This weekend, on a road trip to New Orleans, I found myself in Opelousas, LA for the night, in pain. I am now in a hospital in Opelousas, waiting for doctors to determine whether I need abdominal surgery. I probably won’t be responding much to comments until I feel better.

September 2023.
Savannah, Georgia.

In a previous Cellpic Sunday, I featured a diorama from Savannah’s Prohibition Museum. Today, it’s time to visit the museum. The American Prohibition Museum in Savannah, Georgia, is the first and only museum in the United States dedicated to the history of Prohibition. From the rise of the temperance movement to the underground world of speakeasies, the museum looks at the cultural and political forces that led to the nationwide ban on alcohol. A docent offered a tour synopsis to get us started thinking about the era.

This exhibit recreates a street scene from the era leading to Prohibition and the 18th Amendment. In front of “McCurdy Saloon,” a woman figure holds a sign proclaiming “Bread Not Beer,” highlighting the temperance movement’s arguments against alcohol production. Another sign declares “Liquor is a Curse,” underscoring the moral stance of prohibitionists. Juxtaposed with this sentiment is a vintage truck, delivering beer, while onlookers observe the unfolding drama. The lifesize figures have an excellent design and are superior to the typical mannequin often found in period displays.

The 18th Amendment was introduced mainly due to the efforts of the temperance movement, which sought to eliminate alcohol consumption, believing it was responsible for societal problems like crime, poverty, and family instability. Organizations such as the Anti-Saloon League played a crucial role in advocating for Prohibition, linking alcohol to immorality and even unpatriotic behavior during World War I.

Temperance leaders took to the streets to celebrate the passage of the Amendment. The passage of the 16th Amendment, which established an income tax, made Prohibition more financially feasible, as the government no longer relied as heavily on alcohol taxes. The growing influence of religious and social reform groups, combined with political pressure, ultimately led to the ratification of the 18th Amendment in 1919, marking the beginning of the Prohibition era.

The Volstead Act, officially known as the National Prohibition Act, was passed in 1919 to enforce the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States. Despite its intent to curb alcohol consumption, the law led to a surge in bootlegging, speakeasies, and organized crime, as people found ways to circumvent the restrictions. The Volstead Act remained in effect until 1933, when the 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition.

In this diorama, federal officers are dumping beer kegs into the gutter on a city street, enforcing the Volstead Act and the 18th Amendment. Public displays of this enforcement were intended to deter further violations and demonstrate compliance with Prohibition.

Children with cups are capturing some of the beer flowing down the gutter. With the legal sale of alcohol outlawed, even discarded remnants were seen as a valuable commodity, especially for those living in poverty. The children trying to salvage the spilled beer highlight the scarcity of alcohol and the lengths to which some people went to obtain it.

For those involved in growing crops like barley, rye, and corn, which are key ingredients in alcoholic beverages, Prohibition led to a significant decrease in demand. This resulted in lower prices for their harvests and economic hardship. Many businesses supporting agriculture struggled with the lower demand for crops used in alcoholic production.

However, Prohibition also inadvertently created new opportunities in agriculture. The rise of illegal distilleries and bootlegging operations generated a demand for crops like corn and sugar for illicit alcohol production. Some farmers may have profited by supplying these unlawful markets, albeit with considerable risk.

A significant exhibit features hatchet-wielding Carrie Nation, who began her crusade against liquor establishments decades before the 18th Amendment was passed. Her first significant destruction occurred in 1900, when she stormed a saloon in Kiowa, Kansas, smashing liquor bottles and bar fixtures.

Another significant persona was Billy Sunday, a former professional baseball player turned evangelist. He became one of the most influential voices in the temperance movement and a strong advocate for Prohibition. His fiery sermons, dramatic gestures, and passionate rhetoric helped rally public support for the 18th Amendment.

Sunday’s preaching style was theatrical and energetic, often involving him throwing objects, shouting, and leaping across the stage to emphasize his points. One of his most famous sermons, “Booze, or, Get on the Water Wagon,” convinced many people to quit drinking. He famously declared, “I am the sworn, eternal, and uncompromising enemy of the liquor traffic.”

The underground economy of moonshiners thrived during Prohibition (1920–1933) and beyond, as individuals sought to produce and distribute illegal alcohol outside government regulations. Moonshiners operated in remote locations, often in the Appalachian Mountains, where they could evade law enforcement while distilling high-proof liquor.

Moonshiners played a crucial role in the early days of NASCAR, as their need for fast, modified cars to outrun law enforcement directly influenced the development of stock car racing. During Prohibition (1920–1933) and beyond, moonshiners transported illegal alcohol through rural backroads, often in souped-up vehicles designed to evade police. These drivers became highly skilled at high-speed maneuvering, leading to informal races. The museum features an exhibit dedicated to moonshine runners and their relationship with NASCAR.

Our visit to the Prohibition Museum was a fascinating look into the history of the short-lived 18th Amendment and its companion Volstead Act. We spent a little less than two hours absorbed in the historic drama of Prohibition. There is even a Speakeasy where you can order a cocktail, though we didn’t sample any of their concoctions. You can find details about hours and order tickets on their website here. I’ve posted a gallery of images in 2K HD from the museum on my Flickr site here.

John Steiner