Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop

Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop

Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
About
This 18th-century building restored as the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop presents a vivid living history interpretation of Revolutionary-era medical practices. Leeches, lancets, and snakeroot are all found in this 18th-century doctor's office and pharmacy. Visitors can hear about the popular treatment of the day for a lady's hysteria or a medicine so potent that it would, according to one wealthy plantation owner "cheer a man with a bad wife." The Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop is one of the Washington Heritage Museums and is within short walking distance of its other sites: the Mary Washington House, Rising Sun Tavern, and St. James' House. Please allow 45 minutes for your visit.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Address
How to get there
  • Fredericksburg Station • 10 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles235 reviews
Excellent
146
Very good
71
Average
13
Poor
3
Terrible
2

podrozniczka60
New Jersey16,701 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
Hugh Mercer was inspired by Washington to establish an Apothecary store in Fredericksburg which he did in early 1770s. This interesting tour allowed for understanding how pharmacy and medicine functioned in 18th century. Very well conveyed by the docents. If time allows this should be a landmark to explore while in Fredericksburg.
Written 29 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CateV1992
Fairfax, VA50 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2017 • Family
We barely made it before closing, and it turned out to be the highlight of our visit to Old Town Fredericksburg. If you are planning on visiting here, be sure to schedule at least 45 minutes. The "tour" is really comprised of two parts: the apothecary presentation and the doctor office visit. The docents are very knowledgeable and entertain questions to a high degree of satisfaction. My teens and upper elementary kids were speechless in response to the impressive apothecary presentation we received. NOTE: The apothecary presentation was a little fast and young children will not derive much from it. The woman that day had a delivery like a firehose. There are hands-on opportunities and as a family that practices natural medicine, validating moments for parents. The doctor office visit is equally interesting, with opportunity for questions which are met with a wealth of information. Very worthwhile!
Written 2 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GeeZee
Deer Park, TX495 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
On our two days in Fredericksburg, we stopped in this little museum of a recreated 18th C pharmacy and dr's office in an 18th C building. There were two ladies dressed in 18th C style dress. One gave a talk on the herbs and plants used to treat illnesses and discomforts and actually got to see and smell some of these concoctions that were used to treat people from the pharmacy counter. Then we were led into another room which was a treatment room for more intense treatments such as the old practice of bleeding people with leeches. The lady re-enactor actually had a jar full of water with leeches in it and showed us various crude (by todays standards) surgical and dental instruments and she gave an interesting talk on the general health of people from that time period. I highly recommend stopping in here for an hour and visiting the world of 18th C medicine and treatments. $5.00 admission. Located in the old historic district so is close walking distance to other attractions, museums, shops and restaurants.
Written 16 July 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

exodus
boston,ma57 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2017 • Couples
So interesting ..........the docent showed us medical tools from the early 1700's and she had live leeches and explained how and why they used them.
Then another docent brought us into another room and showed us natural remedies that the Dr would use. Things we still use today.
I recommend this tour!
Written 6 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Carolyn M
Gourock, UK21 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2017 • Friends
We visited on the recommendation of the Visitor Centre and it was great! Kimberley and her friend were so knowledgeable about all the remedies and procedures from a 28th Century Virginia doctor. The ladies were friendly and really got into character! I'm sure this would be great for kids too!
Written 28 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Thomas K
Hummelstown, PA85 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2017 • Couples
Two authentically costumed living history women provided an excellent demonstration of colonial American medicines and medical treatments. The front room has a long table covered with bottles of various plants and herbs which were used to treat a variety of illnesses and injuries in early America. One lady showed us each bottle and explained its use. She explained how Dr. Mercer made pills. The other lady directed us to the doctor’s office. She discussed such practices as bloodletting, dental extractions, and amputations as she showed us leeches and various medical tools. After their presentations, we were able to view and read information about Hugh Mercer and his family. The woman who greeted us at entry was quick to offer us AAA discounts. Allow 45 minutes for a thorough visit.
Written 12 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Winner48
Leesburg, FL18 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2015 • Friends
Opened at 9. We arrived at 9:30 and guide would not give us tour since she was waiting for a group that was already 20 min late. Nor would she allow us to wait inside. Returned at 11:30 and were told we could not join tour. Not welcoming guides.
Written 5 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bathfurnituredsgnr
Collierville, TN650 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019 • Family
The rein-actors do a fantastic job of describing the medicines of the day. They let you smell them as they explain their uses. Very informative!

Regular Price $7 for adults. & $3 for ages 6-18

GO TO THE VISITORS CENTER & BUY THE TIMELESS TICKET IF VISITING MORE THAN 3 PLACES IN TOWN! HUGE DEAL! See attached pics for the breakdown.
Written 14 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Leighann B
Richmond, Virginia, United States47 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2018 • Family
When our kids were younger, we always made it a point to visit the Apothecary when we were in Fredericksburg. The stories of 18th Century dentistry, amputations, and seeing real live leeches made history interesting to our 3 young boys. (Although we've been to scores of museums over the years, it's one of the few that our now-grown sons remember much about.)

Last weekend we visited the museum with two of our sons, and the information and presentations were just as much fun as they were 10 years ago. The costumed docents go to great effort to make the tour relevant to today. For example, you can go into any drug store and find valerian root for sleep and calcium carbonate for an upset stomach. Guess what? They were prescribing the same thing in the 18th century. The story of Hugh Mercer is fascinating, but I think the displays and explanations of 18th Century medicine are what makes this museum such a unique treasure.

The tour is less than an hour and the museum accepts AAA discounts. I would highly recommend visiting this little gem at the corner of Amelia and Caroline Streets for a fun and informative tour.
Written 18 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

uesidegirl
Washington DC, DC43 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2018 • Family
If you don’t make time to visit anything else inFredericksburg, Va, GO TO THIS SITE. It’s downtown and one of the stops on the sightseeing trolley. A 15 minute walk from the visitors center. This little authentic civil war era house has something for everyone in your family. Bored teenager? Wait till they see the tiny staircase leading up to the bedroom. AND the explanation for modern day ailment medications will properly disturb them:) And of course, the piece de resistance: Live leeches at the end of the tour! And the gruesome explanation of how they were used to cure ailments.
Are you at the end of your rope with a whiny 4 year old? Mobility issues? The tour for this house is only about 15 minutes, with seating. This short tour is packed full of history, architecture, and fascinating medicinal information. All in a few minutes. Satisfy your adult craving for history with this mini-tour. Push the thoughts out of your mind of why you ever decided to bring your preschooler on a vacation. Tell them about the “live animals” at the end. And by the the time the preschoolers are at the end of their rope, you’ll be at the end of the ultra-interesting tour.
Written 29 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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HUGH MERCER APOTHECARY SHOP: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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