Heady TopperToday, Vermont is known as the home to many great craft breweries. So it’s hard to believe that Vermont has a long history as a dry state, a place where alcohol was banned for half a century BEFORE national prohibition was imposed.

But it’s true. An article on BurlingtonFreePress.com profiles Vermont’s surprising and long history as a dry state. Vermont banned the sale of alcohol in 1852 and maintained that ban into the 20th Century. National prohibition didn’t come to be until 1920.

An exhibit titled “Alcohol in Vermont: Creation to Consumption, Tolerance to Temperance,” is currently being shown at Vermont’s Bennington Museum. The exhibit will be at the museum through June 21. Fittingly, two events it will include are a “Jazz and Spirits” event on April 10 and a “Blues and Brews” event on May 15.

Read about Vermont’s history as a dry state.