Tavern Culture Series: Western Expansion in the Early Republic

Men raised capital, promoted businesses and rallied political support in early American taverns, often while drinking staggering amounts of alcohol. The museum would like to talk about that.

This is the final program of the year in Tavern Culture: One Sip at a Time, the 2026 series inspired by Keeler Tavern's popular History on Tap. These programs recreate historic tavern culture through a mix of lively talk, food and drink tastings, and music.

KTM&HC Chief Curator Catherine Prescott is joined by Dr. Kirsten Wood, author and professor at Florida International University. As Americans surged westward and built their new republic in the early nineteenth century, improvement-minded men used taverns to raise capital, promote innovative businesses, practice genteel sociability and push favored causes. That unrivaled freedom to use taverns in the pursuit of happiness helped define what citizenship was going to mean in the young United States.

But white men did not have taverns to themselves. Sharing those spaces with other Americans intensified the struggle over what taverns — and the nation — should be, and for whom.

There's tasting involved. Registrants get historically inspired food and beverage samples, with details to come.

Good to know. Doors open at 1:30 pm for light refreshments, program at 2 pm in the Garden House. Tickets are $20, or $12 for members, and registration is required.