The Niagara Apothecary is a pharmacy museum you can visit when in the small historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The building actually was a active pharmacy from 1820 to 1964. It was restored to its appearance circa 1869, and was opened as a Museum in 1971.
The interior is quite luxurious, especially for a small town pharmacy. There are black walnut and butternut fixtures, and three crystal chandeliers. Most of the shelves are filled with bottles and jars, all original and imported from Britain around 1830. A pharmacist in the 19th century made most of the medications consumed by his customers, unlike in the 21st century when pharmacists only rarely make custom medications.
Admission is free and it’s a lot of fun to wander the museum and study all of the artefacts. The Museum is open during the summer months, from Mother’s Day to Labor Day.
