Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. These prohibition-era photos below provide a glimpse into prohibition era in Boston, Massachusetts during the 1920s and 1930s.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0OOEr0S9kKOlQMVB4F8S66bXvCU586HgyL5tyhc3k-WuiYy_IQYgRSteymoozOj_RNTa3Y_v7CTpQoAsOvy_Lqj4o8Jm8UU_Ws6OU1NlYt81jxG_CbOr2BA4jZjX0LzOpJ58TU0SlxQ/s640-rw/vintage-prohibition-photos-united-states-boston-17.jpg) |
Casks Seized by Police – c. 1930. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67ZhFV2KKg6zwlLIgiCQMYIA-ipCWvzC2ZIPS5zKEXXgqRZFhCmqwzOv-u0I5rMttXlwI-UwiiQ6GjChZzTsRuB9grXngwMznmb6_Fz8sdOv_7uX65gBrS3VRlKj7w0awgno8CBmhM4o/s640-rw/vintage-prohibition-photos-united-states-boston-1.jpg) |
Rum Chasers: Beagle and Cunningham – Jan. 23, 1927. |
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Ice Covered Rum Chaser – Jan. 20, 1926. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCODDP8f-amz2yh1bWEsu8OZ-bABP74yBNQb6_Eh9L8HKowPuKnpnXmsaohsqYmfWQzlEMh3q-dlDCDikWgkCkOn03Mxi990eCTFTTXBuA2hwC3FnD4LqOtwpqy7DzzFYG4mtdZJ84sqI/s640-rw/vintage-prohibition-photos-united-states-boston-3.jpg) |
Superintendent Crowley Inspects a Speakeasy – 1930. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aLUnWArEXBo3Efteb2K6elH2HRUlasy2tmMfKCFBOu22bZ_YV-CfHQUgsS0elOTpCqeW8q9IvUXNzN51UWU0dPVt0g_oYMVqOvOnAc3LBDrvzxFOK6x4VVU90-42TFBqggvcRd531ao/s640-rw/vintage-prohibition-photos-united-states-boston-4.jpg) |
Commissioner and Superintendent at Police HQ – 1935. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxZ5FINmOQ0ks2ySdMzlbCf8NBD0mPAX0SaS47UsXt_8PjS5-oFnZxk-ndb0VDnwtDp1Po0kGZAGVHOKPv-l36Zu_Ogn9LGb0WUBzWnK2oFyHwXPluMIs5yL_DT_bR3Ncd1oDRV8nE04/s640-rw/vintage-prohibition-photos-united-states-boston-5.jpg) |
Aerial View of Rum Runners – c. 1917-1934. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWg6TEcEmRIJd1Q9jHDhyphenhyphenjY4-y6IqAUBPlhzkp1wf-Ksd0E1OZBKjD50R7XInZNAez8NV70x-jnzdNeodGYiFhlBv3OZUI3yLQDQhO5EMMmxcL8dzXRKNQ2nBV-Ejk0gnxTbSOM8NMDPA/s640-rw/vintage-prohibition-photos-united-states-boston-6.jpg) |
Aerial Photo of a Seized Rum Runner – c. 1917-1934. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MTaNvW0I1wygBhQiN21nMUQKiK5BYEnal0eZ1RBGwGRthvqVlymeZlfCDG214pdpxQjxvPZKlA6bHRwcAlhLrwvEt8DdAJ5t3x5LyBufgrBff9OP4ic_pFkTR9OfDW1aLyRv_G0jt2E/s640-rw/vintage-prohibition-photos-united-states-boston-7.jpg) |
Newer Fleet of Rum Chasers: General Green & Frederick Lee – 1928. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBHNSMEdfCVUXpEA7mjKoS9RWk7_C3ab0dwUuTGQkQkjFPSQqTkoasHO6sc6pPfAKMgXoco2BSa7kMKHjheZgnlUughn9TS01VsOLbqw13uyD2y_5W-x-1LOT07mNwjiFZArykAB2OUI/s640-rw/vintage-prohibition-photos-united-states-boston-8.jpg) |
Fleet of Rum Chasers in East Boston – Dec. 30, 1928. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNFderEXxdgwQlGzxA-_o51l00-8eqLoeHBYnq3C4o9t-s_uynyG4PTSIajZNWBu3hBvoBser7P7N4gpZ2vXaA0HVGTJckHINGDCd5oCbXbIdy7HbGvhG0cetLCDYpc9jq-Zwm2boEY0/s640-rw/vintage-prohibition-photos-united-states-boston-9.jpg) |
Captured Rum Runner Brought to the Appraiser’s Stores – c. 1917-1934. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgcJoM9d589UzDMKib7RJ8s_KglWJ0SfYL-bjj4mot0BApAuCpki4FDXl9GanOGEVqkdt4BKW26VPCei7TTLDSFwS0FSBPY1qvgn6a40xtZ79NOy-_WRxAyzmBIHwoK1RgSq5z6a4sDI/s640-rw/vintage-prohibition-photos-united-states-boston-10.jpg) |
Coast Guard Seizes a Rum Runner – c. 1917-1934. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikos2542eys2NZVbS2MCruYxEz63Hyc_Ii_spjl2hAXsSgPG_XpjMIhbTQEhEZI4-_TAro0HJk3LYmmolQuPIgA90m6ZyHO2PbgeUMywlfGeXttjYoAAx2JHpyRP-4dO9Z2iJSXR0osUs/s640-rw/vintage-prohibition-photos-united-states-boston-11.jpg) |
Fleet of Rum Chasers in East Boston – c. 1917-1934. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWkOmokyuo2eIjmG2D2OgPbFAM8Z7-XeE01VAJ3uEKAnAzVxa3kucbngyKPracJ6ri9tUS0EUQ_L_tXMr56NQM-1xRHl-0-Qrstd4raYRJui5ofrZjblQHUCHJiLnP9VLH65fVQhHwvY/s640-rw/vintage-prohibition-photos-united-states-boston-12.jpg) |
$175,000 in Liquor Seized by Coast Guard – Jan. 18, 1932. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYdhm29-nb3jzVVBYA3LvMURpKZchuSXKoq_qRjFMka2Iw90xj0Vnb0Z8UbFOGWDhZCo_IkhBZ6jvo9wYt6jPUeG4bFPg7DhJgfEVC1gLao073Bg99kB_P_uAvCWxeVa4CkglvyXzntk/s640-rw/vintage-prohibition-photos-united-states-boston-13.jpg) |
Still Raided and Destroyed at Woburn by Federal Agents – 1934. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDMv5XiwGVeM-FrXbxmovthoBV4B754aP925_jWxkSgwnbTSSnzh9hhtpmR86xhGkOhpRU1YTi0lw_SVWd93G-lUYyBdEOHzF0_EW2dv2otVP5i7X3M5zQZBbIfuDlpyaNcRHXqPH9LI/s640-rw/vintage-prohibition-photos-united-states-boston-14.jpg) |
Man Operates Still out of the Back of a Carriage – c. 1917-1934. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAl7EF-XVzPrelUjwGZfJN1gLMABIY68rwY84N-aZU_kp4GOdiJh8_DaxPJbRO2d4QO2hsYNAgCvBbBx_Do-fRe6jDK1KoFSATDizRljj0wScFKAo0OgnwMps2bsvhxRdhk9w2blXu9d0/s640-rw/vintage-prohibition-photos-united-states-boston-15.jpg) |
Still Explosion Kills Man in Reading – 1930. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuPfxzi01Bg7KPmhEUBKlrlKAOKbbWMfokMF3nWMjwE7Nw4ZpcnAoggXnmxf3U1y9qzknDJ5AZiTj0go3XiHJklMlRhDC1AcXjB6uX9Xi-rYScQPMLRY1uyGoOJfGWXaVvC4rwUlS1lc/s640-rw/vintage-prohibition-photos-united-states-boston-16.jpg) |
Boat Suspected of Selling Alcohol is Inspected – c. 1917-1934. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDx5c0IA9VeEbm0cynqhC4jmOShUmfPW1uD-miSDAg4UrXLM45fV2mOeAYCV6-kuwukhUoyOdShdVK_x_UaavFPEbGpWsuGyDhNi5dSj8iVnDxjtO87mGGHv3sYMFDypBWGuEWmOZkjQ4/s640-rw/vintage-prohibition-photos-united-states-boston-18.jpg) |
Speakeasy Raided and Destroyed by Federal Agents – Feb. 11, 1932. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ujk70eoDOaIISO3xOigKIssYP4_fY0M3tEJfTpsfgFmgSCAnfP9kICq8yBWpC0c14DSnht0wo0ubveoCxSipZqu_6Y-B5kjoBLr1uHYY4Vj-ERLfPy8FB0RxJEKwlC3V5YceayuF0Mo/s640-rw/vintage-prohibition-photos-united-states-boston-19.jpg) |
Boston Police Liquor Squad – 1928. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1Q0PqFHO8BfuZlxcR3bfulQOzsdLwanGej8eg7nG49G-ya1LWfuDrx0JPhHdY77EzFBSBTuqDnl9A3fpkl8qJgrNTgNh7BGmMqAMNA88J6Fl7eJbWE7kfWo5DIYatRFPMCMNYEF3wFg/s640-rw/vintage-prohibition-photos-united-states-boston-20.jpg) |
Officers Dismantle a Speakeasy After Raid – c. 1917-1934. |
(Photos courtesy of the
Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
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