The Hook’s Drug Store Museum is more than just delicious ice cream sodas, beautiful cabinets, glittering glassware, or strange and curious medicines.
Our collection of artifacts is one of the largest of its kind in the United States. It documents the most remarkable period in the discovery of life-saving and life-enhancing medicines in the history of man; from the crude, often misguided attempts of early Victorians to treat disease with simple herbs, plants and strange devices, to the dawn of the modern era when diabetes, tuberculosis, smallpox, diphtheria, polio, and countless other deadly diseases finally began to yield to medical treatments. It is no exaggeration to say that the entire success of our modern civilization and lifestyle owes much of its success to our advances in medicine. Here you can experience the past today, and appreciate the modern miracle of good health.
While soda fountains have been a fixture in drugstores for nearly 150 years, these days, few people remember the fabulous old soda fountains that were part of every drugstore and neighborhood for so many years. Many of the major soda brands on the market today (including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Dr Pepper, 7-Up and Moxie) were invented by pharmacists, and originally marketed as medical tonics/treatments.
The Hook’s Museum has operated a recreated Victorian Soda Fountain as part of the Drugstore Museum since 1971. The Soda Fountain draws over 5,000 people during each State Fair to experience an authentic piece of history that tastes just an old-fashioned ice cream soda away! We feature the nicest “jerks” in town, and have any flavor of ice cream you might like – as long as it’s vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry. We mix our sodas and old time phosphates by hand, just like in the “olden” days. Don’t stand too close, you might get spritzed!
The Hook’s Drug Store Museum and Soda Fountain is open annually during the Indiana State Fair, selected weekends during the year, and by appointment. We have special educational tours available for students, seniors, and other groups upon request. We can also host your special event —birthday, retirement, or business meeting — for up to 50 people.
To schedule a tour or special event, or for more information, please call us at (317) 924-1503 or e-mail: info@hooksmuseum.org
