If you are ever traveling along on U.S. 11E near Morristown, TN, be sure to check out Crockett Tavern while you are there. This is the boyhood home of Davy Crockett, built by his father John in 1790. This home served as a place for travelers to spend an evening and as a tavern for the locals. Now a museum, Crockett is open from May to October. Many thanks to Doug Harvey for info. 04-06
Just off the highway in Morristown, Crockett Tavern looks like the kind of place where a frontiersman might still be warming himself by the fire. The log cabin and rustic setting make it an easy stop for anyone following Tennessee's early history.
UPDATE: Crockett Tavern continues welcoming visitors as a seasonal museum on the historic site. 08-26
Oglethorpe Lounge
825 Oglethorpe Blvd,
Albany, GA Photo courtesy Lisa Pike
This sign for Carling Black Label Beer is located in Albany, GA hanging above the Oglethorpe Lounge on Oglethorpe Boulevard. The bar (lounge) is the oldest in town dating back to the 1950's. Current owner is Jimmy Pike, who purchased the bar in 1996. A beer distributor once told a previous owner that only 2 Black Label signs still existed in the US, but this has not been verified. Many thanks to Lisa Pike for info. 08-06
Cruising down Oglethorpe Boulevard, it's easy to spot the old Oglethorpe Lounge. Hanging over the entrance is a vintage Carling Black Label Beer sign that gives the place the kind of character you just don't see much anymore. It's the sort of sign that makes you wonder how many people have walked through that door over the years.
Oglethorpe Lounge
Albany, GA Photo courtesy Lisa Pike
The Oglethorpe Lounge has been part of Albany since the 1950s, making it the city's oldest neighborhood bar. Inside you'll find live music, karaoke, and plenty of local regulars, but it's the sign outside that first catches your attention. Before fancy LED displays and digital billboards, signs like this were how a business introduced itself to everyone driving by.
It's little roadside surprises like this that make wandering through town worthwhile. You never know when you'll stumble across an old beer sign that's managed to outlast generations of changing storefronts and still looks right at home.
UPDATE: Oglethorpe Lounge remains open. After a break-in damaged the front of the building in August 2026, repairs were quickly made, and the vintage Black Label sign continues welcoming customers to Albany's oldest bar. 08-26
Dailey's Downstairs (Gone)
Atlanta, GA Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
At first glance, Daily's Downstairs looked like one of Atlanta's newer nightspots. The retro-style neon sign had all the charm of an old marquee, proving you didn't have to be around for decades to appreciate classic roadside design. 04-09
The sign marked the downstairs lounge of Dailey's, a longtime downtown favorite that paired live jazz, martinis, and cigars beneath a historic brick warehouse. It was one of those places where the glowing sign outside hinted that something interesting was happening below street level.
Ironically, this photo was taken just weeks before the business closed its doors in June 2009 after nearly 30 years. Not long afterward, the building was demolished, taking the neon sign with it.
UPDATE: Dailey's Downstairs, its retro marquee, and the old warehouse are all gone today. 08-26
Boogie Woogie (Gone)
New Orleans, LA Photo courtesy Rod Holcomb
It's hard to walk down Bourbon Street without getting distracted by the neon, and the glowing sign at Boogie Woogie was certainly one worth noticing. Bright colors and musical flair made it feel right at home among the countless lights that line New Orleans' most famous street. 12-10
One of the best parts of exploring Bourbon Street is looking up as much as looking ahead. Nearly every building competes for your attention, and Boogie Woogie held its own with a colorful marquee that promised another night of blues and live music. It fit perfectly into the nonstop energy of the French Quarter.
Whether you stopped in for a drink or simply admired the sign while wandering down the block, it was another reminder that Bourbon Street has always been as much about the glowing signs as the businesses behind them.
UPDATE: The blues bar is gone today, and the neon sign has been removed. The building is now home to a retail shop that still carries the Boogie Woogie name. 08-26
Blues Company (Gone)
New Orleans, LA Photo courtesy Rod Holcomb
Walk down Bourbon Street after dark and you'll find neon everywhere you look. One sign that always stood out belonged to Bourbon Street Blues Company, glowing behind protective glass while adding another splash of color to one of America's most famous streets. 12-10
On Bourbon Street, the signs are every bit as much a part of the experience as the music pouring out of the clubs. This one fit right in, inviting visitors inside for another night of live blues while helping light up the French Quarter.
UPDATE: Bourbon Street Blues Company has since closed, and the blue neon sign is no longer part of the streetscape. Another live music venue now occupies the location. 08-26
Boogie Woogie (Gone)
Blues Company (Gone)
