"Fountains of Joy": Alcohol Culture in Mid-Nineteenth Century Missouri

Abstract

This article seeks to articulate a cultural connection between nineteenth century Missourians and their production, distribution, and use of alcohol. Admitted as a state in 1821, Missouri was at geographic and cultural crossroads along the western border of the United States and many of the people who resided in the state found that alcohol was a significant social conduit in addition to supplementing their income. Sources such as sales records, personal letters, and newspapers reveal that over the century, the state witnessed an influx of migrants from across the United States and parts of Europe who each held their own convictions about spirits, which served to enrich Missouri’s alcohol culture.