Warsaw

This Warsaw-based museum preserves the evolution of pharmacy from the 17th to 20th century, with over 2,500 artifacts including glassware, pill machines, original books, and mock-ups of old laboratories. Named after Poland's pioneering female pharmacist. Established in 1985 as a branch of the Museum of Warsaw, stands as a tribute to a pioneering figure in pharmaceutical history who championed women's access to pharmaceutical education. Named after Antonina Leśniewska (1866–1937), the founder of the world's first pharmacy employing exclusively women, the museum commemorates her groundbreaking fight for equal access to higher education in pharmaceutical sciences. Located in Warsaw's picturesque Old Town on historic Piwna Street, the museum houses over 2,500 antiquities spanning pharmaceutical history from medieval times to the modern era, including original laboratory equipment from the 1930s and medical furniture dating back to the 17th and 19th centuries. The core exhibition "Res Pharmaceuticae" features a meticulously reconstructed interwar pharmacy interior, extraordinary Japanese Kampo pharmaceuticals, and diverse displays on the history of medicine-making, while an open pharmaceutical library provides an interactive educational component. The museum's significance was recognized with a nomination for European Museum of the Year in 2022, underscoring its importance in preserving and presenting pharmaceutical heritage. Visitors can explore comprehensive exhibits with full English translations that trace the evolution of pharmacy through engaging displays of historic tools, vessels, and pharmaceutical practices, making it accessible to both professionals and general audiences interested in medical history.