Local historian and distiller to speak on prohibition at Stevens Museum

The John Hay Center will host a special historical presentation later this month exploring the region’s deep ties to distilling and the era of Prohibition.

On Saturday, March 21 at 1 p.m., local historian and master distiller Alan Bishop will present “Hoosiers & Their Hooch” at the Stevens Memorial Museum in Salem.

Bishop, who serves as master distiller at Old Homestead Distillery near Patoka Lake, will discuss the history of distilling in Southern Indiana and how the region’s traditions intersected with the nationwide push for Prohibition in the early 20th century.

The presentation is being held in conjunction with the museum’s temporary exhibit, “Hoosiers and their Hooch: Perspectives on Prohibition,” which examines the cultural and economic impacts of the Prohibition in the United Statesand the broader Temperance Movement. The exhibit explores how those movements affected communities across Indiana, including those in Washington County.

Organizers say Bishop will provide expert insight into how distilling traditions developed in Southern Indiana and how local communities navigated the social and legal changes brought on by Prohibition during the 1920s and early 1930s.

Admission to the presentation is $10 for members of the Washington County Historical Society and $12 for non-members. Attendees are encouraged to pay in advance by calling (812) 883-6495.

The exhibit “Hoosiers and their Hooch: Perspectives on Prohibition” is on display at the Stevens Memorial Museum through April 2. The museum is open Thursday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the exhibit will also be available for viewing during the March 21 presentation.

The Stevens Memorial Museum is located at 307 E. Market Street in Salem. For more information or to reserve admission for the event, call (812) 883-6495.