Apothecary Shop
Constructed on-site: 1959
The Apothecary Shop represents a late 19th-century druggist's shop. Prior to the Civil War, druggists gathered and dried herbs, grinding, distilling, and mixing them with a variety of substances to create medicinal remedies. By 1900, druggists distributed commercially produced patent medicines to customers looking for cure-alls. The passage of the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act marked the end of the local apothecary and the rise of the modern pharmacy.
The main room exhibits dried herbs, spices, patent medicines, medical equipment, cosmetics, and a collection of barbers' razors. The compounding room contains a hearth and copper distilling equipment.
Erected by the Shelburne Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.
Location. 44° 22.599′ N, 73° 13.868′ W. Marker is in Shelburne, Vermont, in Chittenden County. Marker and building are on the Shelburne Museum grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6000 Shelburne Road (US Hwy 7), Shelburne VT 05482, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. General Store (here, next to this marker); Stencil House (within shouting distance of this marker);
Also see . . .
1. Chemistry and the 19th-century American Pharmacist (Higby, 2003). (Submitted on October 21, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. The Pure Food and Drug Act (1906). (Submitted on October 21, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. The Shelburne Museum Story. (Submitted on October 21, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 21, 2017. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 211 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 21, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.