Press Release
July 11, 2017
Contact: Liz Swaine, 222-7403
Downtown Development Authority
History on Tap: Our Unique Pairing of Beer and Buildings, Returns July 13!
Four years ago with the help of sponsor Glazers Distributors and a number of partners and volunteers, downtown Shreveport became the first place in the country to combine beer with historic buildings as a way to increase interest in history, highlight our building inventory and get people downtown to experience an active city center.
It was a brainstorm that has worked- a riff on wine and food pairings, our beer and historic building pairings has been a hit. However, there was something missing—the opportunity to explore some of the buildings and spaces featured. We took those suggestions to heart, and this year, in addition to the free beer samples and food trucks, are a series of tours of four of our remarkable historic landmarks.
History on Tap participants will be able to take guided tours of the Municipal Auditorium- the place where Elvis first left the building, of Oakland Cemetery- home to saints, sinners and a single mound that holds hundreds killed during a short but deadly Yellow Fever outbreak, of Logan Mansion-one of the few remaining downtown mansions, built in 1897 and home to a man who man his living from beer, and of Ogilvie-Wiener Mansion, built in the middle of the city’s very first subdivision and better known for its wild nightclub past that its early history.
In addition, owner David Nelson will be on hand to talk to visitors about historic 846 Texas Avenue, the site of minicine?, our second beer sampling location. Texas Avenue, once referred to as the African American ‘Wall Street’, was home to the offices of dozens of black professionals, including the city’s first black attorney and the country’s first black-owned and managed oil and gas company. Texas Avenue in the 1920s was a truly happening place.
So how does this fun (and education) work? On Thursday, July 13, starting at 5 pm, come to Municipal Auditorium, 705 Elvis Presley Ave. The first 500 with valid I.D. who are 21 and older will be given a History on Tap Passport and wristband. This entitles them to sample 17 beers chosen especially for this event by Glazers. During the course of the evening (until 9 pm), they will sample, tour, eat at the Food Truck court and enjoy the fun and history downtown has to offer.
What if I am # 501 in line, don’t want any beer or am under 21? No worries, come on. You won’t get any beer, but you will still have access to the information, the tours, the cool spaces, the Food Truck court and the fun.
History on Tap, which runs from 5-9 pm, is free because of the sponsorships and help of Glazers, the Municipal Auditorium, SMG, minicine?, the Logan Mansion, the Ogilvie Wiener Mansion and all the people who are willing to work instead of coming to quaff a brew. We love them for helping us put on such a unique event and always being willing to participate. Downtown rocks, y’all, and no lie. Hope to see you there.
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