The oldest bar in every state

As the United States marks its 250th birthday this year, Americans are taking part in classic traditions like fireworks and barbecues.

However, few traditions are as time-honored as going to the bar.

There are more than 40,000 drinking places in the US, according to the 2023 Census.

These bars come in all shapes and sizes, but some stand out for their age, with a few even predating the country itself.

The White Horse Tavern in Newport, Rhode Island, opened in 1673 and is the oldest bar in the US, according to Condé Nast Traveler.

Although other states’ oldest bars aren’t quite as old, they still hold multiple centuries’ worth of history.

Business Insider compiled a list of every state’s oldest bar still in operation.

Many bars claim to be the oldest in their respective states: Some are housed in historic buildings that became bars later on, while others pride themselves on the title of longest continuously running bar.

But for this list, we focused on bars that were the oldest from when they began operation as a tavern, saloon, or bar, rather than the age of the building where they’re located.

Bars that began in other locations or out of state were excluded.

Ownership and name changes didn’t automatically disqualify a bar, so long as it could trace its identity to the original establishment in one way or another.

We also included bars that were once repurposed or closed for a period of time.

Some of the bars on this list continued operating as speakeasies during Prohibition, while others closed.

Some were destroyed by disasters, such as fires, but were rebuilt and reopened.