Have you ever heard of the Crypt of Civilization? Neither had I until just recently. But if you’re a history AND beer buff, it has a great story.

The Crypt—essentially a large time capsule filled with a “record of civilization” was built at Oglethorp University in Atlanta Georgia and sealed in 1940.

The contents are varied, and include microfiilm and microfilm readers, voice recordings, evidence of technology of that period from companies like Eastman Kodak, and examples of our culture.

The saloon is synonomous with the old west. You can't have one without the other. How would history have been different if John Wayne had bellied up to the bar in an English pub (of course he did in The Quiet Mad, but that's another matter).

But what are the best saloons in America to visit? Well, after a year's worth of travel we think we've found the top 3 best historic saloons in the United States.

In no significant order they are:

3. Heinold's First and Las Chance, Oakland, California

Opened in 1883 by German immigrant Johnnie Heinold, this place is a living legend. During the wild west days of the Bay Area, the place saw captains of whaling ships and sea lion hunting ships shainghai drunks and other nefarias episodes. 

The place was also the savior of one of America's best writers, Jack London. Growing up poor on the street Jack London was befriended by the owner who allowed him to come inside out of the rain when he was 10. Jack got the inspiration for many of his best stories from the place.

Spend time looking at the decor and notice the crooked bar (and floor). Watch our documentary of Heinold's here.

Some historic bar signs have surpassed simply noting the existence of a good watering hole, and have entered the realm of pure art! These are the signs that have been around for years and by which others are measured and compared. These are copied by cheap imitators who attempt to game their fame.

When Derek and I started on our journey of hitting every single one of the best bars in the United States, there was one in Las Vegas we really wanted to drink at, Atomic Liquor, perched in the shady section of the city, on 10th and Freemont.

But, alas, it was not meant to be it seemed. They closed shop in January of 2011, just when we were setting off, and we thought that was the end of it. Another nearby bar did make our bucket list, though, Pioneer Saloon just down the street in Goodsprings. But Atomic Liquors was Vegas' one chance to have its own Bucket List Bar.

But as luck would have it, she's rising from the ashes!

In a story that will no doubt be in the second edition of our book, a group of local regulars couldn't bear to see the old girl torn down, so they bought the bar from the family of the late owners, are working on it around the clock, and hope for an early 2013 re-opening.

So why's this place such a big deal?

Well, for starters it was probably the oldest of the Las Vegas bars left standing. Opened in the early 1950s it was named for the most famous attraction the town had to offer--atomic bombs.