The Museum of Pharmacy of the Jagiellonian University Medical College

The Museum of Pharmacy of the Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow, established in 1946, is a unique institution that collects exhibits related to the history of pharmacy and pharmaceutical techniques. The museum occupies five floors of a building, which are arranged according to historical pharmacy practices; the cellars were used to store perishable materials, while the attic was utilized for drying medicinal herbs. The first floor features a special room dedicated to Ignacy Łukasiewicz, the inventor of the kerosene lamp, which displays, among other items, his home pharmacy kit and a handwritten pharmacy manual. The second floor is devoted to Tadeusz Pankiewicz, a pharmacist who operated a pharmacy in the Krakow ghetto during the occupation and was honored with the Righteous Among the Nations medal. The museum also takes pride in Polish inventions, such as Marian Zahradnik's innovative weighing scales and an electrical device for sterilizing prescriptions, designed to protect pharmacists from microorganisms. In 1964, the museum was enriched with the equipment from Marian Kawski's pharmacy in Sanok. The founder and first director, Dr. Stanisław Proń, oversaw the development of the institution for many years. Until the 1980s, it was located on Basztowa Street, after which it was moved to the Pod Świętą Teklą Tenement House on Floriańska Street, where it continues to operate today. The museum is an important part of Krakow's cultural heritage, combining information about the history of pharmacy with the rich traditions of the region's pharmaceutical practices, while offering a wide range of exhibits that attract both enthusiasts and tourists.