The Blue Moon Tavern opened in 1934, shortly after the end of Prohibition. At the time, Washington law banned sale of alcohol within one mile of the University of Washington; the Blue Moon was just over the line and attracted many UW students as patrons. In the 1940s, the Blue Moon was one of the few bars outside the Central Area that served Black people. In the 1950s and 60s, it was a popular hangout for countercultural figures such as hippies, beatniks, and political radicals who ran afoul of McCarthyism and the Canwell Committee. The Blue Moon was threatened by redevelopment in 1989, but a vigorous public campaign convinced the developers to change their plans and keep the tavern open. As of 2024, the Blue Moon remains a favorite dive bar and live music venue with an old Seattle feel.

This image shows the Blue Moon closed and boarded up in April 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Caption information source: "Blue Moon Tavern: An Unofficial Cultural Landmark," by Walt Crowley, HistoryLink, retrieved from https://historylink.org/File/1001.