Taverns and coffeehouses have always been more than places to enjoy a drink. From the Colonial era through today, these places bring people together to exchange ideas, discuss local and global events, and engage in the global marketplace.

As we celebrate the commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, we’ll explore the role of taverns and coffeehouses as democratic spaces of civic life, hubs of economic development, and centers of regional and local identity.

Join historians and industry experts for a conversation tracing the evolution of these social institutions and their influence on American culture, then taste history with five samples of historic and modern brews alongside small bites.

Tickets are $35 and include food and five drink samples.

Live music, curator-led tours of exhibition, and expert panel included.

Panelists:

• Favio Garcia, brewery manager of Dynasty Brewing Company, Leesburg, Virginia
• Michelle Craig McDonald, historian, educator, and author of Coffee Nation: How One Commodity Transformed the Early United States
• Thor Cheston, cofounder of Right Proper Brewing Company, Washington, D.C.
• Mike Stein, educator, brewer, author, historian, and cocreator of the research firm Lost Lagers

Tastings:

• 2 craft beer tastings with Dynasty Brewing Company
• 1 craft beer tasting with Right Proper Brewing Company
• 1 cold brew coffee by Kenia Euceda Canales, coffee director Cameo at The Roost, and Neighborhood Restaurant Group.
• 1 coffee cocktail by Show of Hands bar at The Roost.
• Themed snacks and appetizers

Schedule:

• 6:00 p.m. Doors open
• 6:15-6:30 p.m. Curator-led tour of the FOOD: Transforming the American Table exhibition
• 6:30 p.m. Settle in with live music
• 6:30-6:45 p.m. Curator-led tour of the FOOD: Transforming the American Table exhibition
• 7:00-8:00 p.m. Expert panel discussion
• 8:00-9:00 p.m. Social hour with tastings, live music, and opportunities to connect with the experts

*Event for people age 21 and over. Valid ID Required.

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The National Museum of American History welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. This event is wheelchair accessible. ASL interpretation available.

Additional accommodations are available upon request; please email [email protected]. Two weeks’ notice is preferred.