The Prohibition Era and Virginia

Welcome to the exhibit on the Prohibition era in Virginia! The following sections will explore how Prohibition came to be in Virginia, what was it like for our citizens, and how it came to an end. This exhibit will paint a picture of how people in this state were reacting to Prohibition as time progressed, and this includes reactions from the political, criminal, and normal citizens of Virginia. There are many existing scholarships from historians on Prohibition in our country and in Virginia. However, not that many of them have shown how different people in Virginia reacted to this era as time went on.

What was the role of women that led this state into the Prohibition era? Which group was the biggest player in pushing the population and government to support temperance movements? What kinds of laws were implemented and used to punish those found guilty of violating state and federal Prohibition measures? What was the mission of the illegal distilleries during prohibition, why did Southern Virginia and Appalachia become notorious for alcohol smuggling and illegal distilleries, how effective were these distilleries, and what tactics did they use to evade the law? Why did the population change their minds on Prohibition as time progressed, and did places of law and justice, such as courts, always take alcohol-related violations seriously? Finally, how was Prohibition repealed in the 1930s, and were there any measures taken in our state to keep alcohol regulated after it was gone? All of these questions, and more, will be analyzed in this exhibit.