Collection Spotlight

No matter how big or small, every artifact tells a story. While only a fraction of the objects and images in the Museum's collection, these eye-catching artifacts capture significant moments in the history of drugs and drug law enforcement.

Pentagon Rubble

Rubble from the Pentagon’s exterior wall, which was struck by American Airlines Flight 77 on September 11, 2001.

Pablo Escobar Life Mask

The life mask of notorious drug trafficker Pablo Escobar, a deceased leader of the Medellín Cartel.

Opium Pipe

Opium Pillow

A ceramic headrest used by people who smoked opium.

Opium Packing Stamp

An opium packing stamp used to mark packages of opium processed by a refinery in Afghanistan.

Opium Order Form

An early 20th-century order form for opium, an addictive narcotic.

New York Times Magazine

A medicine bottle wrapped in tan, printed paper next to a colorful card featuring a woman and her two children looking at a newspaper advertisement.

Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup

An advertisement and bottle of Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup, a patent medicine that contained morphine.

Morphine Syrette

A morphine syrette originally packaged in the medical kit of a World War II soldier.

Metal I Beam

A hollow metal I beam that unsuccessfully concealed cocaine from law enforcement officers.