Abstract
When the colonists landed on the east coast the first thing they did was build a church, and a tavern. The tavern served a critical need in the early development of the colonies and the United States. Today the local bar still serves a historical and cultural purpose. It unites communities, and offers a place for milestone celebrations, comfort, friendship, news and some times counseling. This thesis examines the development and execution process of the exhibit, Where Everybody Knows Your Name: A History of Local Watering Holes and Saloons. It explores the historic and cultural significance of bars in local communities and their historic evolution from the colonial tavern to today. Sources include: interviews, newspaper clippings, photographs, ephemera, scholarly literature, and primary sources from local archives and museums. The exhibit successfully ran from May 31, 2014, and closed on October 31, 2014 at the Museum of Los Gatos.