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Tavern and Inn Signs

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Gift of Nancy Phelps (Mrs. John A.) Blum, Jonathan Phelps Blum, and Timothy Alexander Blum, 200 ...

The Connecticut Historical Society holds the nation's largest collection of 18th and 19th century tavern signs. Long before the bright oversize signs that we see on the highways today, painted tavern signs were the predominent form of roadside advertising.

Towns were required by colonial legislation to have an inn or tavern to provide essential services, and these signs marked those establishments for travelers. Today, although we travel faster and farther than ever before, our needs have hardly changed: food, refreshment, fuel, and a place to spend the night.

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Gift of Rufus S. Mathewson, 1841.110  Photograph by Williamstown Art Conservation Center.  © 20 ...
General Israel Putnam
about 1768
Gift of Miss Susan M. Loomis, 1896.7.0  Photograph by Williamstown Art Conservation Center  © 2 ...
Uriah Hayden
1762
Gift of Newton C. Brainard, 1957.59.1  Photograph by David Stansbury  © 2009 The Connecticut Hi ...
Unknown
1840-1850
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard  1961.63.2  Photography by Da ...
Richard Angell
1808
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.7 © 2008 The Connect ...
Captain Aaron Bissell Sr.
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.8
Ambrose Kirtland
about 1771
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard 1961.63.9  © 2005 The Connect ...
Captain Edward Bull
1749
Sign for Blatchly's Inn
Moses Blatchly Jr.
1788
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1963.611.12  Photograph by W ...
Deodate Bement
about 1786-1810
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1963.61.13  Photograph by Wi ...
Dr. Daniel Caulkins
probably about 1790s
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard, Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.18 Photograph by Dav ...
Hezekiah Cady
about 1820