Vintage Beer Signs of the Midwest
Documenting the remaining vintage beer signs from Pabst Blue Ribbon, Old Style, Blatz, and other similar brands from the 1960s and 1970s that remain hanging outside of taverns throughout Wisconsin and nearby states. Spoiler, there are hundreds of them!
Having been raised in Wisconsin tavern culture, I feel that a perfect symbol for my upbringing is probably the large Pabst Blue Ribbon or Old Style name signs that every single bar in the region had displayed outside of their establishment.
After I decided I wanted to photograph as many of these signs along with the urban landscapes around them, I started prowling on Google maps looking for their locations and began building a map of where these bar signs might still exist. Many of the signs I have found tend to exist outside of densely populated areas. Rural towns and regions that the Google street view team hasn't seemed to have passed through since 2008. I soon came to realize that these signs seem to be dying off at a pretty rapid rate. The very first time I drove out to where I found a cluster of signs, the entire block of buildings at the location had been razed. Every outing I have done since has led me to one or more places where the sign no longers exists that was there the last time the Google Street View car had driven past. Suddenly this whole quirky collection of photographs feels like a race against time.
The first ten photos of this collection were posted in March 2018. I expect it to grow very large over the coming years.
Press That This Series Has Received
- Vintage Bar Signs Become Subject Of Photographer's Project - Wisconsin Public Radio
- Interview: Project To Photograph Midwest Vintage Beer Signs Brings Photographer Full Circle - Wisconsin Public Radio
- Vintage bar signs once proliferated in Wisconsin. He's trying to save them in photos. - Keith Uhlig - Wausau Daily Herald
Tappa Keg Inn, Duluth, Minnesota, February 2018
Henkel's Town Pump, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, September 2018
Taphouse, Antigo, Wisconsin, November 2019
I didn't realize this when I was taking the exposure, but I caught a second Old Style sign on a building way inthe background.
Boettcher's Bar, Antigo, Wisconsin, November 2019
Pabst Blue Ribbon sign as seen from a parking lot behind Boettcher's Bar.
Farmer's Home Restaurant, Antigo, Wisconsin, November 2019
Hurricane Dawns, Pella, Wisconsin, December 2017
Both a Pabst Blue Ribbon and an Old Style sign on the same building. And a bonus Old Style sign in the distance! What a treat!
2-D's On The Avenue, Antigo, Wisconsin, September 2018
Carl's Place, Butternut, Wisconsin, September 2018
Doorn's Inn, Barnes, Wisconsin, September 2018
Player's Bar, Duluth, Minnesota, December 2017
Liquor In The Woods Saloon, Iron River, Wisconsin, July 2018
Blatz beer bar sign in beautiful downtown Iron River, Wisconsin.
Badger Hole, Bloomer, Wisconsin, December 2017
Interesting Old Style sign which has lost its red stripe.
"Lack" Granite, Mellen, Wisconsin, September 2018
I'm assuming this used to say Black Granite at some point, and the B has since fell off. I couldn't seem to track down any info of there actually being a bar running out of this location today.
Georgia's Happy Place, Barnes, Wisconsin, September 2018
Things you don't see every day: A pair of legs hanging out of a window. Behind the scenes footage of taking the photo of this Old Style sign can be seen in part 1 of my photographing bar signs video from September 2018.
Trail Inn, Pelican Lake, Wisconsin, September 2018
Infield Bar, Superior, Wisconsin, November 2017
Vickie and the Vets, Antigo, Wisconsin, September 2018
Higgins Lakeview Lodge Bar & Grill, Solon Springs, Wisconsin, September 2018
The Pabst Blue Ribbon sign that gave me a scare because the other side had been replaced with custom sign for the lodge. You can learn all about that in Part 1 of my Photographing Bar Signs video from September 2018.
Ds' Burger & Bowl, Prentice, Wisconsin, September 2018
Another Old Style sign with the faded red stripe. [Behind the scenes]
PJ's Pub, Birnamwood, Wisconsin, December 2017
The bar is no longer in business, but the Old Style sign still flys outside.
Homestead Motel, Fifield, Wisconsin, September 2018
The elusive bar sign on an abandoned building. The capturing of this photograph can be seen in part one of my September 2018 video.
Sportsmen's Inn, Duluth, Minnesota, March 2018
Pabst Blue Ribbon sign in front of The Sportsmen's Inn, AKA Sporty's.
Cop Shoppe Pub, Wausau, Wisconsin, December 2017
Mary's Cafe & Pub, Chetek, Wisconsin, December 2017
Village Inn, Wittenberg, Wisconsin, December 2017
The Hill House Pub & Grill, Boyd, Wisconsin, December 2017
Elkhorn Lodge, Clam Lake, Wisconsin, September 2018
A Polaris RZR parked in front of another Old Style sign with the missing red stripe. The taking of this photograph can be seen in part 1 of my September 2018 photography adventure video.
Midway Bar, Withee, Wisconsin, December 2017
Bridges, Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin, July 2018
Bridges in Lake Nebagamon, they have a gift shop, nachos, hot dogs, and soft pretzels!