Historic US Bars to Visit

Starting in Colorado is the Silver Dollar Saloon in the alpine city of Leadville.  The significance of this bar is its Gold Rush roots.  This high-altitude location of the Wild West hosted prostitutes, gamblers, pioneers, and cowboys.  Our favorite, of course, is Val Kilmer who lived there from 1883-1887; OK, it was Doc Holliday but Val’s career-role of Doc in 1993’s Tombstone still has us swooning over him.  The Silver Dollar Saloon was Doc’s preferred bar and when you visit you’ll feel like you were transported to the Old West.  Drop in for a beer, whiskey, or whatever is in that jug labeled “XX”.

From 10,000 feet, down to sea level let’s check out Ernest Hemingway’s favorite watering hole.  Key West is known for its connection to long bridges (such as nearby Seven Mile Bridge), the southernmost point of the US, and Fantasy Fest (if you know, then you know; if you don’t, well, you don’t).  But one of their prized notations is as the home of American writer (and champion drinker) Ernest Hemingway.  The guide maps will direct you to his quaint home but it’s far more entertaining to visit his favorite bar.  The official opening of the bar was December 5, 1933; which just-so-happened to be the day after prohibition was repealed.  Prior to that it was (unofficially) Hemingway’s liquor depot where he’d pick up Scotch regularly.  The name, Sloppy Joe’s, is even credited to Hemingway who was friends with the owner (Ernie sometimes considered himself a “silent partner”) and he disliked the name at the time, Silver Slipper, because it didn’t exemplify the beautiful sloppiness of the interior.

This one is for the Founding Father enthusiasts.  Back in 1772 the town (yea, town) of Philadelphia voted to build an impressive five-story bar/restaurant and one year later it opened as City Tavern.  Regular meetings were held at the bar by many names from your history book including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams (conveniently the first three presidents of the USA).  Then, the Colonies declared independence from England which started the Revolutionary War.  During the war, the City Tavern was used to house prisoners of war.  In 1789 a banquet was held to celebrate George Washington’s upcoming inauguration as first president of the United States of America: the Inaugural Inauguration.  The City Tavern is oozing with history so take your time exploring this colonial bar, but if you go in the winter avoid wearing a coat whch is red…just to be safe.

After learning about how the early Americans drank you may be tempted to go up to NYC for a showing of Hamilton (good luck getting tickets).  While up there, find your way over to the Stonewall in the Greenwich Village for a more recent and timely history lesson.  The GLBTQ community has not had it easy in American history and much of the mistreatment came to a head in 1969.  Crooked cops (and crooked laws) kept the GLBTQ community under its boot figuratively (and, sometimes, not-so-figuratively).  The Mafia turned the Stonewall into a gay dance club, which was illegal back then, and once per week a police officer would drop by for a good ol’ fashioned bribe in the form of cash in an envelope.  After a routine raid on a fateful early morning at the Stonewall did not go as planned, a large crowd gathered and turned violent against the officers.  This sparked a multi-day riot and uprising that led to a march for gay rights; effectively, the very first Pride March.  The Stonewall is an important and emotionally-charged historical site worth a visit; so, go, learn, and have a drink toasted “for equality.”