From the book Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, Daniel Okrent, and director, Ken Burns, created the PBS documentary series, Prohibition. It served as the launch pad for the national touring exhibition American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition created by the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
The lead-up to the Prohibition Era begins with the Temperance Movement in the late 1820’s, a century before the 18th Amendment makes it law.
“Just trying to get people to moderate how they were drinking alcohol, not necessarily banning it altogether.”
Sarah Winski is with the National Constitution Center. Temperance supporters joined forces with Progressives.
“This is a movement of people who are looking at ‘how can we use government to reform social ills and reform society.’ And they kind of really join forces and come together in the 19 teens.”
A dry nation, organized crime satisfied the demand for alcohol producing a 13 year period generating a radical rise in crime and corruption. American Spirits explores the era and its demise with the introduction of the 21st Amendment.
Winksi calls the exhibition highly interactive.
“There’s music. There’s video. Tons of emersion environments, you can go into a speakeasy, dance the Charleston. We have this great interactive called The Amazing Amendment Machine that tells you exactly the process of amending and it’s just really fun for all ages.”
American Spirits wraps at the Grand Rapids Public Museum January, 17th
Patrick Center, WGVU News.