Guests enjoyed music of the era, Templeton Rye craft cocktails and more at Chicago History Museum

On Thursday, December 1, 2016 the Chicago History Museum toasted the 83rd anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition with 1930s inspired music, dancing, cocktails, history and more at the annual Prohibition-era themed event The Last Speakeasy: On the Eve of Repeal.

Around 800 of Chicago’s finest-dressed guys and dolls danced to era-inspired music by The Prohibition Orchestra, tried their luck at novelty gaming tables and soaked up Chicago history across two floors of the Museum’s ballroom, exhibitions and lobbies.

Guests sipped on prohibition themed cocktails provided by Templeton Rye.

A VIP experience included password-only access to a private bar serving up creative cocktails courtesy of Templeton Rye and specialized culinary creations by Spiaggia Restaurant’s James Beard award-winning chef Tony Mantuano and beverage director and Food & Wine 2016’s “Sommelier of the Year” Rachel Lowe.

The night included appearances from Richard Lindberg, Chicago historian and author, for a discussion on Prohibition gangs of Chicago, Joy Bivins, director of curatorial affairs at the Chicago History Museum, for a presentation on the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, and John Russick, vice president of education and interpretation at the Chicago History Museum for a presentation on the temperance movement.

The Chicago History Museum gratefully acknowledges the support of lead sponsor Templeton Rye, with additional support from sponsors the Lincoln Motor Company, Tasting Table and Spiaggia.

ABOUT THE CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM

The Chicago History Museum is situated on ancestral homelands of the Potawatomi people, who cared for the land until forced out by non-Native settlers. Established in 1856, the Museum is now at 1601 N. Clark Street in Lincoln Park, its third location. As a major museum and research center for Chicago and U.S. history, the Chicago History Museum strives to be a destination for learning, inspiration and civic engagement. Through dynamic exhibitions, tours, publications, special events and programming, the Museum connects people to Chicago’s history and to each other. To share Chicago stories, the Museum collects and preserves millions of artifacts, documents, images and other items that are relevant to the city’s history. The Museum gratefully acknowledges the support of the Chicago Park District on behalf of the people of Chicago.