A History of Beer GardensMain MenuThe Popularity of Beer Gardens in America was Directly Impacted by the Acceptance or Lack Thereof of German-AmericansThe BeginningHow Beer Gardens were BornBeer Gardens and the PicnicEthnic Foods in Beer GardensThe Temperance MovementThe Second Great Awakening to ProhibitionWar Hysteria and German PersecutionWWI & WWIICreditsRobert Soucekfbd4bc6c4f148f75409489cacd56dd08fe93f17b
The Question
12017-03-06T21:23:59-08:00Robert Soucekfbd4bc6c4f148f75409489cacd56dd08fe93f17b150752What was the role of beer gardens in America and does the popularity of beer gardens mirror larger social trends including racism, temperance and immigration?plain2017-03-06T21:24:39-08:00Robert Soucekfbd4bc6c4f148f75409489cacd56dd08fe93f17bBeer gardens are a popular venue for social interaction. The conception of beer gardens has changed drastically over time. Initially a beer garden was just that, it was a garden under large trees that provided shade to keep underground beer storage area at a cool temperature during the summer. Later in Wisconsin the beer garden was made from vines which hops grew on. During the hops harvest, the communities came together to pick the hops and during breaks they would assemble under the shade produced by vines draped across man made scaffolding where they would eat, drink and socialize. Beer gardens later became a place for vendors to showcase their brews, this form of beer garden is what I pictured at the onset of this inquiry. Beer popularity has ebbed and flowed through out this country's history for several reasons. The idea that beer was more pure than water made beer a healthy choice making it increasingly more popular. Temperance movements often focused on distilled liquors and wines because of their higher alcohol content, even passing laws allowing beer producers and vendors to do business tax free. The anti-German movements during each of the World Wars greatly reduced the popularity of beer gardens and anything considered to be German. Prohibition had the same effect but as time passed beer gardens became more popular once more. Starting in areas of Eastern European descent their popularity became increasingly more diverse. Each page of the Scalar will look at a piece of this puzzle.