Washington Platform Saloon & Restaurant Sign
Name/Title
Washington Platform Saloon & Restaurant SignEntry/Object ID
2025.0010.0001Description
Double-faced, sandblasted, painted wood sign.Context
Erected more than 150 years ago, the three-story brick building that housed the modern-day Washington Platform Saloon & Restaurant was originally the Johan Armleder Wine & Lager Beer Saloon. The lively spot was frequented by people in the densely populated environs of the Miami-Erie Canal, which is now Central Parkway. Johan Armleder, an immigrant from Wurttemberg, Germany, operated the saloon until his death in 1872. The next proprietor, Fiedel Bader, changed the name to Washington Platform in 1875, a nod to the new jewel in the Queen City's crown: Washington Park. A series of other owners maintained the corner gem, including Louis Hauck, beer baron of the John Hauck Brewing Company in 1912. Only Prohibition could stop the flow of beer and customers at Washington Platform, in 1919. Still, the convenient downtown location allowed the building to thrive as a produce store and a hand laundry, among other businesses. It wasn't until 1986 that the establishment was rechristened as Washington Platform Saloon and Restaurant, well-known for its New Orleans-style food and drink. It operated for 35 years before closing in December of 2021 after one last holiday celebration, “Feast of the Seven Fishes.”Collection
Permanent CollectionCategory
Painted Wood
Signs/Displays