Apotheken-Museum Dortmund

About the museum

The Apotheken-Museum opened in July 2000 in the deep cellars of the Adler-Apotheke on Dortmund's Markt. On around 100 square metres it initially showed individual collector's items; over the following years these grew into one of the largest private collections on the history of pharmacy in Germany.

In 2016 the site in the vaulted cellar closed. In 2017 the museum reopened on Wißstraße – now on about 300 square metres and designed like a historic pharmacy. The more than 15,000 exhibits are spread across 13 rooms, which visitors get to know on guided tours.

The focus is on complete pharmacy interiors: the oak dispensary of the Löwen-Apotheke from Remscheid, around 1890; a shelf wall from the Einhorn-Apotheke in Gelnhausen, dating from 1650; and an original Empire-style dispensary from Tauberbischofsheim, dating from 1814. Other rooms are devoted to the herb chamber, splendid storage jars of majolica, faience and porcelain, infant nutrition, nursing articles and medicines made from animal and human parts. A library of over 1,000 specialist books – the oldest dating from 1550 –, around 160 mortars and about 50 travel, household and ship's medicine chests round off the collection.

Highlights

• Over 15,000 exhibits in 13 rooms
• Empire dispensary from Tauberbischofsheim (1814) in its original condition
• Shelf wall of the Einhorn-Apotheke Gelnhausen from 1650
• Around 160 mortars, the oldest from about 400 AD
• Ship's medicine chest from 1880 and other mobile pharmacies
• Specialist library with books from 1550 onwards

Permanent exhibition

• Pharmaziegeschichte in 13 Räumen – Historic dispensaries, herb chamber, storage jars, mortars, mobile pharmacies and a specialist library take you through roughly two millennia of pharmacy history.

Founded

2000

Admission & discounts

Guided tour €8 per person.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The entrance and exhibition rooms are accessible without barriers via a lift.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Satnav: Wißstraße 11, 44137 Dortmund.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit