Washington - The National Trust for Historic Preservation has launched a March Madness-inspired bracket of 32 historic bars and is asking the public to choose America’s favorite historic watering hole. Tiki bars, sports bars, dive bars and more will square off in “The Big Tap,” a single-elimination tournament modeled after the popular college basketball competition. The public is invited to vote for their favorite in each weekly matchup to determine which bars advance to the next round. Voting begins March 9 and the winner will be announced during the first week of April.

The pool of competitors represent a wide range of geography, bar type, and building age, including New Orleans’ Lafitte Blacksmith Shop Bar, the Salty Dawg Saloon in Homer, Alaska, and Tycoons Alehouse & Eatery, a former speakeasy in Duluth, Minnesota. Competitors for The Big Tap were chosen based on research by National Trust staff and crowd-sourced suggestions on social media. Voters can read up on each competitor by clicking on the bracket’s links to the National Trust’s blog posts on historic bars.

"From taverns to speakeasies, beer gardens to cocktail lounges, historic bars bring color and character to our communities,” said Stephanie K. Meeks, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “We are excited to celebrate these popular gathering places with The Big Tap, and we raise a glass to each and every participant. Salut!”

The Big Tap tournament begins on March 9 and includes four weekly rounds until the winner is chosen. Matchups were randomly generated. The winner, as well as those that reach the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, and Final Four rounds, will receive premiums such as coasters, digital designs for use on the internet and social media, and large banners proclaiming their status as one of America’s favorite historic bars.

For more information on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Historic Bars Tournament, visit: https://savingplaces.org/historic-bars/