Anti-Saloon League Museum

Tucked away inside the Westerville Public Library is a door through which those who are intrigued by life during Prohibition can find all the information they desire. Located in a historic building directly attached to the library is the Anti-Saloon League Museum, one of Ohio’s little-known secrets.

The Anti-Saloon League was one of the most influential political movements in all of American history. The league’s efforts led to the passing of the Volstead Act, which led to the ratification of the infamous Eighteenth Amendment, the prohibition of alcohol in the United States. The story of the Anti-Saloon League is told in this small museum, which actually used to be the league’s headquarters.

The Anti-Saloon League worked tirelessly to keep the United States “dry,” and promoted their cause by publishing thousands of fliers, ads, newspapers, cartoons, periodicals, yearbooks, pamphlets, songs, and more.  This has resulted in a large collection of artifacts that can be found in the Anti-Saloon League Museum today.

This little piece of history is a hidden gem in Ohio. The passion that league members felt is palpable when standing inside the group’s former headquarters, among the museum’s impressive collection of artifacts from America’s strange Prohibition era.