Cleveland

Comprehensive pharmacy collection with 175,000+ artifacts featuring 1880s pharmacy exhibit, Percy Skuy Contraception Collection with 1,100+ pharmaceutical artifacts, and extensive "Label Under Glass" apothecary bottles. The Dittrick Medical History Center & Museum, housed within Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, stands as one of America's premier institutions dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of medicine and pharmacy. Established in 1898, this remarkable collection spans over four centuries of medical and pharmaceutical history, offering visitors an extraordinary journey through the evolution of healing arts from ancient remedies to modern therapeutics. The museum's extensive pharmaceutical collection includes rare apothecary jars, prescription bottles, patent medicine advertisements, and complete historic pharmacy reconstructions that illuminate the transformation of pharmaceutical practice from medieval apothecaries to contemporary clinical pharmacy. Notable exhibits feature the works of influential figures such as Dr. Dudley Peter Allen, whose personal collection formed the museum's foundation, and showcase the development of pharmaceutical education in America. The museum's Victorian-era architecture provides an authentic backdrop for exploring antique medical instruments, rare pharmaceutical texts, and interactive displays that demonstrate the scientific principles behind drug discovery and formulation. Visitors can experience hands-on learning through replica apothecary shops, examine original pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment, and discover how the relationship between physician and pharmacist has evolved over time.