guided tours, seasonal events, and curated exhibits. Located in the French Quarter, the museum offers floor-by-floor access including first-floor displays, a courtyard, and second-floor exhibitions that explore 19th-century remedies and medical practices.
Visitors can book standard guided tours that examine historical treatments — leeches, opium, potions — and learn about local figures and sites tied to medical and herbal traditions. The museum hosts limited-time, themed experiences in October, such as Mostly Ghostly, a ghost-focused guided tour that blends medical history with reported hauntings, and The Spirited Salon, an after-hours program featuring stories, refreshments, and themed costumes.
The Magic of Medicine tour expands interpretation beyond the building to nearby historic sites, including the home of America’s first licensed pharmacist and streets associated with herbalist Marie Laveau. Community engagement includes annual fundraising and preservation events. The museum’s Viva Las Vegas fundraiser celebrates the institution’s 75th anniversary with a casino-themed evening of gaming, a live auction, food, and drink. Ticketed programs, timed entries, and special events are available for advance reservation.
Explanatory labels, period artifacts on display, and guided narration help contextualize 19th-century remedies and cultural practices. The museum emphasizes education, historic interpretation, and preservation while offering visitors a range of experiences from daytime guided tours to seasonal and fundraising events.
Trained staff and docents provide narrated tours rooted in documented sources, and the museum encourages advance reservations to manage capacity and protect fragile artifacts for future visitors and educational outreach.
Location
New Orleans, LA
In the heart of the French Quarter
Seasonal Events
October seasonal
Limited-time Halloween experiences
Anniversary
75 years
Celebrated at the Viva Las Vegas fundraiser
Tours Offered
5 experiences
Guided tours, special events, and fundraisers
Book guided tours, October ghost walks, The Spirited Salon, The Magic of Medicine, or the Viva Las Vegas fundraiser — limited availability, reserve in advance.
Arrive Early
Tours start promptly at 10 a.m.—arrive by 9:50 a.m. to check in and secure your spot.
Wear Comfortable Shoes
Though mostly indoors, you’ll spend an hour walking around multiple floors and the courtyard.
No Late Entry
Once the tour begins, doors close and latecomers cannot be admitted for safety and flow.
Booking Required
Reserve your spot in advance—space is limited and popular, especially during weekends.
Comfortable Walking Shoes
Supportive shoes help during the hour-long walking tour, especially on hard floors and in the courtyard.
Water Bottle
Stay hydrated, particularly if you’re combining this with outdoor exploration.
Light Jacket
A jacket is handy during cooler months for courtyard stops.
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Notebook or Phone
For jotting down intriguing historical facts or photographing exhibits where allowed.