Come on, we're just asking a question!), in the end these 51 bars can - to the best of our research - lay at least some claim to the title of the state's oldest watering hole. While records are scarce, debate fierce, and the laughter we received when calling state historical societies very real (not to mention, slightly hurtful. And still others, amazingly, remain the longest, continuous-running, liquor-pouring establishments in their great states, having weathered Prohibition by peddling turkey sandwiches and O'Doul's. From private rooms and apartments to LGBTQ-friendly hotels, you have the option to stay in the heart of gay districts as well as other neighborhoods in the places you visit.
Some bars opened, closed, and reopened again years later some burned down and were rebuilt others moved buildings, changed names, turned into post offices, or stopped serving alcohol all together. Now obviously, tracing bars through time is an admittedly inaccurate science, especially in a country that once banned booze.
Because you love drinking, you love history, and, of course, you love the history of drinking, we've tracked down the oldest bar, tavern, or pub in each of the 50 states.
