ABOUT THE MUSEUM
Early in the 1970s, pharmacist Ralph Enix and several of his colleagues
began an ambitious project to provide a venue for the collection,
preservation and sharing of artifacts and information relevant to the
pharmacy and medical health professionals in the state of Oklahoma.
The project culminated in the establishment of the Oklahoma Frontier
Drugstore Museum, located in the Historic district of the first capital of
Oklahoma, Guthrie.
The Museum opened in 1992, and is managed by the
Oklahoma Pharmacy Heritage Foundation, Inc.
Located in the downtown Historic District in the
beautiful Gaffney Building (Circa 1890), the museum
is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary. Mark
Ekiss, pharmacist and longtime resident of Guthrie,
is the current curator and manager.

The Oklahoma Frontier Drugstore Museum
collections reflect the history of pharmacy and
medicine in the 19th and 20th centuries in the
Oklahoma and Indian Territories and in the State
of Oklahoma. The artifacts and ephemera exhibited
in the museum were coincident with the westward
migration of pioneers, shopkeepers, families and
pharmacists as well as a host of other health care
providers who populated the frontier regions of
the United States.

To celebrate its Silver Anniversary, the Oklahoma
Pharmacy Heritage Foundation has initiated a
campaign to aid the funding of an Apothecary
Garden located on the Museum grounds. This
garden, set to open in the late spring of 2006 is a
fitting memorial to those pioneers and a welcome
addition to the historic flavor of Downtown Guthrie
and the State of Oklahoma.        
The late Ralph Enix
on the right, founder
of the Oklahoma
Frontier Drugstore
Museum and
Bob Dishman,
current President of
the Oklahoma
Pharmacy Heritage
Foundation. (Photo
taken in 1992)
Mark Ekiss, D. Ph., is
the Curator of the
Museum and the
soon to be completed
Apothecary Garden.
Mark Ekiss and daughter Pam, Assistant
Curator, who runs day to day operations
in the Museum enjoy evaluating and
archiving the many donated items that are
given each year to the Oklahoma Frontier
Drugstore Museum.

The SAGWA Stomach, Liver and Kidney
Renovator is a recently donated
acquisition.
The Oklahoma
Frontier Drugstore
Museum is located in
the Circa 1890
Gaffney Building at
214 West Oklahoma
Street in Historic
Guthrie, Oklahoma.

The Apothecary
Garden is located
adjacent to the
Museum and provides
a restful setting for
visitors to relax and
enjoy the bubbling
fountain and lush
garden. Public
restrooms are
available on the
premises in the
Guthrie Pavilion.

At fifty cents
doses of SAGWA
Stomach, Liver and
Kidney Renovator
was said to aid in
the treatment of
numerous ills
including but not
limited to:
Heartburn
Dyspepsia, and
Melancholy
Sick Headache
Sleeplessness
Bilious Attacks
and Jaundice.
This dubious remedy
popularly known as
"SNAKE OIL"
was commonly used
and revered in the
American West.
Along with local
volunteers, Mark
& Pam are available
for educational tours
for schools and
organizations
throughout the year.

There is also a taped
tour where visitors
can go at their own
pace, read about the
many artifacts and . . .
this museum is
hands-on! Visitors
may handle most of
the exhibits and get
a feel for the actual
artifacts in the
displays. Get a
realistic look at the
lives of your ancestors!
VISIT THE OKLAHOMA FRONTIER DRUGSTORE MUSEUM
TO LEARN ABOUT LIFE IN CENTURIES PAST.
EXPLORE THE
WAYS
YOU CAN
CONTRIBUTE TO
THE APOTHECARY
GARDEN!

JUST CLICK THE
PICK-A-BRICK
LINK!
Many generations of
Oklahomans can enjoy the
Oklahoma Frontier Drugstore
Museum!

Cai and Cecile Fleming are the
great-grandchildren of Mark
Ekiss and grandchildren of Pam!
214 W. OKLAHOMA AVE.
GUTHRIE OKLAHOMA
73044

405 282-1895
OKLAHOMA