Peoria was the whiskey capital of the world. Alcohol production was a business that meant a huge income for the distillery owners, who in turn made a huge contribution to the community in the form of culture, buildings and sculptures—some of which still stand today. It also provided jobs, not just in the alcohol industry but for a myriad of businesses that supported the distilleries. The production of whiskey and beer was a source of important taxes for both the federal and local governments. But times change, and in January of 1920, it all came to an end.