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.

A piece of stone rubble

Pentagon Rubble

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

The life mask of Pablo Escobar.

Pablo Escobar Life Mask

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

large bamboo smoking pipe

Opium Pipe

Opium pipes were found in opium dens worldwide in the 19th and 20th centuries.

A green and cream-colored ceramic opium pillow.

Opium Pillow

A ceramic headrest used by people who smoked opium.

Opium Packing Stamp

Opium Packing Stamp

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

A tan form with red text.

Opium Order Form

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

Cover of 'Mr. Untouchable' NYT Magazine

New York Times Magazine

This issue of The New York Times Magazine highlights Harlem drug dealer Nicky Barnes and how he earned the nickname "Mr. Untouchable."

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

Morphine Syrette

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

Beige plastic money counter with screen on front

Money Counter

Counters such as this are often used by drug traffickers to launder illicit funds.