Snake Oil Salesmen

Snake Oil Salesmen – Oklahoma, 1888

This remarkable photo, taken in Oklahoma Territory in 1888, captures a pair of classic snake oil salesmen operating from a horse-drawn cart labeled “89 Drug Store.” One stands proudly in a top hat, holding a bottle—likely touting it as a cure-all tonic—while his partner sits by the reins. Shelves on the cart display an array of bottles and advertisements, promising health, vitality, and miraculous recoveries.

In the late 19th century, before the Pure Food and Drug Act, such traveling medicine shows were widespread in the American West. Salesmen like these thrived on theatrical flair, persuasive pitches, and the desperation of rural populations with limited access to doctors.

This image is a rare and vivid window into the world of medical quackery, folk remedies, and the entrepreneurial showmanship of the Wild West.

📍 United States, Oklahoma Territory — Year: 1888

🗂️ Tags: snake oil, traveling salesmen, Wild West, patent medicine, American frontier, 1880s, medical history, quackery, drugstore wagon, Oklahoma, historical photography

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