Entry No. 26 — the Savannah file — filed under: speakeasy
American Prohibition Museum
Billed as America's only museum dedicated solely to Prohibition, the space walks visitors through the temperance movement, the 18th Amendment, and its 1933 repeal using life-sized period sets and wax figures, ending at Congress Street Up, a real working 1920s-style speakeasy behind the exhibit's final door.
The story
Most history museums treat Prohibition as a short, quirky footnote sandwiched between World War I and the Great Depression. Savannah took the opposite approach, setting up America’s only museum dedicated entirely to the dry era right at 209 West St. Julian Street in City Market. Instead of pulling you past passive glass cases and text panels, the space drops you into the battle chronologically, tracking Georgia's early temperance clashes straight through to the passage of the 18th Amendment and the chaos that followed.
You move through 20 detailed, life-sized period sets populated by wax figures and costumed guides. You’ll stand inside anti-saloon rallies, walk past moonshine stills hidden in the woods, and witness the cat-and-mouse game between federal agents and bootleggers across the thirteen years that liquor was outlawed in America.
The real maneuver happens at the end of the timeline. Instead of funneling you into a standard souvenir shop, the museum’s final exhibit door opens directly into Congress Street Up—a fully operational 1920s-style speakeasy tucked inside the back of the building. You go straight from learning about the 1933 repeal of Prohibition to putting that constitutional amendment to use.
What it's like
You'll spot the entrance right along the City Market pedestrian strip. Inside, expect a walk through dim, atmospheric rooms packed with period props, wax figures, and historical displays. Because it sits along the Old Town Trolley route, foot traffic builds up toward midday; arriving earlier gives you space to take in the exhibits without navigating around group tours. Make sure to purchase a drink ticket package at admission so you can step through the final wall into Congress Street Up for a period-style cocktail—just bring valid photo ID if you want to drink.
The move: Work through the chronological sets on Georgia's early temperance fights and Prohibition-era bootlegging, then use the ticket to walk straight into the museum's own speakeasy bar for a Prohibition-style cocktail.
- 📍 City Market, Downtown Savannah
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 209 W St Julian St, Savannah, GA 31401
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Congress Street Up — Since Congress Street Up sits right behind the final exhibit door, grabbing a classic cocktail here is the seamless ending to the museum walkthrough.
- Alley Cat Lounge — Follow up the museum's period bar with another subterranean drink down a nearby alley, home to one of Savannah's deepest cocktail menus.
- The Hideaway Lounge — Located just a short walk away, this spot mirrors the secret-bar vibe with a full Prohibition-style lounge built inside an escape room venue.
- Conjüre912 — Contrast 1920s temperance history with a stroll down Broughton Street to visit this oddity shop and metaphysical space.
Good to know
Where is the American Prohibition Museum located?
It is located in Savannah's City Market at 209 W St Julian Street.
What makes this museum unique?
It is billed as the first and only museum in the United States dedicated solely to the history of Prohibition, featuring 20 chronological period sets and wax figures.
Is there a bar inside the museum?
Yes, the exhibit ends at Congress Street Up, a working 1920s-style speakeasy hidden behind the final door of the tour.
Can you buy tickets that include a cocktail?
Yes, you can purchase museum and drink ticket packages that include a Prohibition-era cocktail at the speakeasy bar at the end.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Atlas Obscura
last checked: 2026-07-20