The Alberta College of Pharmacists calls it “a true Alberta hidden gem.” Visitors call it one of the best museums they’ve ever been to. The Castor Pharmacy Museum, housed in a 1921 building that served as the town’s drug store for decades, is a remarkable time capsule.
Founded by retired pharmacist Mike Bain and his wife Wendy, the museum displays thousands of artifacts from small-town drugstores across Western Canada dating back to the 1880s. Original hand-built wood cabinetry, antique mortars and pestles, patent medicines, vintage cosmetics, and an old-fashioned soda counter fill the space. The original hardwood floors have been painstakingly restored.
The star attraction is the Dingbat Wall of Fame — the world’s largest display of Dingbat calendar illustrations, spanning 1915 to 1993. There’s also a remarkable collection of narcotic and controlled drug bottles assembled by Alberta’s first narcotic inspector. In 2017, Mike received the Alberta College of Pharmacists Honorary Life Membership Award for his work.
No regular hours — phone ahead for a private tour. There’s no admission fee. Just call Mike and Wendy.
Photos: Google Street View; Google, Team Silverwinger
