The new exhibit American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition at the Indiana State Museum in downtown Indianapolis explores the nationwide impact of Prohibition. Spanning 5,000 square feet, the installation presents around 100 rare artifacts and three immersive recreated settings: a church where visitors can listen to or deliver a temperance speech, a speakeasy where guests can learn the Charleston, and a law enforcement office featuring multimedia displays. The exhibit also highlights Wayne Wheeler’s carnival-inspired “Amazing Amendment Machine.” Open through Feb. 15, 2015, the presentation places individual stories and cultural shifts of the Prohibition era in a clear historical context.
After visiting the museum, consider stopping at the recently opened Hotel Tango Artisan Distillery and tasting room in the Fletcher Place neighborhood. As the first U.S. distillery owned by a service-disabled Marine veteran, Hotel Tango adds a distinctive dimension to Indianapolis’s growing craft beverage scene. The distillery’s spirits are named using the military phonetic alphabet—offering Golf Gin, Romeo Rum, Victor Vodka and several small-batch whiskies—reflecting both the proprietor’s background and a focus on handcrafted production. The tasting room provides an approachable way to sample these products and learn about modern distilling techniques in an intimate, friendly setting.
Together, the museum exhibition and the new distillery create complementary experiences: the exhibit traces how Prohibition reshaped American law, culture and industry, while the distillery demonstrates how contemporary craft producers are reclaiming and reinventing traditions of spirit-making. Visitors interested in history, design, and local food and drink culture will find both stops rewarding.