Today, we know bars as the place to watch sports, grab a drink after work, and meet up with old friends. Maybe even fall in love. But you may be surprised to hear that bars have actually been around since the ancient Babylon era, with the concept showing up in Greece and Italy. The oldest pub in Europe, Sean’s Bar, as declared by the Guinness Book of World Records, is actually still open. Located in Ireland, the bar is actually older than the famous Athlone Castle.

Communal imbibing has had its own exciting, though shorter, history in the United States. Founded in 1673, the White House Tavern in Rhode Island boasts a rich history with food and drink. Popular bars in the 19th century were known as saloons, made popular in the American Old West. Thinking back to the early 1900s, prohibition banned the sale of alcoholic beverages from 1920 to 1933, but even so, illegal bars operated, better known as speakeasys. As bars made their resurgence, many states started operating with their own restrictions.

All to say, bars have taken many shapes and forms as the world has turned. Whether it’s a tavern, saloon, pub, cocktail lounge or sports bar, one thing is certain—people are showing up to kick back and relax. And the bar industry is showing no signs of slowing down. According to IBISWorld, the revenue of the bars and nightclub industry was $25.1 billion in 2021. So sit back and enjoy these bar images, stretching back to the late 1800s. You may even find yourself inspired to mix a signature cocktail.