Before the days of billboards and neon lights, painted tavern signs were the primary form of outdoor advertising. These signs were posted along the dusty, muddy roads that Americans traveled before the interstate highways came through. In the 18th & 19th centuries, taverns and inns provided essential services to travelers by horse, carriage, and stagecoach. Colonial laws in Connecticut actually required every town to have an inn or tavern identified by "some suitable Signe". Travelers could find food and lodging for themselves and their horses. Locals could meet and swap stories and news.
American painters produced more than 50,000 inn and tavern signs between 1750 and 1850. They created a visual language and offered a glimpse into tavern life, travel and America's patriotic ideas. The Connecticut Historical Society's collection of over 60 signs in the largest, most spectacular in the country. Bold eagles, exotic lions, prancing horses, travelers and heroes, symbols and beautiful lettering adorn the unique signs. Windham is proud to partner with the Historical Society and bring to life this glimpse into America's past.
