Fraunces Tavern Block | |
 North and west fronts of Fraunces Tavern on Pearl Street at Broad Street | |
 | |
| Location | Bounded byPearl Street,Coenties Slip, Water Street andBroad Street,Lower Manhattan, New York City, NY, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Built | Various |
| Architect | Various |
| Architectural style | Various |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000957[1][2] |
| NYCHD No. | 0994 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | April 28, 1977 |
| Designated NYCHD | November 14, 1978[3] |
Fraunces Tavern | |
 West front of Fraunces Tavern on Broad Street | |
| Location | 54Pearl Street, New York, NY |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°42′12″N74°00′41″W / 40.7033°N 74.0113°W /40.7033; -74.0113 |
| Built | 1719 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 08000140[4][5] |
| NYCL No. | 0030 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | March 6, 2008 |
| Designated NYCL | November 23, 1965 |
Fraunces Tavern is amuseum, bar and restaurant inNew York City, situated at 54Pearl Street at the corner of Pearl andBroad Streets in theFinancial District ofLower Manhattan. Fraunces Tavern played a prominent role in history before, during, and after theAmerican Revolution. Fraunces Tavern served as a meeting place for the Sons of Liberty[6]; as the British Army prepared to evacuate New York City, it was the site for proceedings known as “the Birch Trials” (the culminating event in the emancipation of thousands of Black Loyalists - one of the largest emancipations of Black people prior to the American Civil War); once the British Army left, it was the site where, in late 1783, General George Washington was honored at a banquet celebrating the British Army evacuation and, days later, where Washington bid farewell to his officers. Later, when the United States capital was located in New York City, Fraunces Tavern was rented in 1785-1788 by the Congress of the Confederation to house the departments of Foreign Affairs and War, and offices of the Board of Treasury – serving, in essence, as the Nation’s first executive office building.
Fraunces Tavern has been owned since 1904 bySons of the Revolution in the State of New York Inc., which carried out a meticulous restoration between 1904 and 1907 to preserve what is today the oldest surviving building inManhattan. A museum on the premises interprets the history of the American Revolutionary era, including the Fraunces Tavern building and its history, along exhibitions of furnishings, communications, documents, personal artifacts and artworks.[7] The building is visited by thousands of domestic and international tourists and school children annually. Thetavern is a tourist site and a part of theNYC Revolutionary Trail, New York Freedom Trail, and theAmerican Whiskey Trail.[8][9] It is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places and is aNew York City designated landmark. In addition, the block on which Fraunces Tavern is located is aNational Historic Landmark District and a New York City designated landmark district.[10]
Stephanus van Cortlandt was first granted a water lot on November 19, 1686, which was filled in with landfill.[11] He then retired in 1700 to his manor on theHudson River and gave the property to his son-in-law,Étienne "Stephen" DeLancey, a FrenchHuguenot who had married van Cortlandt's daughter, Anne. The DeLancey family contended with the Livingston family for leadership of theProvince of New York.
DeLancey built the current building as a house in 1719. The small yellow bricks used in its construction were imported from theDutch Republic and the sizable mansion ranked highly in the province for its quality.[12] The firm Delancey, Robinson & Co., composed of Stephen De Lancey’s son Oliver De Lancey, Beverley Robinson, and James Parker, sold the building in 1762 toSamuel Fraunces, who converted the home into a popular tavern, originally named for Queen Charlotte (Queen's Head Tavern).[13]
Before theAmerican Revolution, the building was one of the meeting places of the New YorkSons of Liberty. During thetea crisis caused by theBritish Parliament's passage of theTea Act 1773, thePatriots forced a British navalcaptain who tried to bring tea to New York to give a public apology at the building.[14] The Patriots, disguised asAmerican Indians (like those of theBoston Tea Party), then dumped the ship's tea cargo intoNew York Harbor.
In 1768, theNew York Chamber of Commerce was founded by a meeting in the building.[15] Saint George's Society, a benevolent society to support Englishmen in distress, was founded at Fraunces Tavern on Saint George's Day, April 23, 1770[16]. On June 13, 1771,King George III of Great Britain granted a royal charter to establish "The Society of the New York Hospital in the City of New York in America" and a Board of Governors for the "reception of such patients as require medical treatment, chirurgical management and maniacs."[17] The first regular meeting of the Board of Governors of what is now known asNewYork-Presbyterian Hospital was held at Fraunces Tavern on July 24, 1771.[13]
In August 1775, Americans, principally the "Hearts of Oak" – a student militia ofKing's College (now Columbia University)[18], of whichAlexander Hamilton was a member – took possession of cannons from theartillery battery at thesouthernmost point of Manhattan and fired onAsia. The BritishRoyal Navy ship retaliated by firing a 32-gunbroadside on the city, sending acannonball through the roof of the tavern.
In September 1780,Jane Tuers, a local farmer from across theHudson River inBergen Township, New Jersey (nowJersey City), stopped at the tavern while selling her goods and spoke with Samuel Fraunces. He informed Tuers that British soldiers had been in the tavern toasting American GeneralBenedict Arnold, who was involved in a conspiracy to betray the Continental Army and deliver the fortress atWest Point to the British. Tuers returned to Bergen later that day and informed her brother Daniel Van Reypen about the conspiracy. Van Reypen rode toHackensack, New Jersey to report this information to GeneralAnthony Wayne, who then sent Van Reypen to inform General Washington of the conspiracy. The information provided by Tuers confirmed what Washington had suspected of Arnold and led to the arrest, trial, conviction and hanging of co-conspiratorJohn André fortreason, which terminated the plot to surrender West Point. Arnold later defected to the British to escape prosecution.[19]
When the war was all but won, Fraunces Tavern was the site of "British-AmericanBoard of Inquiry" meetings, which negotiated to ensure American leaders that no "American property" (meaning formerslaves who wereemancipated by the British for theirmilitary service) be allowed to leave with British troops. Led by Brigadier GeneralSamuel Birch, board members reviewed the evidence and testimonies given byfreed slaves every Wednesday from April to November 1783, and British representatives were successful in ensuring that almost all of theLoyalist black people of New York maintained their liberty and could be evacuated with the "Redcoats" when they left if so desired.[20] Through this process, Birch created theBook of Negroes.
On November 25,1783, New York Governor George Clinton hosted a celebration at Fraunces Tavern in honor of Gen. George Washington and his officers with over one hundred guests in attendance. A series of thirteen toasts were given to honor the United States of America, her allies, those who have given their life, and her armies.[21]
 Engraving after painting byAlonzo Chappel | |
 | |
| Date | December 4, 1783 (1783-12-04) |
|---|---|
| Location | Fraunces Tavern, Broad and Pearl Streets, New York Town |
Nine days after British troopshad evacuated New York on November 25, 1783, the tavern hosted an elaboratedinner, on December 4, 1783, in the building's Long Room forGen.George Washington during which he badefarewell to hisofficers of theContinental Army by saying "[w]ith a heart full of love and gratitude, I now take leave of you. I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable." After his farewell, he took each one of his officers by the hand for a personal word.[22][23][24]
In January 1785, New York City became the seat of theConfederation Congress, the nation's central government under the"Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union". The departments ofForeign Affairs,Finance andWar had their offices at Fraunces Tavern.
With the ratification of theUnited States Constitution in March 1789, the Confederation Congress's departments became federal departments, and New York City became the first officialnational capital. Theinauguration of George Washington as firstPresident of the United States took place in April 1789. Under the July 1789Residence Act, Congress moved the national capital toPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania for a 10-year period while the permanent national capital was under construction in what is nowWashington, D.C. The federal departments vacated their offices in the building and moved to Philadelphia in 1790.
_(14773061275).jpg)
Throughout the 1800s, 54 Pearl Street changed owners several times and was run predominantly as a boarding house with a bar on the first floor. The building, however, continued to be recognized as the Fraunces Tavern. Subsequent proprietors would affix signs to the masonry statingFraunces Tavern. On July 4,1804, under the management of David Ross, the Society of Cincinnati held a meeting at the tavern. Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton attended this meeting, which was held a week before their infamous duel. The building was damaged, but not destroyed, by several fires beginning in 1832. In 1883, Sons of the Revolution℠ was founded in the Long Room on the centenary of Washington's farewell speech.[25]
In 1900, the tavern was slated for demolition by its owners. Members of the New York City Chapter and Mary Washington Colonial Chapter,Daughters of the American Revolution, worked to preserve it, and convinced New York state government leaders to use their power ofeminent domain and designate the building as apark (which was the only clause of the municipal ordinances that could be used for protection, as laws were not in place at the time for the subject of "historic preservation", then in its infancy). The temporary designation was later rescinded when the property was acquired in 1904 by theSons of the Revolution In the State of New York Inc., primarily with funds willed by Frederick Samuel Tallmadge, the grandson ofBenjamin Tallmadge, George Washington's chief of intelligence during theRevolution (a plaque depicting Tallmadge is affixed to the building). An extensive and extremely sensitive restoration was completed in 1907 under the supervision of early historic preservation architectWilliam Mersereau.[26] A guide book of the era called the tavern "the most famous building in New York".[27]
Historian Randall Gabrielan wrote in 2000 that "Mersereau claimed his remodeling of Fraunces Tavern was faithful to the original, but the design was controversial in his time. There was no argument over removing the upper stories, which were known to have been added during the building's 19th-century commercial use, but adding thehipped roof was questioned. He used thePhilipse Manor House inYonkers, New York as a style guide and claimed to follow the roof line of the original, as found during construction, traced on the bricks of an adjoining building."[28] Architects Norval White and Elliot Willensky wrote in 2000 that the building was "a highly conjectural reconstruction – not a restoration – based on 'typical' buildings of 'the period,' parts of remaining walls, and a lot of guesswork."[29] Daniela Salazar at the websiteUntapped New York agrees, stating that the "reconstruction was extremely speculative, and resulted in an almost entirely new construction".[30]
The building was declared a landmark in 1965 by theNew York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, and the surrounding city block bounded by Pearl Street, Water Street, Broad Street andCoenties Slip was included on November 14, 1978.[3] TheNational Park Service added the surrounding city block to theNational Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on April 28, 1977,[1] and the building was added to the NRHP on March 6, 2008.[31]
| Fraunces Tavern bombing | |
|---|---|
| Location | 40°42′12.2″N 74°0′40.75″W  Manhattan,New York, U.S. |
| Date | January 24, 1975 |
Attack type | bombing |
| Weapons | bomb |
| Deaths | 4 |
| Injured | 50+ |
| Perpetrators | FALN |
Abomb planted in the entrance vestibule of the Anglers Club at 101 Broad Street, part of the Fraunces Tavern, exploded on January 24, 1975, killing four people and injuring more than 50 others. ThePuerto Rican clandestine paramilitary organizationFuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional Puertorriqueña (Armed Forces of Puerto Rican National Liberation, or FALN), which had executed otherbomb incidents in New York in the 1970s, claimed responsibility. No one had been prosecuted for the bombing as of 2026.[32]
In a note police found in a phone booth nearby, the FALN wrote, "we … take full responsibility for the especially detornated (sic) bomb that exploded today at Fraunces Tavern, with reactionary corporate executives inside." The note claimed the bomb – roughly 10 pounds of dynamite that had been crammed into an attaché case and slipped into the tavern's entrance hallway – was retaliation for the "CIA ordered bomb" that killed three and injured 11 in a restaurant inMayagüez, Puerto Rico, two weeks earlier.[33]
| Established | December 4, 1907 (1907-12-04) |
|---|---|
| Location | 54Pearl Street, New York, NY |
| Visitors | 25,000 |
| Owner | Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York, Inc. |
| Public transit access | Bus:M15 Subway:   atWall Street,    atSouth Ferry/Whitehall Street |
| Website | frauncestavernmuseum |
Since it was restored in 1907, the Fraunces Tavern building has included a museum, bar, and restaurant. Today, the Fraunces Tavern complex includes five interconnected buildings with the Museum located on the upper floors and the bar and restaurant located on the lower floors.
Fraunces Tavern Museum’s mission is to preserve and interpret the history of the American Revolutionary era through public education. This mission is fulfilled through the interpretation and preservation of the Museum's collections, landmarked buildings, and varied public programs that serve the community. Visitors can explore galleries and exhibitions focusing on America’s War for Independence and the preservation of early American history The Museum’s 8,000-piece object collection consists of furnishings, communications, documents, personal artifacts, and art. While a fraction of the collection is on display at any given time, a significant portion of the collection is available to view on the Museum’s website.
The museum's permanent collection includes artifacts from the time of theAmerican Revolution, such as artwork and letters. Other permanent exhibitions includeThe Long Room, as well as a replica of a lodging room and dining room from Fraunces Tavern's time as a boarding house.[34] Special exhibitions include:[34]Path to Liberty: The Emergence of a Nation,Path to Liberty: The War Reimagined, Path to Liberty: Orders, Discipline and Daily Life.
Public education and programming are essential to the Museum’s mission. The Museum has a robust lineup of speakers, walking tours, music programs, and more. Programs engage the community on everything Revolutionary, with special programming celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States. The School Program brings thousands of students in the Museum for lessons and activities that bring the American Revolution to life. Additional educational resources available online support educators and are designed in line with the New York State Standards for 4th grade Social Studies.[34]
![Sam Fraunces, c. 1900 engraving, based on an undated ink sketch attributed to John Trumbull. The ink sketch is privately owned.[35]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aSam_Fraunces.jpg)
Media related toFraunces Tavern at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
