In my online travels I happened to see a post from the facecrack page of a bar in Washington, Illinois called The Blue Ox.

I’ve never been to this bar and decided to take a trip there and make it the 187th bar of this 365 bar tour. See how this works? And it’s off to Washington, Illinois we go!

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Bar Number 187: The Blue Ox, Monday, August 10, 2026

I had read where this Abraham Lincoln and Perry Como sculpture was now in Washington, Illinois and I drove by it on the way to The Blue Ox. It used to be at the Peoria Riverfront Museum and I did a post on it nine years ago in 2017. I can’t believe nine years have flown by since that was published, but time continues to fly by! Perry still looks scared!

Great to see this exhibit again! Now on to tonight’s bar…

The Blue Ox in Washington, Illinois. I like the colorful art on the building, let’s go in and start our Monday evening inside of here!

That’s an impressive looking wooden bar in here and all of the seats are open! Let’s grab one and get settled in for the evening.

Carsyn was the pretty bartender on duty and here she is delivering me a can of Budweiser with a beautiful smile. We’re off to a wonderful start in here tonight!

Carsyn took a shot of the taps behind the bar for me and there’s some more of the bottled inventory behind the bar in here.

Here’s a shot of the bar from the back of the front room.

There’s a pool table over in this side room and all of the art in here is done by local artist, Devon McGlone who does a lot of art in Peoria and the surrounding areas bars. Here’s an article and video about Devon.

There’s tables and chairs opposite the bar and more artwork by Devon McGlone!

Here’s a trio of dartboards over in this corner opposite the bar.

There’s a discreet gaming room in the back for all of you gamblers out there.

Lost Dog Alert: If you see Banjo, call 309-412-6316 or 309-264-7264. Hopefully Banjo makes it back home soon!

Carsyn told me that Devon did a Washington, Illinois themed mural on the back of the building and here it is.

I had to piece three photos together to get the entire mural. It’s not a perfect representation, so stop by The Blue Ox and check it out in person!

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