FRAUNCES TAVERN

Fraunces Tavern was a popular drinking locale for both American and British officers during the Revolutinary War.  At the end of the war, General George Washington bid a tearful farewell to his Continental Army officers here.  Washington embraced each of his officers as he said goodbye with the following words:  “With a heart full of love and gratitude I now take leave of you.  I most devoutly wish that your latter days are as prosperous and happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable.”  

It was December 4, 1783 , the day the last defeated British troops departed from New York City and the day Washington was to return to his Mount Vernon home.   Following his emotional goodbye, Washington was accompanied by his officers on a walk to Whitehall wharf to board a barge to Paulus Hook (now Jersey City) on his journey back to Virginia.

Historians say that Washington would have likely ordered one of his two favorite drinks:   Maderia, a fortified Portuguese wine from the Isle of Maderia, or Porters, a popular dark beer made in Philadelphia.  A typical New York customer of this time would probably have had hard cider or beer.  The Sons of Liberty held meetings at this tavern, the New York Tea Party was organized there on April 22, 1774, and the New York Provincial Congress met there in 1776.  Ironically, the tavern's first name had been Queen's Head Tavern in honor of Queen Charlotte, the wife of the much despised King George III. 

Most of the British troops left New York on November 25, 1783, which became known as "Evacuation Day."  The "last conflict of the war," according to Edward Robb Ellis in The Epic of New York City, was on Evacuation Day between a Mrs. Day, who ran a boardinghouse on Murray Street, and a British Provost Marshall Cunningham.  Mrs. Day refused his order to take down the American flag flying at her residence.  Cunningham attempted to remove the flag, but, Mrs. Day hit him over his head and won the battle with her household weapon -- a broom.  

Sam Fraunces, a member of the Sons of Liberty, turned what had been a private residence into a tavern in 1762.   A supporter of the American patriots, Fraunces would report overheard conversations about British battle plans to Washington.  After the war in 1789, Fraunces became President Washington's steward.  

In spring of 1785 when New York City was the nation’s temporary capital, the new U.S. government leased the Fraunces Tavern as offices for the Departments of War, Treasury and Foreign Affairs.  The New York Chamber of Commerce was formed here on April 5, 1770.

Three different times fire destroyed the tavern in the years 1832, 1837, and 1852.  After each fire, it was rebuilt.  The current structure was recreated in 1906 by American architect, William H. Mersereau.  Without floor plans or photos to work from, Mersereau redesigned the tavern in the Colonial style of that period.  The legendary tavern, at the corner of Pearl and Broad Street, is now a museum and restaurant owned by the Sons of the Revolution. 

On January 24, 1975, a terrorist bomb, planted by a Puerto Rican nationalist group, exploded in the Tavern's dining room annex.  Two people were killed and 56 injured.

Fraunces Tavern was one of the first New York City buildings to be named a New York landmark.  The tavern played a crucial and fascinating role in the American Revolution and holds the title of the city’s oldest tavern.